The Popular Birds Of State

From October, 1928, to May, 1929, the State Audubon Society of Michigan conducted a systematic campaign to find their bird of state with the cooperation of the press, libraries, schools and many groups. A total of 184,209 votes were cast, the Robin leading with a vote of 45,541. The chickadee received 37,155 and the bluebird 17,024. There were many other candidates. The choice of Robin was legalized on April 8, 1931. Minnesota was faced with an embarrassment of excellent candidates in its State bird vote organized by Mrs. Willard Bayliss, then president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. After much publicity and a substantial vote for the Goldfinch, it was selected. Debates in the schools, special club programs and publicity attended Mississippi's State bird campaign conducted by Mrs. G. H. Reever, chairman, which was made the outstanding work of the conservation division of the State Federation in 1929. The Mockingbird proved to be the popular choice and was given legal status.

"With the bluebirds protesting from the trees on the capitol lawn outside his window, Governor Erickson today approved an act of the last legislature making the western meadowlark the State Bird of Montana," says a newspaper dispatch from Helena on March 14, 1931. This came as the result of a rousing State campaign led by Mrs. I. D. Hadzor, then conservation chairman of the State Federation. The robin, tree swallow and goldfinch were also active candidates. Twenty-seven candidates contested in Nebraska in the campaign submitted to the schools, by Mrs. Elizabeth Hoefer, State chairman of conservation, after the State Federation had approved such a drive. The Meadowlark was successful and was officially recognized on March 22, 1929. The bird appears in the decorations of Nebraska's new State Capitol.

Nevada citizens and school children had little difficulty in arriving at a choice of a State bird, the Mountain Bluebird leading the field in an extended vote during 1930 and 1931. This bird was the nominee of the club women of the State. The New Hampshire Federation of Women's Clubs, through Mrs. Lucy F. Richardson, then chairman of conservation, sponsored a vote in 1927 that returned the Purple Finch as victor in the State Bird ballot. Dividing the State into districts, New Mexico was thoroughly canvassed for its opinion on a State bird and the Road-Runner led all the rest. In fact the vote for this typical bird was just about unanimous. Mrs. Tom Charles, president, reported the choice. An old campaign for State bird of New York having selected the robin and let the matter drop there, a new campaign was launched in 1927-28 under Mrs. Charles Cyrus Marshall. Although the robin was included as a nominee he ran well behind the Bluebird, which now is regarded as the State bird.