COLUMBIA, S.C. — Over the Christmas holiday, President Joe Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that officially declares the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. This is a significant development for a species that was once threatened with extinction and also faces threats across the state of South Carolina.

The raptor has been unofficially recognized as an American symbol for centuries, honored as the leading image on thousands of federal government branches, departments and agencies.

However, they were close to extinction in the 20th century due to habitat destruction and pollution.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the bald eagle is the largest raptor in the state. In the 1960s, the bird was classified as endangered.  As of 2022, the birds are now classified as imperiled. There are almost 500 eagle nests across S.C.

Bald eagles can be spotted across the state in tall trees and around bodies of water.