HARLEYVILLE, S.C. — The Prothonotary Warbler was further cemented Monday as South Carolina's official state migratory bird in a ceremonial bill signing at the Francis Beidler Forest.
Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bird's new title into law earlier this year but chose to wait several weeks for the perfect location — and perfect weather — to give the bright yellow songbird that nests in forested wetlands throughout South Carolina a more ceremonial honor.
"This is a remarkable place. It's a paradise," McMaster said, standing in front of a more than 1,000-year-old tree. "And we have to preserve it, and love it, keep it, and save it and that will make everything else better."
Every year, 50,000 Prothonotary Warblers return to the Palmetto State after a 5,000-mile migration between South America and the Southeast.
Rebecca Haynes, Audubon South Carolina’s executive director, said South Carolina is not solely a stop for the birds on the way.
"It's essential to their survival," she said.
The songbird’s new identifier, which took about a year to become law, proves "conservation is not political, it's personal," Haynes said.
"What we protect matters far beyond our state lines," she said.
There was no bigger advocate to give the swamp canary a more official title than 9-year Jack Ragley, who lobbied lawmakers for the change and joined McMaster, the bill's sponsor Beaufort Republican Sen. Tom Davis and other state leaders Monday.
"It's really neat to be here in the swamp with everyone, because (this is) where this bird actually lives and comes back every year to build nests and raise its babies," Ragley said.
The Prothonotary Warbler chooses South Carolina each year, and Ragley said he's glad South Carolina chose the bird too.
