Tweeters,



I agree that Varied Thrush would be a great state bird for Washington. In
British Columbia, it was one of the 6 finalists in the competition to name a
provincial bird. It was the species favoured by most birders and
naturalists. I even declared myself the unofficial "campaign chairman" for
the Varied Thrush, and made some efforts to get people to vote for it. Alas,
it won out to the better-known Steller's Jay (which, I have to admit, is
still a pretty good choice for provincial bird).



So if anyone can get one of the State Representatives to introduce a
competing bill in the legislature to name Varied Thrush as the state bird,
good luck! It would be far more appropriate than Great Blue Heron.



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net









From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of
Pterodroma at aol.com
Sent: February-08-11 7:54 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Re: State Bird -- Varied Thrush



more thoughts as follow-up to earlier post...



...and furthermore, no other State has adopted the uniquely elegant Varied
Thrush. Oregon's is Western Meadowlark, a choice which strikes me about as
unsettling as our current American Goldfinch especially in the mountains and
wet western lowlands.



So, let's get a Washington Varied Thrush movement going before Oregon feels
prompted to change it's mind as well. Varied Thrush is extraordinarily
elegant, widespread, and common enough, yet not too common and just subtle,
furtive, and mysterious enough as to not be seen all that often by most, but
most Washingtonians would recognize it and most could not help but not be
touched when it suddenly appears out of the shadows. Afforded a viewing is
always a special treat no matter whether it's for the first time or how many
times one sees one, even if the same birds over and over and over all winter
long. For most of us, late winters in the lowlands, back yards, greenbelts,
and any Spring / early Summer time hike or walk in the woods, mountains, and
wilderness, how can anyone not hear or ignore it's signature of variable
pitched tones ringing from parts unseen and not known exactly or even know
what that 'noise' is exactly. You don't have to see it, you just hear it,
you identify that 'sound' with place, and that's quite enough to know that
you are somewhere, some geographic area (Washington) that is truly special
and just plain spiritual. Right now and as winter ebbs, our Varied Thrushes
are already tuning up for Spring, always a long evolving process, seemingly
clumsy and off key at first but improving with each passing day, a process
that never ceases to inspire and lends such good cheer as it evokes an
uniquely special kind of karma that can't be matched anywhere else.



As a teenager from Missouri on a family trip to northern California now many
decades ago, the very first Varied Thrush I ever heard were those mysterious
ringing tones from the dark deep Redwoods of northern California. It was
yet to be a few years before I ever laid eyes on one. I have never
forgotten that moment so long ago, and yet, that singular moment, even if
having to settle for it sight unseen, remains just as freshly lodged in my
memory and soul as if it had happened for the first time just a few seconds
ago.



The only other species that evokes similar feelings is the similarly
possessed Brown-backed Solitare of the western highlands of Mexico and
Central America where Jim Conrad wrote in a blog of the Brown-backed
Solitare at dawn Borderline Cloudforest at Yerba Buena Clinic
<http://www.backyardnature.net/mexbirds/15yerba_.htm> : "When singing
finally ends, the landscape suddenly feels empty and less dramatic and
meaningful than just moments before. The Brown-backed Solitare defines this
land." This exact same beautiful sentiment could just as easily apply to
the Varied Thrush in Washington! Varied Thrush is exactly the right bird to
represent the proud State of Washington.



Sorry for the passion, but, just can't help it. Now, I'm going to grab a
cup of coffee and go sit out on the back porch for awhile and just watch and
listen to those Varied Thrushes as they begin to ring in a new day and root
around in the shadowy shrubbry.



Richard Rowlett

Bellevue/Eastgate