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IPR News Radio's Sunday host, Cheryl Bartz, tells us what to look for as we wander around northern Michigan, helping us notice the little wonders all around us.

Vote Turkey Vulture for State Bird

Turkey vultures are essential ecosystem workers. They consume carrion, preventing disease.
Turkey vultures are essential ecosystem workers. They consume carrion, preventing disease.

I’m fond of robins, but for me, they don’t tick all the boxes necessary to claim state bird status.

You probably know the robin is the State Bird of Michigan. But should it be? IPR is conducting a State Bird CAWcus to see if the robin should be un-nested from this lofty position.

I’m fond of robins, but for me, they don’t tick all the boxes necessary to claim state bird status. I think these additional characteristics should be considered: Is it big, colorful, easily identified, unique to Michigan?

The Kirtland’s warbler is almost unique to Michigan, being found in parts of Wisconsin and Canada as well. But big, colorful, easily identifiable?? Not so much. You have to go to a very limited area of Michigan to see it—and if you’re like me, you’d still need a guide to point it out.

Instead, I’m nominating a different—mostly feathered—avian for state bird. It’s big, colorful and easily identifiable

Moreover, the bird I’m nominating is an essential worker of the ecosystem. Think back to the pandemic. Remember how quickly we figured out who the “essential workers” were—the ones who had to go to work to keep the rest of us alive?

Well, the bird I’m nominating is essential. It prevents disease by clearing dead animals from the environment.

Turkey vultures at work

It’s the turkey vulture. It’s big, colorful, easily identified. And no other state is likely to claim it as their state bird.

To participate in the CAWcus, visit iprnews.org. You can vote for the turkey vulture or make your own nomination. Plus see a video of turkey vultures in action while you’re there.

By the way, turkey vultures don’t have the vocal organs necessary to produce song. Instead they make a loud huffing sound. Listen to the audio link that accompanies this text to hear the huffing of a turkey vulture.

Cheryl Bartz hosts IPR's Sunday programming and writes a (mostly) weekly essay called "What's Up Outside?"