16 THE. AUDUBON BU i ie aia 
It will be noticed from the dates that the interest in our native birds 
and plantlife has been almost entirely a product of the present century. 
This is without doubt a result of the work of the Audubon and other similar 
societies and women’s clubs and their efforts as reflected by the schools of 
the country. Many of the selections have been the result of campaigns in 
the schools and the votes of the children. In some instances choices have 
been indicated by schools and other organizations, but have not yet been 
approved. In Connecticut a bill naming the robin as the state bird was 
rejected in 1941. Utah, while not officially recognizing the California gull 
as the state bird, gives it special legislative protection. The maple tree was 
chosen by the schools of Rhode Island as long ago as 1894, and the violet in 
1897, but no official action has ever been taken. 
The fact that Illinois has a state bird, a state flower, and a state tree 
is not too generally known. In 1907 a ballot for a state flower and state 
tree brought out 43,000 votes. The violet received 16,583 votes for state 
flower, the wild rose was second with 12,628, and the goldenrod third with 
4,315. For state tree the oak led with 21,897 votes, the maple was second 
with 16,000, and the elm was third with 5,000. The General Assembly 
approved the violet and the oak in 1908. 
Selection of a state bird was not made until 1929, and again it was 
based upon votes cast by school children. Five birds received over 15,000 
votes each, and the cardinal won over the bluebird by a vote of 39,226 to 
30,306. The meadowlark was third with 16,200 votes, the quail fourth with 
15,800, and the oriole fifth with 15,400. 
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