10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2011

A panel of the Iowa legislature decided to ignore common sense, wildlife professionals, and Iowa’s own Natural Resources Commission and allow lead shot to be used for the new Mourning Dove hunting season. This decision is just plain dumb. Hat-tip to John.

Iowa 98

Iowa Hunters Legislature Wildlife 98

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2015

Perhaps it was their flashy color or the males’ tall crest that attracted the legislature to the bird, because in 1943 the Northern Cardinal became the official state bird of North Carolina. To say Northern Cardinals are common is an understatement.

North Carolina 95

North Carolina Birds West Virginia Virginia 95

Critter News

FEBRUARY 18, 2009

The law, which will take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, makes aggravated animal cruelty on first offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to six years in prison. Arkansas becomes the 46th state to make cruelty to animals a felony, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Cruelty 100

Cruelty Arkansas Animal Cruelty Animal Welfare 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2015

” It comes as no surprise then that the governor proclaimed the Brown Thrasher the state bird in 1953 , and the legislature followed suit in 1970. Brown Thrashers , large, rust-colored songbirds, were so popular in Georgia that they became the namesake of their NHL hockey team, the “Atlanta Thrashers!”

Birds 71

Birds Georgia Legislature Atlanta 71

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2015

The legislature named the grouse the state bird in 1931 , and as it is a game bird it is legal to hunt them in the fall and winter seasons. No, you have not stumbled upon a WWI re-enactment, but a startled Ruffed Grouse , the state bird of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania 72

Pennsylvania Birds Hunting Legislature 72

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2016

In 1882 the legislature passed special provisions to protect the bird, decades before the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Baltimore Orioles spend their winters in Florida, Central, and South America, and migrate north to breed in much of the Eastern United States. In 1947 , Maryland made the oriole its state bird.

Maryland 58

Maryland Birds Baltimore South America 58

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2018

Second, Amendment 2 required a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the state legislature to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments.”. Election Results = PASSED with 84%+ voter support.

Nevada 85

Nevada Georgia Colorado Connecticut 85

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

The legislature named the goldfinch the state bird in 1935 , sharing the designation with Washington and Iowa. Mentioning New Jersey often raises a snicker or a run down of all the drama and negative stereotypes that swirl around the Garden State, most of which are typified by the MTV hit show, “Jersey Shore.”

New Jersey 60

New Jersey Birds Breeding United States 60

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2015

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

South Carolina 63

South Carolina Birds Legislature Breeding 63

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2015

Hall wrote to the legislature with his suggestion. We learn cleverness from the crow, and courage from the jay… But above all of them ranked the chickadee because of its indomitable spirit,” (italics added). I couldn’t agree more!

Birds 98

Birds Species Owls Legislature 98

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2015

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. In short, pesticide use in the 1950’s and 1960’s almost wiped them from North America. In 1970 the Brown Pelican was listed as nationally endangered.

Louisiana 64

Louisiana Birds Pelicans North America 64

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2015

Perhaps it was their relative rarity, compared to now, combined with their varied songs that prompted the Florida legislature to vote in this widespread species. Their songs may be beautiful, but they also get old, as anyone who has a mockingbird nesting in their backyard can tell you. Northern Mockingbird with fledgling.

Birds 83

Birds Florida Species Arkansas 83

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Still, it’s not hard to see why the Colorado legislature couldn’t resist the Lark Bunting when they named it the official state bird in 1931: they are absolutely striking.

Colorado 53

Colorado Birds Sparrows Breeding 53

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2019

The harshest law of all, one more draconian than any human legislature could enact, is the law of unintended consequences. “The Biggest Week in American Birding” is held there, a place its organizers call “The Warbler Capital of the World,” in the first week of May. Example A, perfectly up to date, is the wind turbine.

Birds 81

Birds Ducks Ohio Bats 81

4 The Love Of Animals

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

Through its campaign, www.ExposeAnimalAbusers.org , the animal protection organization is promoting model legislation that state legislatures could enact. Such registries would help protect animals, pet guardians and communities by preventing repeat offenses from anyone with an established history of abusing animals.

Animal Legal Defense Fund 100

Animal Legal Defense Fund ALDF Animal Animal Abuse 100

Animal Person

MARCH 17, 2009

RPA’s letter urges the governors to help solve the problem by addressing it with LGU trustees and state legislatures; ensuring that their states’ school systems teach the truth about food, nutrition, original human nature, and ecology; and ensuring that the National Governors Association addresses the problem.

Meat Industry 100

Meat Industry Meat Industry Animal 100

Animal Ethics

JULY 19, 2007

In response to citizen outrage over horses being slaughtered in Illinois, the Illinois legislature decided to tie off the loophole for good by passing House Bill 1711. One can't kill horses for human consumption within the U.S., but that leaves open the possibility of slaughtering horses for human consumption abroad.

Horse Slaughter 40

Horse Slaughter Slaughter Slaughtered Horses 40