Page 15 - Boca ViewPointe - December '23
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December 2023 Viewpointe, Page 15
A Statement About State Birds
By William A. Gralnick where these remarkable birds are found. Without the proper the crow—meaning big and noisy. Thus, the Florida Scrub
habitat, scrub jays are in great danger of extinction. Jay isn’t as unique as making it the state bird would seem.
I’m not sure there’s Unlike their blue cousins, Scrub Jays have interesting Mockingbirds are all over the place. Google says that
a good reason why a blue markings on the body feathers, head, shoulders, and originally they were found in the South, however, northern
legislature takes the time tail. They are sight-catching, and pretty to look at. As mockingbirds made a major range extension up both coasts
to pick a state bird, but they Florida scrub disappears, so do these Jays. Their numbers toward Canada in the 1900s. Today they are found in the
all have, every one of the are in decline. Small to begin with, between 9,000 and majority of the continental United States and in Canada and
50 plus the territories. I see even less reason to spend the 10,000 they are down to the 7,000s. The problem is that Mexico. Some of the northernmost populations may migrate
time changing it. We have a state bird, it is the Mockingbird, making them the state bird does nothing for them. The south over winter. Around here they are my morning friends
a master of mimicry. We almost got that changed for us this designation brings absolutely no money to rebuild habitats, that sing to me when I walk the dogs and chatter at me at
state session. I think the reasons are silly. It’s the state bird no money to find new habitats, no efforts to see if their night seeming to say I should go back inside.
of five states. It tends to be more feisty than beautiful. It isn’t living space can’t be spread into other parts of the state. When it comes to singing others’ songs they are like
unique to Florida and is found pretty much all over the state. Not much of anything, unless of course birds have egos. parrots speaking others’ words. They sing beautifully,
How did this come about? It is the brainchild of Boca’s Nice if that were different, but it isn’t. sometimes across the street from one another, sometimes
own Representative Tina Polsky. And her choice is? The Furthermore, other states, like California, have their own singing to a bird a block away. When they are in voice they
Florida Scrub Jay. Since her bill could pass let me acquaint scrub Jays. Wikipedia tells us that the passerine birds of the cover the neighborhood in song.
you with Mr. and Mrs. Florida Scrub Jay. genus Aphelocoma include the scrub jays and their relatives. Nor are they so bad to look at. They are a medium grey
These intelligent, inquisitive, and friendly birds will eat They are New World jays found in Mexico, western Central with white flashings but explode in white when they take
right out of your hand! The scrub communities in Central America, and the western United States, with an outlying off or alight showing white feathers tip of the wing to body.
Florida are rare and unique in that they are the only place population in Florida. Their upper classification is that of They even have a famous book and play named after them.
This is from an essay written about it: “Remember it’s a sin
to kill a mockingbird… ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but
Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc. make music for us to enjoy…but sing their hearts out for us.
That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
6909 SW 18th St., Suite A120 A special Thank You to our monthly volunteer contributing writers ‘ don’t think the Scrub Jay can claim that.
Boca Raton, FL 33433 Besides, most people have no clue what their state bird is.
Office (561) 395-7551 Fax (561) 395-5936 Steve Handwerker Elyse Weintraub Brown Yishai Mizrahi I think if you asked most folks what Florida’s was, they’d say
Email: info@bocapointe.com Judith Levy Hillary Reynolds Ashley Rozo the Pink Flamingo. That’s reasonable because they are part of
Website: www.bocapointe.com
Dr. Ronald J. Meyers Oris Martin Tonya Jansson Florida tourist campaigns all over the world. The problem is
Access Control Lisa Sileo Peter Sachs The Pap Corps they are an invasive species, so they are not Floridian is all.
Operator: (561) 395-3392 Harold Katz Arthur Dermer Robert W. Goldfarb Still in all, I’d go for that—if I were in favor of a change.
Voice mail system: (561) 395-3369 Harriet Rubin William A. Gralnick Marci Woodward It seems to me that changing the name isn’t the issue,
Website: www.gateaccess.net Anne Gannon Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera Josette Veltri
legislators taking the time to do it is the issue. This state,
Staff The views of the writers of the various articles in this newspaper do not along with the country of which it is a part, is a mess. We
April Narine, General Manager necessarily reflect the views of the Boca Pointe Community Association. have more issues than a several-month legislative session
Lisa Cammaleri, Assistant Manager The Association nor the individual writers are not responsible for claims or
Diane Esola, Administrative Assistant promises contained in any advertising material appearing in the Viewpointe. can handle. Don’t mock me, but I don’t think it is necessary.
Marcel Dos Santos, Director of Security Such claims and promises are the sole responsibility of the individual
advertiser. Columnist and author Bill Gralnick was born and raised
Viewpointe of Boca Pointe is the newspaper in Brooklyn, NY. He is writing a three-part humorous memoir.
of Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.
Please direct all questions, comments or The first is “The War of the Itchy Balls and Other Tales from
articles for Viewpointe to lisa.cammaleri@ Brooklyn.” Just published is the sequel, “George Washington
fsresidential.com. Didn’t Sleep Here.” Both are available on Amazon. You can find
his writing at https://www.williamgralnickauthor.com.
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