This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Western Meadowlark’s election as Kansas's official state bird. This beloved songbird also holds the title in five other states: Oregon (1927), Wyoming (1927), Nebraska (1929), Montana (1931), and North Dakota (1947). With their striking good looks and clear, bell-toned melodies ringing out over the landscape, it’s no surprise this iconic grassland bird is the second most popular state bird in the nation, trailing closely behind the Northern Cardinal.

Near my home in coastal Southern California, there’s a shared green space featuring a large grassy lawn. Many of the birds I see are familiar residents or seasonal returnees that feel like old friends — but spotting a Western Meadowlark is always a heart-stopping surprise. During the winter, the Western Meadowlarks’ arrival is unpredictable; in some winters, they don't come at all. When they do come around, it's often in pairs or sometimes in small groups of three, lingering for several days as they search for insects among the grass.

In San Diego, some Western Meadowlarks spend the winter in coastal marshes like the one just across the road from my home. However, their true refuge is found in open grasslands, where they build their nests, nurture their young, and display vibrant yellow bellies, each adorned with a bold black chevron. 

The Intriguing Tale Behind Kansas's Official State Bird

The journey of how this prairie dweller gained such widespread affection in Kansas is more than just a story about a bird; it's a tale of conservation, community pride, and a remarkable grassroots campaign that put the decision in schoolchildren's hands.

The story kicks off in September 1908 during a spirited meeting of the Sedgwick County Horticultural Society. George A. Blair, an expert fruit grower and knowledgeable horticulturist, made a compelling case for the benefits of birds. He referenced a study showing that birds aid farmers by consuming numerous pests, such as grasshoppers and beetles, that pose threats to crops. Not everyone agreed. In fact, one member outright dismissed all birds as nuisances that damage crops and eat ripening fruit; he even went so far as suggesting that all orioles and robins be shot!

A local Wichita newspaper ran the story implying that the society endorsed the extermination of all birds. Naturally this ruffled the feathers of local bird lovers. By October, they had formed the Audubon Society of Kansas (ASK), emphasizing nature study and Bird and Arbor Day events in schools.

Over the ensuing years, ASK narrowed its focus to a single, powerful aim, which ASK’s secretary at the time, Madeleine Aaron, summed up: “To inspire in children a desire to protect birds and to teach them to appreciate the usefulness of birds is now the aim of every member of the society.” By 1925, ASK had established a network of junior bird societies, successfully enrolling more than 50,000 students across the state.

On January 29, 1925 — Kansas Day — over 120,000 schoolchildren cast their votes for their favorite state bird. As the day drew near, schools received educational circulars filled with avian information and thoughtful criteria for a worthy state bird. Ideal candidates, the materials explained, should be common across Kansas, representative of the state and the broader Midwest, familiar and well-liked, attractive, skilled singers, and, if possible, year-round residents.

One endorsement of the Western Meadowlark by J. B. Doze, the state fish and game warden, particularly stood out: “Not only is he the friend of all mankind by cheering them with his liquid songs, but he is a helpful ally in beating back the encroachment of noxious weeds and destructive insects, and above all, he is with us in all seasons, through [drought] and blizzard, sunshine and rain, plenty and poverty.” George A. Blair — the fruit grower who championed the value of birds at that contentious 1908 meeting — also threw his support behind the Western Meadowlark. (Kansas Governor J. M. Davis publicly backed the Northern Bobwhite.)

The Western Meadowlark won handily, receiving 48,395 votes — nearly 10,000 more than the second-place Northern Bobwhite. Though it took the state legislature 12 years to make the children's choice official.

A Warning — and a Call to Action

When Kansas schoolchildren fittingly chose the Western Meadowlark as the state bird, grasslands stretched across millions of acres across North America. These vast open spaces have been steadily shrinking, and more than 70% of native prairie in the U.S. has vanished — converted to cropland, paved over, or degraded by overgrazing and development. Kansas alone has experienced striking losses, with over 96% of its original tallgrass prairie gone. Here in California, the Central Valley's once-abundant native grasslands have nearly entirely disappeared. 

As vital habitats continue to disappear, so too has the meadowlark. Once a familiar melody across the expansive prairie, its song is fading — a troubling sign. Grassland birds are vanishing at a faster rate than any other bird group in North America. Since 1970, their populations have plummeted by more than 700 million—a staggering decline of 53%, according to a 2019 study published in Science. Species such as Bobolinks, Sprague’s Pipits, prairie chickens, and even the Eastern Meadowlark have experienced significant losses. 

While the Western Meadowlark is still fairly widespread, its look-alike counterpart, the Eastern Meadowlark, which is nearly indistinguishable in appearance and can mainly be told apart by its song (listen to the Western versus the Eastern Meadowlark), has declined by more than 75% in the past 50 years according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. This decline is largely due to habitat loss and fragmentation across the eastern U.S. The Western Meadowlark’s numbers have decreased by 36% over the same time frame, a stark reminder that even familiar and beloved species are not shielded from the mounting pressures on grassland ecosystems.

Yet There is Hope

Today, conservationists, landowners, educators, and everyday people are doing their part to restore grassland habitats. Ranchers are adopting bird-friendly grazing practices and initiatives are underway to revive native grasses through federal programs and private partnerships. And each January — on Kansas Day — state schoolchildren still learn about the Western Meadowlark, linking a century of history to a new wave of prairie stewards.

The Voice of the Prairie

Few have captured the spirit of the Western Meadowlark — and the vast prairies it calls home — as eloquently as Victor Murdoch, editor of the Wichita Eagle. In a heartfelt 1925 editorial marking the bird’s selection as Kansas’s state symbol, Murdoch beautifully illustrated the intimate bond between the meadowlark and the prairie landscape it so boldly represents.

“When nature sprinkled, with deft fingers, Kansas to our last crinkly corner and then ironed us out flat, she simultaneously soaked something away in the heart of the meadow lark [sic] to fit the flatness. For your meadow lark pipes a pean [sic] to the prairie in a peculiar way, if you will think about it … the meadow lark seeks no twig or barbed wire for his stage. He creeps out into the center of an obscure pasture, and lost in the midst of the monotony of buffalo grass, suddenly, without audience or hope of one, and without pride in performance, and with absolute disdain of scenic investiture, bursts forth into a piercing tribute to the prairies. He doesn't work up to a climax and shade off to a soothing close. He starts loudly and ends loudly and is sensationally brief. He is, in fact, all climax — at his strongest or nothing. And so, when you come to think of it, is the prairie.”

A century later, the choice made by Kansas schoolchildren to elevate the Western Meadowlark is more important than ever. Today, when a Western Meadowlark appears in my backyard, I’m thrilled to see it. Yet I’m also reminded of what's at stake — not just for this resilient bird, but for all the grassland species whose precarious future hangs in the balance.

Simple Steps That Make a Difference for Grassland Birds and Prairies

Even small steps can make a real difference. Whether you're just getting started or already involved, here are some easy ways to support the grasslands and the birds that rely on them:

Create Wildlife-Friendly Spaces: Consider adding native grasses and wildflowers to your yard, patio, or neighborhood green spaces. These plants provide food and shelter for grassland birds. Tools like the Audubon Native Plants Database and the National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant Finder can help you find plants that grow well in your area.

Support Sustainable Food Choices: If you eat meat, try choosing beef from certified wildlife-friendly ranches that follow sustainable grazing and protect native habitats. Visit Audubon's Conservation Ranching Program or explore their Marketplace for more information about bird-friendly products.

Advocate for Prairie Conservation: Much of our remaining prairies is on public or agricultural land. Sharing your support with local planners, state legislators, and members of Congress can help shape policies that protect these critical habitats.

Promote Bird-Friendly Land Management: Practices such as responsible grazing and mindful mowing help maintain nesting areas and food sources for grassland birds. Supporting these efforts, locally or nationally, can go a long way. 

Support Habitat Restoration: Consider donating to or volunteering with organizations that restore native prairie and grassland habitats. Groups like American Prairie, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society are actively working across the U.S. to protect and revive prairie ecosystems.

Educate and Engage: Sharing stories like those of the Western Meadowlark with your community, local schools, or policymakers helps raise awareness about the importance of grassland conservation and inspires others to get involved.

Get Involved in Citizen Science: Join projects like eBird or volunteer with bird conservation groups. These efforts help scientists track bird populations and guide conservation decisions.