what is the state bird of oregon

In this undated handout , an osprey flies with a fish in its grasp, at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The bird of prey may become Oregons new state bird.

The state Senate voted Thursday on a resolution that would give the designation to the bird of prey often seen along Oregon waterways.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

The western meadowlark became Oregons state bird in 1927 thanks to a proclamation from Gov. I. L. Patterson. The designation came after input from schoolchildren, who voted in a poll sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society.

Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, introduced the resolution to replace the meadowlark with the osprey. Girod said its not just that the osprey is bigger and more powerful than the meadowlark.

“The major problem with the meadowlark is that its the state bird for five other states. Thats just not the Oregon way,” he said.

Democratic Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose called the western meadowlark “a gentle creature” and urged her colleagues to vote against the proposal to replace it with the osprey.

“Dont validate the caprice of possibly well-intended individuals who wish to replace this gentle presence with a fierce predator and an instinctual killer who visits death on fish from above,” Johnson said.

Despite Johnsons plea, the resolution passed 24-5. It now heads to the Oregon House.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Western Meadowlark Scientific Name Sturnella neglecta Size 8-9 inches long Habitat Open grasslands and prairies Status Not listed federally; Listed as “Sensitive-Critical” on Oregon’s Sensitive Species List

The state bird of Oregon can be heard singing like a flute from perches atop shrubs or fence posts in wide, grassy plains. The size of a robin, the western meadowlark has a solid yellow breast and a characteristic black collar. It looks for insects in the summer and seeds in the winter with its long, pointed bill sticking into the ground. Males of this polygynous ground-nesting bird usually mate with two or more females during the breeding season. In tiny depressions on the ground, females construct grass nests in the shape of domes, where they incubate their eggs for around two weeks. The newly hatched meadowlarks are ready to leave the nest after two more weeks. Although they are unable to fly, they can run fairly well and start to hunt for food on their own. Western meadowlarks inhabit nearly 2/3 of the U. S. however in Oregon, the eastern half of the state is where they are most frequently found.

Johnson urged people not to accept the whims of those who might have good intentions but would rather see this kind presence replaced by a ferocious predator and an innate killer that drops dead fish from above.

This handout, which is undated, shows an osprey flying at the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The bird of prey may become Oregons new state bird.

Despite Johnsons plea, the resolution passed 24-5. It now heads to the Oregon House. THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Democratic Sen. Scappoose resident Betsy Johnson referred to the western meadowlark as “a gentle creature” and urged her fellow lawmakers to oppose the plan to replace it with an osprey.

1927 saw the western meadowlark designated as Oregon’s state bird by Governor I. L. Patterson. The Oregon Audubon Society’s poll of schoolchildren yielded input that led to the designation.

FAQ

What is Oregon state bird and flowers?