[Tweeters] Did someone say Varied Thrush? :)

[Tim Brennan]

I did love Bob's plate!

And it's interesting to imagine that, for as often as I go on my little rambles about the Varied Thrush, and why it's so amazing, that I stumbled on a new reason that it would make a lovely state bird, but how about this:

It has two sets of vocal cords.

I know all thrushes do, but I don't know that there's a thrush out there that highlights this as well as the varied thrush. The steam-whistle calls get their aching beauty from those paired tones, and the harmonics they produce. And our state, beautiful as it is, sometimes has two sets of vocal cords. . . doesn't it? (a note that just reminded me to cc our birding friends on the other side of the state). With the East and West sides of the state, there are such stark differences in weather, landscapes, professions, and politics. . . we're not always singing the same note! But it seems like we could hope that at times, when we're the wisest, best versions of ourselves, that those notes will pair up to make something as beautiful as what we get to hear on crisp March mornings.

And where are these birds off to in the coming summer months? Up to the highest most beautiful parts of our state, where, on a clear day, you might be able to see both sides.

I doubt that the symbolism would be lost on Governor Inslee, who has actually spent time living on both sides of the state.

Now. . . leading up to 1951, it sounds like it was two contentious years of voting before the school kids picked the American Goldfinch. I don't know what kind of a fight it would take to get people to go through all of that again. But, c'mon. The junco was among the also-rans. . . folks, they had the Oregon​ Junco in the running as our state bird. Reason to question the process? 😄

I'd be down to write a letter or two.

Cheers,

Tim Brennan
Renton
________________________________
From: Alan Roedell <alanroedell at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 5:22 PM
To: Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns at gmail.com>
Cc: Tim Brennan <tsbrennan at hotmail.com>; Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Did someone say Varied Thrush? :)

Whenever I see a Varied Thrush I remember the late Bob Sundstrom, the most knowledgeable, intellectual and gracious Washington bird guide in my experience. His license plate read "IXOREUS".  He was well known and respected throughout the international birding world. His numerous writings for "Bird note" are still the most thoughtful, factual, and appealing to be heard on NPR. The garden he and Sally Alhadef
built in Scatter Creek is a wonderful oasis for birds. He was kind, thoughtful man.
If anyone wants to start a campaign to change the state bird to Varied Thrush count me in.
Alan Roedell, Seattle


On Sat, Apr 15, 2023, 4:18 PM Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns at gmail.com<mailto:thefedderns at gmail.com>> wrote:
I agree Tim! Maybe we should start a movement to change our state bird to Varied Thrush! I wonder what it would take?

My lady Varied Thrush put in three appearances yesterday, but I have not seen her today.

Hans

On Sat, Apr 15, 2023 at 12:19 PM Tim Brennan <tsbrennan at hotmail.com<mailto:tsbrennan at hotmail.com>> wrote:
Yes! Someone sent that Cornell article my way a couple weeks back. The 24% statistic is fun. I also liked it over some other potential state birds, like Chestnut-backed Chickadee, because they are annual birds in every county in our state. As tacky as it is to challenge an election, I'll still question the crooks who allowed the schoolkids to vote the American Goldfinch in there as our bird. 😉 Varied Thrush for president!

Tim Brennan
Renton
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--
Hans Feddern
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com<mailto:thefedderns at gmail.com>
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