There are always birds in my life. My yard, our store, and my observations usually bring forth a notice of birds. The holidays are coming and I thought about how birds relate to them. So I made a list!

• Halloween: Crows, Buzzards, Vultures, and Owls
• Thanksgiving: Turkey (wild or not)
• Christmas: Cardinals and Doves
• Valentines Day: White Doves
• Easter: Chickens and baby birds especially robins
• Memorial Day: Racing Pigeons
• 4th of July: Bald Eagle

Did you know you have a birth month bird? Many of us know our birth flower and birth stone, and after researching birds in our lives, I found out we have birds of the month in addition to state birds.

Our Official State Birds

• Alabama - Yellowhammer
• Alaska - Willow Ptarmigan
• Arizona - Cactus Wren
• Arkansas - Mockingbird
• California - CA Valley Quail
• Colorado - Lark Bunting
• Connecticut - Robin
• Delaware - Blue Hen Chicken
• Florida - Mockingbird
• Georgia - Brown Thrasher
• Hawaii - Nene
• Idaho - Mountain Bluebird
• Illinois - Cardinal
• Indiana - Cardinal
• Iowa - Eastern Goldfinch
• Kansas - Western Meadowlark
• Kentucky - Cardinal
• Louisiana - Eastern Brown Pelican
• Maine - Chickadee
• Maryland -Baltimore Oriole
• Massachusetts - Chickadee
• Michigan - Robin
• Minnesota - Common Loon
• Mississippi - Mockingbird
• Missouri - Bluebird
• Montana - Western Meadowlark
• Nebraska - Western Meadowlark
• Nevada - Mountain Bluebird
• New Hampshire - Purple Finch
• New Jersey - Eastern Goldfinch
• New Mexico - Roadrunner
• New York - Bluebird
• North Carolina - Cardinal
• North Dakota - Western Meadowlark
• Ohio - Cardinal
• Oklahoma - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Oregon - Western Meadowlark
• Pennsylvania - Ruffed Grouse
• Rhode Island - Rhode Island Red
• South Carolina - Great Carolina Wren
• South Dakota - Ring-necked Pheasant
• Tennessee - Mockingbird
• Texas - Mockingbird
• Utah - Common American Gull
• Vermont - Hermit Thrush
• Virginia - Cardinal
• Washington - Willow Goldfinch
• West Virginia - Cardinal
• Wisconsin - Robin
• Wyoming - Western Meadowlark

Use these lists for those gift giving events! If you just can't figure out what to give someone, take a look at their birds of the month, birds of the holidays, or birds of their birth state, bird mascot, or where they are living now. At least in Broad Ripple, Indiana, the cardinal is a safe bet!