Gray jay beat out common loon, black-capped chickadee, snowy owl and Canada goose in National Bird Project
That would have been a tough call for me with those entries on the ballot.
I would easily have written off the black capped chickadee as I see them in my back yard almost daily. Snowy owl somehow seems more norse, belongs in northern europe somewhere, finland or norway or sweden etc? The common loon or the obvious choice Canada Goose both look like strong contenders. I think I may have
heard of the Whiskey Jack in the past but couldn't identify it. Honestly I can't believe the Canadian Goose lost.
The jack is also a bit of an odd pick - something like this is a national symbol, usually they go for animals that project a bold, powerful image. (like America's Bald Eagle) Looks like it'd make a funny cartoon panel, the chickadee squaring off against the eagle... heh.
love this cartoon, published shortly after 9/11:
http://wavethemes.net/gallery/var/albums...or-by-breen.jpgOr buck tradition and make the Moose your national bird, we'd forgive you for it! Nothing says "Canada" quite like "have you seen my moose?"
and on that note... my neighbor visited canada and brought back one of these
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/191478626815-0-1/s-l1000.jpg