10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

.” While certain New Jersey decisions may be dubious, their state bird, the American Goldfinch, is a beautiful choice. The legislature named the goldfinch the state bird in 1935 , sharing the designation with Washington and Iowa. The populations of American Goldfinch are doing well throughout their range.

New Jersey 150

New Jersey United States Legislature Iowa 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2016

Baltimore Orioles spend their winters in Florida, Central, and South America, and migrate north to breed in much of the Eastern United States. In 1882 the legislature passed special provisions to protect the bird, decades before the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Maryland 103

Maryland Baltimore United States South America 103

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2015

When birders in the eastern United States see a flash of red up in the canopy or deep inside nearby bushes, more likely than not those crimson feathers belong to the iconic Northern Cardinal. ” That same sentiment is probably true for us all!

North Carolina 178

North Carolina West Virginia Legislature Virginia 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2015

Though South Carolina first chose the Northern Mockingbird as its state bird, in 1948 the general assembly changed its mind. It turns out that the women’s clubs had already chosen the wren , but the legislature disagreed. Do I think they made the right decision? Carolina Wrens are directly influenced by climate change.

South Carolina 157

South Carolina Legislature United States Birds 157

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2015

Brown Pelicans are also an example of a conservation success story – aided by Louisiana’s official state bird designation. In 1961 they stopped breeding in Louisiana and a few years later disappeared altogether, prompting the legislature to name them the state bird in 1966.

Louisiana 160

Louisiana Pelicans Legislature United States 160