The Arkansas bird wars are over, at least for now. 

Two bills filed recently to change the state bird from the mockingbird to either the painted bunting or the mallard have flown south toward interim study after they were withdrawn by their authors. 

Joe Neal
Painted bunting, at Woolsey Wet Prairie

Rep. Grant Hodges (R-Centeron) filed a bill on Monday to change the state bird from the rather boring (and possibly an asshole) mockingbird to a much more colorful painted bunting. Two days later, the bill was amended to add Rep. Andrew Collins (D-Little Rock) as a co-sponsor. The momentum was building, albeit slowly, for a new, colorful state bird. 

MallardsArkansas Game and Fish Commission
Look out for these jerks.

On Tuesday, Rep. Brit McKenzie (R-Rogers) quacked back and filed a bill of his own to change the state bird to the mallard, which is troublesome for several reasons. 

First, Arkansas is home to a strong duck hunting industry. Are we going to ask people to come to our state so they can kill our state bird? Seems weird. 

Second, male mallards are predators, with violently rapey mating customs. The New York Post published a brutal exposé about mallard rape culture and it is DISTURBING. 

In any event, the bird wars have died for now. Both bills have been sent to the Joint Interim Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. 

Maybe they’ll rise again like a phoenix from the state legislative ashes.

Sen. Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville), perhaps delirious at the end of a long legislative session, poked fun at the bird wars on Twitter this morning.

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