The bald eagle is faring so well its guardians may upgrade its classification from "endangered" to "threatened."

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In 1963 just 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles were left. After the government forbade killing eagles and developed captive breeding programs, the decline was reversed. A 1992 survey found 3,747 pairs.The founding fathers would be gratified. In 1782 they overrode Benjamin Franklin, who favored the wild turkey, to name the bald eagle the national bird.

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