Va. officials celebrate the bald eagle’s comeback and centuries as national symbol

Virginia officials and conservationists highlight the bald eagle's recovery from near extinction and its designation as the U.S. national bird in 2024. The species, a national symbol since 1782, has rebounded in Virginia from 30 nesting pairs in the 1960s to 1,500 breeding pairs today, supported by protections like the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and wildlife rehabilitation efforts.