I was ten years old when my father moved our family to Kauai, one of the islands that make up the state of Hawaii. My time on the island introduced me to a wide variety of wildlife that I had never experienced. Its natural beauty is immense. The sand beaches are the silkiest on earth. The sunsets are otherworldly. And, the view; that wonderful view from the shore stretches for miles. It is magnificent.

When my family first arrived at the island, I distinctly remember road signs that depicted a duck-like bird. They were everywhere, especially in the area around the Hanalei Bridge. I never paid any real attention until I saw the necessity of these road markers in real-time use.

Image by I’m at the Library

It was the day of the Annual Historic Koloa Plantation Days Parade. My parents took my little brothers and me to watch the event on Koloa Street. Amid the floral floats, decorated horses, and vintage cars, a few special birds decided to have a parade of their own. On the sidewalk, a Hawaiian Goose and her goslings marched through the thick crowd of people. This was my first time seeing one of my favorite birds, the Nënë.

Image by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Nënë was named the Hawaiian state bird in 1957. This bird is a trademark of Hawaiian heritage and closely protected by the Hawaiian state government. Currently, Nënë are listed as an endangered species. The species population has experienced a downward trend during the past century due to increased human development on the Hawaiian Islands. The Garden Island states, “Statewide, the total estimate for the population is 3,159, up from the 2017 statewide estimate of 3,146. Compare those statewide totals from the ones calculated nearly 10 years ago; the population was estimated 1,900 in 2008.” Thankfully, the species is gaining public aid with activists taking precautions to ensure that they will never become extinct. However, the increased numbers of Nënë means more danger zones for the geese to wander in urbanized areas.

Nënë have successfully adapted to the Hawaiian area. Although the species originated from the Canadian Goose, there are few similarities. For one, life on the Hawaiian Islands has reduced their wing size over the decades. This allows for only short flights. The species no longer requires migration due to the steadily rising temperatures. Water habitats are not vital to the Nënë. The birds are categorized as waterfowl, meaning they are similar to ducks and other large aquatic birds that are hunted for game. While they are considered aquatic animals, Nënë have adapted to not needing freshwater habitats due to a shortage in their ecosystems.

The beautiful Hawaiian Goose is a showstopper. It’s tall stature and graceful movements surely make it beloved by the Hawaiian community. Remember to watch for Nënë crossings if ever on Kauai, Maui, or the Big Island. These birds are precious gifts of nature and reserve the right to flourish in the wild.

My parents are super weird and super smart. That is a bad combination for a seven-year-old girl’s summer. My summer vacations as a kid were filled with the Texas heat. Correction: it is always hot in Texas; not just during the summer. There are no seasons in that state. It is just an endless cycle of drought and dead grass. When I was not splashing around in our pool, I was sitting directly in front of a fan. The air conditioning of the house was my only solace from red, hot sunburns. These were the days, the ones that were too hot to bear, that I annoyed the life out of my family. My punishment? Summer homework!

When my stepmother married into our family, she hopped onto the birdwatching bandwagon. So, every time my boring rambling became too much to bear, she refocused my attention on a couple of huge books. Bird books. In other words, she made write a bird report. Not cool.
While I was never happy to do these projects at the moment, I look back on them with fond memories. I learned so much about regional birds. Now, I finally understood why my dad, and grandfather, got so excited when they saw rare birds at the feeder. I began sitting out on the porch, watching and waiting. Honestly, I was super bad at identifying birds. All the colors blended for me. This is probably why I had such a soft spot for one particular species. They were so vibrant, so spectacular, and impossible to miss.

Image by audubon.org

The Painted Bunting is often referred to as the most beautiful bird in America. Their vibrant coloring and shy nature have enraptured the hearts of many bird lovers. They even earned the nickname, nonpareil, which is French for “without equal”.

This species of bird mainly inhabits the south of the US and migrates to Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean during the winter. However, there have been rare sightings of the Painted Bunting in New York, Maryland, and even Pennsylvania. While these birds do like bird feeders, they primarily prefer to live in seclusion. They seek woodlands and dense shrubs. The Painted Bunting is an extremely timid and private bird. This natural shyness makes it very difficult to observe the species frequently. These little birds also love to eat all types of grass seeds. However, they do switch their diets to insects when breeding.

Painted Buntings are considered to be monogamous birds. Males will go to extreme lengths to gain a female’s affection. For example, two male birds will fight viciously over a female bird, sometimes to the point of death. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology points out that there is one very popular flirting technique in which the male divebombs the female to the ground and starts pecking at her. Romance is dead? Nay, it is alive.

While these lovely birds are not on the ‘endangered’ animal list, their population has been dropping steadily over the past few decades. The decline in densely forested areas in the United States leaves the species without a proper home. Sadly, habitat destruction is not the only issue. The Painted Bunting is often targeted for illegal trade. They are considered to be very popular birds to keep as pets in Mexico and parts of Central America. The capture and relocation of flocks harm the overall population. It would be such a shame to have these beautiful birds marked one day as extinct.

It is true; the Painted Bunting is possibly the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen. I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn about the stunning creature at such a young age. What a wonderful thing it is to see a bird that so clearly exemplifies beauty.

My room was painted blue and yellow at my father’s house in Dover, Delaware. It was a tiny space, with minimal furniture. An intricate quilt made by my stepmother was spread across the bed. Everyday as I started my morning chores, I would pause and look at the fabric. There were strips covered with beautiful blue chickens. I was told that it was a Delaware themed quilt. Each fabric piece resembled something that belonged to the state’s history. My stepmother explained that this quilt theme was inspired by Delaware’s state bird, the Blue Hen.

I had NEVER heard of a real blue chicken. My six year-old mind was amazed. From that point forward, every time my family took a drive, I would peek out the car window with hopes of seeing a Blue Hen. When I told my father of my dream, he gave a hearty laugh. I was crushed when he told me that Blue Hen’s aren’t even a real breed of birds.

In part, he was correct.

The Blue Hen was named Delaware’s state bird on April 14, 1939. It is true. Blue Hens are not an official recognized breed of bird, but they do exist.

Image by backyardchickens.com

The Blue Hen has a long history intertwined with the state of Delaware. The story begins with cockfighting.

Cockfighting is an 6,000 year old sport that involves chickens… fighting. These birds are referred to as gamecocks, and are often pushed to the brink of death. In the United States, and many other parts of the world, cockfighting is illegal due to it’s cruel nature. However, certain cultures and religious sects still believe that the sport is a prominent part of their lifestyles. The practice was very common in the United States during the time period of the Revolutionary War.

Captain John Caldwell of Delaware raised a gamecock that was a victorious fighter. When heading off to war, the men of Caldwell’s company decided to bring the brood of the famous chicken. This earned them the nickname, “Sons of Blue Hen“.

From this point forward, the Blue Hen became a symbol closely related to Delaware’s history. The bird’s likeness is often used in political campaigns and publications all throughout the state. In recent times, institutions in the area hold a fondness for the Blue Hen. The University of Delaware paid tribute to the beloved animal by making it their mascot. The college has the largest collection of Blue Hens in the world. However, this modern Blue Hen is not exactly the same chicken that gained popularity in colonial times.

Image by britannica.com

Yes, Blue Hens are technically not a recognized species. The bird is a subject of cross-breeding that has been perfected over the course of two-hundred years. Recently, Blue Hens have been breed with birds like the Andalusian Chicken to enhance certain physical traits. There are still groups that try to keep the ‘true’ strain of the bird alive. These Delaware natives religiously protect the bloodline of their precious state bird.

Overall, Blue Hens are pretty cool. I still haven’t seen one, so here is my goal in life:

1. Travel to Delaware.
2. Drive along those old backroads.
3. Find a Blue Hen.
4. Die peacefully.

I loved the summers on my grandfather’s farm in Mount Vernon, Ohio. My favorite place to play was below the apple trees in the orchard. I would lay in the shade, read my favorite books, and occasionally, eat an apple or two. There was always a light breeze that would sway the trees. As the sun set, the cicadas would begin their symphony. Alas, I would have to leave my orchard behind, and wait listlessly for another day. This explains why I was always excited to awake in the morning. The first sound I would hear were the birds chirping. It was as if a new cycle began, yet another beautiful day. As I grew older, my grandfather taught me to recognize one bird’s specific melody. He would whistle the tune in the orchard before he went to the fields to bale hay. It was the song of America’s favorite backyard bird, the Northern Cardinal.

Image by statesymbolsusa.org

The Cardinal is the state bird of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This bird is a popular, little guy. According to Ohio History Central, Cardinals were not common in the Ohio area late into the 1800’s. This was due to the densely forested enviroment. When European settlers began thinning the forests for logging purposes, the Northern Cardinal began populating the area. The bird likes a mixed enviroment of plains and woodland, making the modern Ohio its perfect home. 

Surprisingly, Cardinals do not migrate. They tend to build sheltered nests during the winter. These nests are typically made up of shrubs and are located in areas like parks, edges of forests, or just a simple backyard. As said before, Cardinals are pretty much America’s favorite bird. Devoted lovers of Cardinals will often cater to the animal by setting up bird houses and bird feeders.

It is very easy to make a Cardinal home.

Cardinals like open nesting areas. They will most likely not use store-bought, wooden birdhouses. A wooden nesting platform built near trees and shrubs may be the most successful way to entice Cardinals.

A bird feeder is another popular way to attract Cardinals.

Just fill the feeder with bird seed, and the cardinals will be flocking towards it. Cardinals tend to like sunflower seeds, corn, and peanuts.

It is always easy to spot Cardinals. Their vibrant red feathers and beak set them apart from other birds. However, many do not realize that they may be seeing more Cardinals than it appears. There is a common misconception that all Cardinals are red. This is false. According to the website, All About Birds, Female Cardinals look nothing like the males. Their feathers are mostly brown, with the only similarity being the black coloring of the face and red beak.

Cardinals are well-loved creatures that can be found all over the United States. Their lovely song, and stunning appearance have captured the hearts of all Americans. I will always remember the specific chirp of the Northern Cardinal. Their song was like the musical theme to my childhood. Every time I hear that little red bird, I can almost hear my grandfather whistling along.