A tongue-in-cheek movement to replace Georgia's state bird with the chicken is gaining attention, according to the Savannah Morning News. Chris Cunningham, an Augusta-based restaurateur, launched the Flip the Birds campaign to raise awareness of the chicken's economic importance to the state. Georgia produces 1.4 billion chickens annually, more than any other state, and the poultry industry has a greater than $18 billion impact on the state each year.

According to Cunningham, the brown thrasher - Georgia's official state bird since 1970 - is not nearly so vital. The Georgia Conservancy disagrees, however, and points out that the brown thrasher is found in every Georgia county and has many redeeming qualities, including an amazing repertoire of more than 3,000 bird sounds. No other state claims the brown thrasher as its official symbol.

Both parties are enjoying the debate over the state bird, and regardless of the outcome, both the chicken and the brown thrasher are welcome in Georgia.

Brown Thrasher
Photo © Christopher Drake

Tastes Like Chicken originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 10:16:44.

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