General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYour state bird is a stupid choice. What it should be:
I drove over a bridge from Maryland into Virginia today and on the big Welcome to Virginia sign was an image of the state bird, the northern cardinalwith a yellow bill. I should have scoffed, but it hardly registered. Everyone knows that state birds are a big joke. There are a million cardinals, a scattering of robins, and just a general lack of thought put into the whole thing.
States should have to put more thought into their state bird than I put into picking my socks in the morning. Ugh, state bird? I dunno, what're the guys next to us doing? Cardinal? OK, let's do that too. Yeah put it on all the signs. Nah, no time to research the bill color, let's just go. Its the official state bird! Well, since all these jackanape states are too busy passing laws requiring everyone to own guns or whatever to consider what their state bird should be, I guess Ill have to do it.
1. Alabama. Official state bird: yellowhammer
Right out of the gate with this thing. Yellowhammer? Cmon. I Asked Jeeves and it told me that Yellowhammer is some backwoods name for a yellow-shafted flicker. The origin story dates to the Civil War, when some Alabama troops wore yellow-trimmed uniforms. Sorry, but thats dumb, mostly because its just a coincidence and has nothing to do with the actual bird. If you want a woodpecker, go for something with a little more cachet, something thats at least a full species.
2. Alaska. Official state bird: willow ptarmigan
Willow Ptarmigans are the dumbest-sounding birds on Earth, sorry. They sound like rejected Star Wars aliens, angrily standing outside the Mos Eisley Cantina because their IDs were rejected. Why go with these dopes, Alaska, when youre the best state to see the most awesome falcon on Earth?
What it should be: gyrfalcon
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http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/05/state_bird_improvements_replace_cardinals_and_robins_with_warblers_and_hawks.single.html
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)All I get to do is watch the birds every morning, in the tree outside my window.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)The Connecticut Warbler doesn't even breed in Connecticut. And it's not commonly found here either.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)All right, that works.
What it should be: common loon
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)That explains a lot.
Morning Dew
(6,539 posts)the drone...
http://www.startribune.com/local/207963661.html?refer=y
Unfortunately, weather conditions prevented the real thing from taking flight Friday morning as the Minnesota National Guard officially launched its new $3.9 million Unmanned Aircraft Operations Facility.
The Guard has flown UAVs since 2004 and has seven at Camp Ripley: three Shadows, with 14-foot wing spans, and four smaller Ravens, with 5-foot wing spans that can be carried in a backpack, quickly assembled and launched by hand.
The reconnaissance drones do not carry weapons, only sophisticated cameras that help troops see whats over the next hill, around the next corner or up ahead in the road. The videos and photos they transmit can pinpoint enemy troops or identify a house where theyre holed up.
MH1
(17,600 posts)Bennyboy
(10,440 posts)Wasn't that what Dick Cheney was hunting when he shot that guy in the face? And that was Texas.
So many unique birds all over.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)We have about 6-10 in our backyard every day.
Not so dumb for a state bird here.
Lone_Star_Dem
(28,158 posts)The way they fly in loops off the top of utility polls as if they've not a care in the world has always amused me.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Doing his eleventy-billion bird calls and flying up...and then fluttering back down. I love those little guys.
knitter4democracy
(14,350 posts)Kirtland Warbler makes a ton more sense.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)I have nothing against robins, but the Kirkland's Warbler is found in only a few places in Michigan and a couple in Wisconsin.
I also think that the state flower should be changed from the apple blossom to the tart cherry blossom, since Michigan produces more tart, bright red cherries for pie and cheesecake topping than any other state in the union.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Mockingbird is the state bird of Texas, which unquestionably fits Texas politics, which is our chief export. The Mockingbird gets it's name for mocking other birds. In other words, a phony. If you consider our last two gifts to the Executive, the first was a carpetbagger. The second was a ne'er do well son who was still a Yankee who didn't know one end of a cow from another, yet somehow managed to convince millions he was a 'man of the earth'.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)It, along with the cardinal, is the most common state bird. Texas is a great birding state and there are lots of birds seen there and nowhere else in the US.
The Aplomado Falcon, the green jay, to name two. The article named a few others.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Just sayin'
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)zappaman
(20,606 posts)Why isn't this number one on his to-do list?
tularetom
(23,664 posts)There's a lot of things that needs done around here so if they want some steady work for awhile they can contact me.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Sponsored election. Not sure who Mr Lund is, but we go with the vote here....
madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)That deserves the BIRD!!
Lochloosa
(16,068 posts)The Plastic Flamingo!
mokawanis
(4,452 posts)but it should be the mosquito.
mitchtv
(17,718 posts)is: Ca Quail
should be: condor
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)jmowreader
(50,562 posts)He kept the Mountain Bluebird. I would have chosen the Chukar Partridge...
The only problem is people keep shooting and eating them...but they breed quickly enough to replenish the population.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)DesertFlower
(11,649 posts)care -- i've got more important things to think about.