Robin vs. Feral Pigeon: Voting for Britain鈥檚 National Bird
Britain doesn鈥檛 have a national bird. Now, one avid birder is looking to change that.
In the U.S., the Bald Eagle is a big deal. Synonymous with national pride, the bird is placed indiscriminately on , , , and . When I moved to the U.K. in 2014, I knew I鈥檇 miss this openly patriotic display鈥擝rits are not the types to walk around with screen-printed national bird attire. While that鈥檚 likely because of European fashion sensibilities, it turns out Brits couldn鈥檛 wear national bird attire even if they wanted to: Britain doesn鈥檛 have a national bird.
But it鈥檚 about to get one. , a well-known British ornithologist, is dismayed by the lack of a national avian, and is encouraging Britons to take a stand and choose between ducks and pheasants, swallows and swans, in the country鈥檚 first-ever national bird vote.
Speaking from the top of a tall building in central London where he鈥檚 trying to spot high-flyers in foggy skies, Lindo tells me it鈥檚 high time Britain got its own bird. 鈥淲e adore our birds,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe no one鈥檚 actually come up with this idea.鈥
Well actually, someone else has. In 1961, a bird appreciation council selected the European Robin. But Lindo is dismissive of this, as the general public didn鈥檛 get to weigh in. 鈥淚t was chosen by a committee of crusty old men in suits,鈥 he says, and was never formally anointed as a national symbol. Now, Lindo, who is a nature writer and broadcaster, and goes by the moniker 鈥楾he Urban Birder鈥, is using his influence to make the process more inclusive. That includes to vote for a national bird, online or on paper (there's nothing but honesty preventing non-Brits from participating).
Lindo launched the campaign in August, with the support of organizations like the United Kingdom鈥檚 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Hawk and Owl Trust. Until October 31, voters can choose up to six options from a list of 鈥攅ach of which are iconic in Britain because of the folklore and history attached to them.
The online poll has already attracted 40,000 voters; Lindo is aiming for 100,000. The six birds with the most votes will compete for the national title in another open-voting session, from January to May. Time-wise, it鈥檚 purposefully aligned with the United Kingdom鈥檚 general elections. 鈥淭he idea is that it runs alongside the general election, and hopefully will offer an antidote to the boredom and drudgery of that vote,鈥 Lindo says. He鈥檚 also working to get whatever bird is elected formally approved as a national symbol鈥攁nd he hopes the timing of the vote will peak government officials鈥 interest.
So far, the robin, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, wren, Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon are taking the lead. As for the Urban Birder鈥檚 own personal favorite? It鈥檚 not even on the list, he says. 鈥淭he Ring Ouzel. I鈥檝e loved them since I was a kid.鈥
Lindo鈥檚 hoping the political edge will raise the profile of his effort, which in turn will raise some awareness for avians. After the decision next year, he aims to place the avian finalist on a stamp, and to have garnered enough support to create a nature reserve in a deprived area outside London where wild birds could take refuge and bring nature closer to the community.
As for the bird that鈥檒l end up on the stamp, Lindo reckons it鈥檒l be something familiar, like the robin, or another garden bird. It may not be as majestic as America鈥檚 eagle, but it would definitely be British.