On October 12, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Wild Birds Unlimited owner Christie Lassen will talk about wild bird rescue with volunteers at the Discovery Bay Wild Rescue program. For more parenting activities and skill building programs, visit the ClallamCountyBar.com Parenting Info page.
Two American goldfinches are in the picture above. Did you know the American goldfinch is the official state bird of Washington.
The goldfinch is a delicate little bird with a yellow body and black wings, and although it eventually became the official state bird, many other birds were considered for the title. In 1928, legislators let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won hands-down. It was a nice choice but seven other states already had chosen the same bird. Another vote was taken in 1931 by the Washington Federation of Women’s Clubs. Many birds were nominated, but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951, children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.
http://leg.wa.gov/Symbols/pages/default.aspx
Editor’s note: Webster, we have a problem. The Washington State Legisture web page, which is quoted above, lists the name of the state bird as Willow Goldfinch, which seems to be a mistake. A field guide to western birds, by Roger Tory Peterson, second edition, 1941, Houghton, Mifflin Company, identifies it as the American goldfinch, or common goldfinch, with the scientific name of spinus tristis. In Ted Floyd’s book, Smithsonian field guide to the birds of North America, Collins publishing (2008), Ted also describes the American goldfinch, but lists its scientific name as carduelis tristis. Both books identify the lesser goldfinch as having more black, and an all black cap on its head and a black back, where the American goldfinch has a all yellow or small black patch on its head and a yellow back. (Please drop us a note if you know why there is a difference in names.)
Please join and share your questions and experiences, and invite your children to ask questions and get involved). A Zoom link will be available at First Teacher’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FirstTeacherPMF.
First Teacher online parent-child Zoom activities are free to parents and children in Port Angeles, Sequim, Clallam Bay, Neah Bay, Forks, and anywhere in Clallam County. These activities will offered weekly during the coronavirus times. Check back for upcoming sessions. Contact First Teacher if you would like to host a Zoom activity.
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