For the choice of the new state bird, I have narrowed it to two birds which I feel fit the aesthetic, geographic and anthropologic criteria for this vital position. A precedent has already been set for our first candidate. Much of the economy of the western half of our state is based on the Arkansas white chicken, commonly referred to as the fryer. In essence, the mockingbird is nature's Weird Al Yankovic. And for over 70 years the mockingbird has represented the state of Arkansas in its official capacity as the state bird.
Some people have no reservations about that.
I, however, do. I don't deny the mockingbird its basic right to be a mockingbird, and I would fight to the death to defend that right. But, I don't want the mockingbird to represent me ornithologically. State birds are an odd study. It seems that some states actually put some thought into choosing a unique bird to represent them, while other states let, it appears, someone else do their thinking for them.