In a state populated largely by non-natives (moi included), I vote for the
House Sparrow. I'll bet you could even find them breeding on the State
Capitol grounds, too.

Kelly Cassidy

-----Original Message-----
From: NJPharris at aol.com <NJPharris at aol.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: Wash. State Bird


>OK, OK. There are reasons why I suggested dropping the Goldfinch as our
>state bird. One is that I hardly ever see them (whereas there are 5 V-G
>Swallows swooping outside my office window as I sit here typing).
Apparently
>others out there in Tweeterland have more luck with them than I do.
>
>The other reason is the one Don Baccus gave, which is that there is nothing
>that ties the AMGO *specifically* to Washington. Why couldn't we at least
>choose a western species, like Townsend's Warbler, Band-tailed Pigeon, or
V-G
>Swallow--or better yet, a more specifically Cascadian one like the Varied
>Thrush or C-B Chickadee.
>
>I have nothing against goldfinches, but I feel we should be honoring a
>species that contributes to Washington's uniqueness.
>
>Nick Pharris
>Olympia, WA
>NJPharris at aol.com
>