Why can’t Florida celebrate three birds?

This time it happened again in the form of a bill to Florida’s house. This is a cooperative effort to replace Mocchi Bird as an official bird.

It is a strange bill in that only one bird is not nominated as an alternative, but to nominate two. Both are a great candidate for protection, which is dangers of environmental damage, loss of habitat, and dangers of old humans. Neither of them is rarely seen in the natural environment by the average Florida.

I love both of them: wonderful flamingo and sophisticated scrub jay. If these birds can have a richer and more productive entity based on their uplifting, I will do everything for that. (I tried to make a collective bird noun “uplifting Rarks” in the paragraph, but I couldn’t find the way. Wink)

But please wait. Why are there three if you can keep two states of birds?

My opposition is not the soaring of these two new birds, but in the ground of the confused Mocchi Bird, the monarch.

When an academic guiser like me is served in the pasture, it often has a new title as a prize. Get the status of “honor”.

So what is wrong by decling Mocchi Bird as the honor of our state birds? He has retired, but has a permanent perception in 100 years of service.

Mocchimbird is very large and has been selected as a state bird by the other four states. Critics exclude this fact. Florida first chose Mocchimbird! Almost one century ago! Other states have copied us. why? Mocchimbird is one of the most amazing creatures on the surface of the earth !!!

Mocchinbird is sometimes called the North Mocchinbird and is not a carpet bagger to Florida. The territory expands the whole state and more. It is actually a cute bird, not exaggerated like flamingo or rose spoon building. The official name is “Mimus Polyglottos”, and in those Latin, you can see the wonderful translation of “many languages ​​in many languages”.

Mocchimbird is not only imitating the songs of countless birds. They are known to imitate cats, dogs, and even humans. The skill of this song makes Mocchi Bird a multi -purpose squealing bird and a huge hit with oak Karaoke Knights.

Mocchimbird, a faithful, very intelligent and great nesting, may be on the earth, the greatest warrior on the earth. We all have seen flying around the sky like a fighter chasing a much larger bird, such as Osprey, Seagulls, and Crows, to protect the nest.

In addition to their biological existence, birds have cultural implications. Owl suggests wisdom. Eagles stimulates patriotism. Palot stops at the pirates. For its wonderful pink feathers, Flamingo has long been associated with gay pride and creativity. (This is another reason to support the altitude of Talahasie’s bird lovers.) Scrab Jay is gorgeous blue, eats peanuts from human hands, but has the opportunity to leave many cultural marks. No.

Think a bit about the influence of Mocchimbird on American culture. From the gentle pHOR -like sense of the novel “Killing Mocchimbird”, it has turned into a wonderful rhythm and blues song by Inzu and Charlie Fox, from the traditional child lullaby by “Hash Little Baby”.

Florida crowned Mocchinbird in 1927. For that reason, you can thank the amazing people, probably, Catherine Bell Tipets, the most influential woman in St. Petersburg, for the act of love of other birds. The park at the tip of Pinellas Point was named her honor.

In addition to explaining her great philoses, historian Karl Greathmar wrote:

“In 1909, she organized the St. Petersburg -Burg Audubon Association and served as President for 33 years. As a result of her work, the sanctuary of birds was established in Pinus County, and Mocchinbird was officially official birds in Florida. Named, the bird’s day was declared, and the law was passed to protect Robin.

What a woman! She will be a great supporter of Flamingo and Scrub Jay, and she will smiling at the idea that her Mocchinbird has retired as the honor of our first bird. Let’s praise all of them.

Roy Peter Clark is a contribution writer of Tampa Bay Times. Contact him with rclark@poyNter.org.