Yes.
The combined efforts of a Minnesota resident and politician led to the adoption of the bald eagle as the official national bird in December.
While the bald eagle has informally represented the U.S. since it was placed on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, it lacked legal status as the national bird.
Wabasha resident Preston Cook discovered this omission, inspiring U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to introduce legislation officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird. It was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve.
Wabasha is home to the National Eagle Center where Cook, an avid collector of eagle memorabilia, has donated a significant amount of his collection.
U.S. code also designates the oak tree as the national tree, the rose as the national flower and the bison as the national animal.
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