In Nature Magazine, April 1932, state bird promoter Katherine B. Tippetts wrote,
“Minnesota was faced with an embarrassment of excellent candidates in its State bird vote organized by Mrs. Willard Bayliss, then president of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs. After much publicity and a substantial vote for the Goldfinch, it was selected.”
Robin vs Scarlet Tanager
Tippetts said the goldfinch had been selected by the State Federation. In 1940, Life magazine commemorated all the state birds with portraits by renowned ornithologist and artist Roger Tory Peterson.
Today, the goldfinch represents New Jersey and Washington, but not Minnesota; it was never officially adopted. Other birds, including the pileated woodpecker and kingfisher were proposed at various times.
A state-wide newspaper poll indicated that adults favored the robin, while children preferred the scarlet tanager. The newspaper reported that the adults agreed to “let the kids have their choice,” but no action was taken in the Legislature.
Authentic Loon
In 1961, the 700-member Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union petitioned the Legislature to adopt the common loon as Minnesota’s official state bird. Dr. Walter J. Breckenridge, director of the Bell Museum of Natural History, testified that “The loon expresses the essence of unrestrained wilderness and seems to put the stamp of genuineness on a north country setting-like sterling does on silver.”
The House and Senate both passed the bill. It was signed into law by Governor Elmer L. Anderson on March 13, 1961.
Few state birds are as beloved as Minnesota’s loon. Loon postcards and other memorabilia are commonly sold in Minneapolis stores. The loon is the symbol of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, whose journal is The Loon. A loon also serves as the logo of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Wildlife Program.
Biologists believe the Land of 10,000 Lakes has boasted 10,000 loons for many years. It has been estimated that 80 percent of Minnesota’s lakes over 750 acres in size are inhabited by loons. However, numbers may have decreased slightly due to the inroads of civilization.
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