I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. But I do not believe in bluebirds. There, I said it. I do not believe in bluebirds.The bluebird is the state bird of New York. But has anyone actually seen one of these mythical creatures?
Apparently, the American robin was initially selected as the state bird of New York. (I think that would have been a great choice. Robins are everywhere! I love robins! They are my favorite bird.) But then a Mrs. Charles Cyrus Marshall, President of the New York Federated Women's Clubs in the late 1920's decided that the bluebird was more popular. Forty years later, on May 18, 1970, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, signed the papers and the bluebird was officially adopted as the state bird of New York.
So, apparently it was a popularity contest. The poor robin - ubiquitous, beautiful, but common, shoved to second place by a flashy blue and red bird that as far as I can tell doesn't even exist. At least not in places where I frequent.
I've read that eastern bluebirds don't like deep woods, or residential areas. They like to live between the two in open fields, meadows, orchards and farms. I've been to those kinds of places. I've seen plenty of open fields and meadows, orchards and farms. But I've never seen a bluebird there.
I say we make a change and give it back to the robin. The robin deserves it.
Quack!
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You're right. I never once saw a bluebird my whole 38 years in New York. But, they are all over the place here. I see them in the backyard all the time. I think the Virginia state bird is the cardinal or something?
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