The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America and appears on its Seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the continental United States. Populations recovered and the species was removed from the U.S. federal government's list of endangered species on July 12, 1995 and transferred to the list of threatened species. The Copper River Delta, which extends for 2,800 km2 is considered the largest contiguous wetlands - partly tidal flats - along the Pacific coast of North America. It is used annually by 16 million shorebirds, including the world's entire population of western sandpipers. It has a similar function as the most important spring staging area of Arctic shorebirds along the East Pacific flywaya as the European Wadden Sea has on the East-Atlantic flyway.