June 20th is Bald Eagle Day. A resolution proclaiming June 20th Bald Eagle Day was approved by both houses of the U.S. Congress in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. It is a day to celebrate the successful recovery of the bald eagle.
The National Eagle Center will be celebrating with special events June 18th-21st. Stay tuned for more details!
Weds. June 18th and Thurs. June 20th:
Kick-off our summer of Fishing for Eagles with kids’ activities
Join us for ’fish painting’ where kids can create their own fish art using rubber fish molds, paint and construction paper. Kids can practice casting and try out Fishing for Eagles.
Friday June 20th and Sat. June 21st:
Special fishing-themed guests and eagle enrichment. More details coming soon!
Background of Bald Eagle Day
In June, 2007 the bald eagle was finally removed from the Endangered Species list after more than 30 years. In 1963, there was just one nesting pair of bald eagles along the entire Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge – a stretch of more than 260 miles of prime bald eagle habitat! When the bald eagle was included in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, there were just 417 nesting pairs across the lower 48 states.
After banning the use of DDT, the federal government listed the bald eagle under the newly created Endangered Species Act. Increased habitat protection and breeding and release programs helped to bring this magnificent bird back from near extinction in the lower 48 states. Today bald eagle populations are once again healthy and even thriving all over the United States.
When the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, there were more than 11,000 nesting pairs in the continental US. In the state of Minnesota today there are more than 2,300 nesting pairs of bald eagles.
