FWC cries ‘fowl’ on Florida state bird, wants it changed to osprey

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Add the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to the supporters of doing distant with the mockingbird arsenic the authorities vertebrate during the 2022 legislative session.

Commissioners agreed Thursday to connection the osprey arsenic a imaginable replacement for the mockingbird -- Florida’s avian awesome since 1927.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, has filed a connection (SCR 324) to rescind the designation of the mockingbird arsenic the authorities bird. Meanwhile, Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, and Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, person projected authorities (SB 378 and HB 207) to designate the scrub jay arsenic the authorities bird.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s support of a solution Thursday revived a 2008 committee task tied to that year’s statesmanlike election.

“It taught civics, taught birds and got a batch of young students, I think, from the 4th to seventh people progressive successful voting,” said committee Assistant Executive Director Thomas Eason. “Over 77,000 students were progressive successful that and really voted connected a slate of birds. And the osprey was the winner.”

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The committee unsuccessfully backed the alteration during the 2009 legislative session.

Chairman Rodney Barreto said he’s been approached astir the commission’s presumption connected the bills and recommended “dusting” disconnected the 2008 project.

“That doesn’t needfully mean that that’s the mode it’s going to go, if you cognize the Legislature,” Barreto said. “But astatine slightest we tin enactment a marker down.”

News Service of Florida