TALLAHASSEE -- Those who want a different Florida state bird are adding a member to their flock.
St. Petersburg Republican Senator Jeff Brandes has filed a proposal for 2022 that would rescind the designation of the mockingbird as state bird. It's held that perch since 1927.
Brandes "tweeted" in favor of his proposal Friday, mentioning that the northern mockingbird now represents four other states (none of which are actually northern).
"The mockingbird apparently had a very good lobbyist," Brandes joked.
Brandes' bill does not select a replacement.
Listeners to Tampa Bay area radio are familiar with the shortcomings of the northern mockingbird as Florida's representative, as longtime WFLA host Jack Harris has campaigned for years to allow Florida school children to select another species to serve as state bird. Harris' campaign has been picked up by Travis Horn, who heads a communications and PR firm called Bull Horn Communications.
Information from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.