Hey tweets, fun discussion about new state bird. I would like to point
out that the Great Blue Heron is already the official bird of the city
of Seattle. Perhaps if Ross knew that, he might withdraw his
nomination in favor of a bird that can be better associated with the
entire state and isn't already claimed by what many in eastern
Washington consider to be "the octopus of Seattle." I like Hal's
suggestion of Black Swift.

BTW, the Fill was cold and windy this morning. I got there before the
sun broke out later in the day, so I endured a piercing wind, along
with all the other birds. The two Western Meadowlarks who have been
present all winter were giving a concert despite the cold. I think
their song is among the most beautiful of all the birds. The Common
Teal has transferred himself to the SW Pond, at least for now. Like
Elvis, he spreads himself to many "buildings." I've seen him on Main
Pond, the Cove, the Lagoon, the waterway north of Canoe Island, and
now the SW Pond. The Bald Eagle pair that nests at Talaris is gearing
up for another go, although I have to say neither eagle looked
particularly enthusiastic today. They spent a lot of time hunched
against the cold, as did I. Sparrows have taken over the field
southwest of the kiosk. They forage in the verdant plant cover that
has grown up in tussocks throughout this field. Many years ago, I saw
a Harris's Sparrow in here, so I am keeping my eyes open. Today there
were Song, Fox, Lincoln's, and White-crowned present. A beautiful day,
but I'll be glad when spring arrives. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com


On Feb 7, 2011, at 4:30 PM, Hal Opperman wrote:

> Couldn't agree more, Wayne.
>
> As for the current occupant, American Goldfinch: it is also the
> state bird of Iowa and New Jersey. Nice for the kumabya effect,
> maybe, but hardly particular to our region.
>
> BC made a superb choice for its provincial bird, through an ideal,
> participative process. Could Tweeters provide a forum for a similar
> initiative in our state? Any interest out there?
>
> Ross Hunter is my state representative -- in fact, he lives in my
> neighborhood. I'm willing to get in touch with him and ask what's
> going on with the Great Blue Heron bill he's sponsoring, and see if
> he and his co-sponsors are open to putting a hold on it while a
> Tweeters-initiated campaign plays out. If there is sufficient
> interest in Tweeterdom, that is.
>
> If I had an opportunity to propose a new state bird candidate it
> would be Black Swift, found on both sides of the Cascades (a
> prerequisite, I would think, for a Washington state bird). Black
> Swift is widely if disjunctly distributed in western North America,
> Mexico, and the West Indies, but its North American center of
> abundance is Washington and British Columbia. This is a very cool
> species, somewhat mysterious and always a thrill to see. It is also
> a species of conservation concern, without the disadvantage of
> having become a political lightning rod like the Spotted Owl or the
> Marbled Murrelet. At least not yet. If its rugged, remote nesting
> habitat requirements have kept Black Swift out of the way of
> conflict with the economic interests of the wood-products industry,
> the gathering impact of climate change may well prove to be a
> different story.
>
> Please direct thoughts on any of this not to me personally but to
> this list as a whole so we can see if enough of a discussion gets
> started to be worth continuing.
>
> Hal Opperman
> Medina, Washington
> hal at catharus.net
>
>
> On Feb 7, 2011, at 2:43 PM, Wayne Weber wrote:
>
>> Abby and Tweeters,
>>
>> Ah, but Steller?s Jay is the provincial bird of BC? approved in
>> the 1990s through a competitive process with major public
>> involvement, from an original 6 candidates.
>>
>> If Washington wants a new state bird, it should avoid choosing one
>> which is already a State or Provincial bird for another state or
>> province.
>>
>> Wayne C. Weber
>> Delta, BC
>> contopus at telus.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

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