National Bird Contest T-Shirt

It’s been said that Ben Franklin proposed that our national bird should be the Wild Turkey. No, not the one in the bottle, the actual bird. (Although I could make some strong arguments for the bottled version.) It turns out that he wasn’t as head over heels in love with the turkey as much as he was opposed to the Bald Eagle. He saw the eagle as, well, a thief and a coward. Conversely, he viewed the turkey as courageous and moral. In a letter to his daughter he stated; “For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”

Now we here at Ranger Up are not experts in bird behavior. We do understand that turkeys look dumb. Honestly, they’re stupid looking birds. Imagine that big, dumb, barely airworthy avian on our Great Seal. Sure, they have some good qualities. They’re smart, sneaky, and tasty. But certainly not scary or imposing. Although B-Frank makes some compelling points we’re glad that the turkey didn’t make the cut. Bald Eagles are bad ass, and Tom is the 2nd Place National Bird.