Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced the removal of the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species at a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2007. [Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann]

On June 28, 2007, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced the removal of the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species at a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. After nearly disappearing from most of the United States decades ago, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

“Today I am proud to announce: the eagle has returned,” said Secretary Kempthorne. “In 1963, the lower 48 states were home to barely 400 nesting pairs of bald eagles. Today, after decades of conservation effort, they are home to some 10,000 nesting pairs, a 25-fold increase in the last 40 years. Based on its dramatic recovery, it is my honor to announce the Department of the Interior’s decision to remove the American Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species List.”

Press Release:

06/28/2007

Bald Eagle Soars Off Endangered Species List en Español

Additional Documents and Information:

• Read Secretary Kempthorne's Remarks
• Statement by the President
  
• Additional Information on the Bald Eagle
• Bald Eagle Delisting Ceremony Highlights
• Bald Eagle Soaring Once Again Video
  

  Joint Production of the National Zoo/USFWS (contains copyrighted video material):
  5MB	56MB

• Public Domain Footage of Bald Eagle

  Windows Media format

• See Additional Photos