After Almost 100 Years Could Michigan Be Getting A New State Bird?
Growing up as a kid my dad would take me and my younger brother Bob to Kensington Metro Park in Livingston County. We would walk some of the different nature trails and look for different kinds of birds. The most common bird we saw were finches which would sometimes fly down from the trees and land on your hand for some sunflower seeds.
Another bird we often saw was a Robin which is the state bird of Michigan. But that could change if a proposal by a Michigan legislator goes through.
Why Was The Robin Chosen As Michigans State Bird?
According to Michigan.gov
In 1931, the AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius) was chosen as the state bird. It had been favored by the Michigan Audubon Society. Sponsors called the robin “the best known and best-loved of all the birds in the state of Michigan.”
After almost 100 years could Michigan be getting a new state bird?
Wood TV reported that Last month, state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, introduced a bill that would make the Kirtland’s warbler the official state bird of Michigan.
Why Should The State Bird The Kirtland's Warbler Be Michigans New State Bird?
Here's what Rep. Greg Markkanen told Wood TV
Fifty years coming back from near extinction, it’s an incredible story and I think this is really to honor the efforts of the biologists at the federal and state level and all of the private citizens that have contributed to help bring this bird back. - Rep. Greg Markkanen
Where Can The Kirtland's Warbler Be Found In America?
This rare warbler is found mostly in the state of Michigan. A small number are breeding in another state and there is a breeding site that has recently been discovered in the central part of Ontario.
Where Does The Bill Currently Stand?
Rep. Markkanen's bill has moved onto committee and he hopes to get a hearing soon. He tells Wood TV he is confident that if the bill gets past the Legislature, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would be willing to sign it into law.