Happy Birthday Scissortailed Flycatcher! State Bird Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago this May, the Legislature designated the scissortailed flycatcher as Oklahoma's state bird. According to many bird enthusiasts, this year's golden anniversary celebration is special

Monday, January 22nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Fifty years ago this May, the Legislature designated the scissortailed flycatcher as Oklahoma's state bird. According to many bird enthusiasts, this year's golden anniversary celebration is special because even after 50 years, no other state can boast the scissortail as its state bird.

Without a doubt, the scissortailed flycatcher is one of the most picturesque and beautiful of our North American birds, and although abundant within its range, the scissortail's distribution is limited chiefly to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, with the Sooner State being the geographical center.

"Oklahoma's designation of the scissortail flycatcher as its state bird is unusual, considering that we're one of only two states to select a neotropical migrant as its state bird," said Julian Hilliard, natural resources information specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The only other neotropical migrant to be selected is the Baltimore oriole, selected by Maryland as its state bird."

Hillard added that the 50th Anniversary Logo will be seen on various products which will soon be available from the Department's Wildlife Diversity Program. The Program is responsible for managing the more than 800 species of fish and wildlife in the state that aren't fished for, hunted or trapped.

"You might have seen this scissortail under the heading 'Search for the Scissortail' on the Oklahoma State Income Tax, or maybe you noticed it on one of the thousands of wildlife license plates cruising state roadways," Hilliard said. "It was the first nongame species showcased on the wildlife plates, and remains one of the most popular designs."

This May, the Wildlife Department in association with the American Association of ZooKeepers-Oklahoma City Chapter, are hosting a Scissortail Celebration Saturday, May 12, at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. Numerous activities will take place, with the day's activities culminating in a Scissortail Kite Contest.

The kite contest is open to anyone, and family participation is encouraged. The contest is simple: Create a kite depicting a scissortail flycatcher and bring it to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden May 12. Categories for the contest include different age classes, family-made, schools and recycled materials. Kites will be judged on design and creativity. There is no entry fee.

Other family-fun activities at the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden will include a migratory bird count on Zoo grounds. The annual bird count is part of International Migratory Bird Day, organized by Partners In Flight, an international organization made up of state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and private landowners in the Western Hemisphere to celebrate neotropical migrants. Participants from all over the Western Hemisphere celebrate migratory bird conservation by participating in counts, festivals, and school activities on the designated day. This year will be the 9th anniversary of this hallmark event recognizing the need to educate the public about these species.

For more information about the kite contest and other activities call the Wildlife Diversity Program at 405/ 521-4616 or e-mail nr@odwc.state.ok.us. Information is also available on the Department's website at www.wildlifedepartment.com or the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden's site at www.okczoo.com.