Three Most Useful Birds

Reference & Education

  • Author David Bunch
  • Published October 11, 2010
  • Word count 417

Through the circulation of leaflets describing the three most useful birds not then selected for State bird honors elsewhere, Mrs. I. T. Frary, chairman of wild life for the State Federation of Ohio conducted an effective campaign in 1928. Ballots were included and the vote gave the House Wren a lead of 7,469 votes over its nearest rival. More than 69,000 votes were cast in Oklahoma's campaign for a State bird under the leadership of Mrs. W. A. Campbell and Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller, and the Bob-white triumphed by a wide margin. Much stress was placed on conservation in this program. In 1926 the Oregon Audubon Society asked for a vote for State bird and got more than 45,000 votes for the Western Meadowlark out of 85,000 cast. The Governor proclaimed the choice July 18, 1927.

The Ruffed Grouse was legalized as the State bird of Pennsylvania by the Legislature of 1931 after a long campaign and deliberate voting. Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker, Chairman of birds and flowers, and the officers of the State Federation of Women's Clubs as a whole urged the selection. Schools, clubs, granges, scout troops and other organizations joined in voting for the Bob-white as Rhode Island's State bird. The other candidates were osprey, flicker, tree swallow, song sparrow and catbird. A distinguished committee of tellers officiated. The campaign in South Carolina was under the leadership of Miss Claudia Phelps and in 1930 the Carolina Wren won honors over the Carolina dove. Various organizations joined with the State Federation of Women's Clubs in Texas in selecting a State bird. More than 100,000 children added their ballots and the victor was the Western Mockingbird, which was officially recognized in February, 1927.

Utah's State bird is the Sea Gull in grateful remembrance of the gulls that delivered the crops of the farmers from the pest of the insects in 1848, and a monument to the birds stands on Temple Block in the park of the Mormon Tabernacle. In Vermont the State Federation of Women's Clubs conducted a campaign in 1927, the Hermit Thrush emerging victorious. In Virginia the late-Miss-Katharine Stuart drew together bird lovers and conservationists in an educational campaign that made the Robin State bird by popular vote. The robin ran way ahead in the vote taken in Wisconsin under the leadership of Mrs. Walter Bowman, who conducted the campaign as conservation chairman in 1926. Mrs. Edward Ewel of Wyoming was one of the first to respond to the call for a State bird campaign, and by 1926 the Western Meadowlark was established as the favorite; it was legalized in 1927.

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