NSIS: Campaign to Make Florida Scrub-Jay the Official State Bird

Update January, 2016

Tallahassee Democrat: One more campaign: Florida Scrub-jay for state bird by Rep. Mark Pafford

Update May, 1999

The bill was passed unanimously in a Senate committee, despite vigorous oppositon by Marion Hammer of the NRA, but failed to get onto the floor of either the House or Senate for a vote.

Petition drives are still underway. Rep. Futch and Sen. Kurth will continue the effort in the next legislative session.

A campaign is currently underway to designate the Florida Scrub-Jay as the official state bird of Florida. The current state bird is the Northern Mockingbird.

The Florida Audubon Society at their membership meeting last fall adopted a resolution to support this effort. Rep. Howard Futch filed a bill in the House of Representatives to make it official.

Brooksville's Moton Elementary Wildlife Ambassadors project is focusing on the Florida Scrub-Jay. The site contains lots of information and great photos.

Pro arguments include:

The Florida Scrub-Jay is the only bird endemic to Florida (ie, found only in Florida). The Northern Mockingbird is not only found throughout most of the United States, it is the state bird of several states.
State birds should be unique to the state.
The Florida Scrub-Jay is a recognized symbol of Florida's environmental crisis.
While it is a threatened species, enough is known to save the species from extinction. Designation as the state bird could increase the chances it will be saved.

Con arguments include:

The Florida Scrub-Jay is not found in all parts of the state; the Northern Mockingbird is.

The text of the bill designating the Florida Scrub-Jay as the state bird:

A bill to be entitled
An act relating to the Secretary of State:
creating s. 15.051, F.S.; designating the
Florida Scrub Jay as the official state bird;

Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

Section 1. Section 15.051, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

15.051 Official state bird. -- The Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma
coerulenscens) is designated the official Florida state bird.

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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