The American bald eagle is making a comeback. The birds of prey had been headed towards extinction, but conservation efforts and rescues have been successful in restoring the species.

The eagles find themselves in an environmental updraft of sorts since the early 2000s, when the federal government took the thriving birds off its endangered species list with more states following suit. Culturally, too, the animals are soaring.

The bald eagle, once teetering on the brink of extinction, has made a significant comeback in the United States. Long a symbol of national pride, the raptor is experiencing a resurgence both in population and cultural significance.