Birding: Feathered friends of past presidents

The connection between birds and American presidents goes back more than 240 years, with many making it to the White House as presidential pets.

For example, George Washington’s wife, Martha, had a green parrot called Polly. However, George preferred horses and didn’t like the bird; apparently, the feeling was mutual.

Dick the mockingbird was the name of one of President Thomas Jefferson's pets. Jefferson is thought to be the first to have a pet in the White House.

When President James Madison's wife, Dolly, became charmed by one of his predecessor's birds, she procured a green macaw parrot of her own for the White House.

President Andrew Jackson was known for using expletives, and apparently his parrot followed suit. Poll was an African grey parrot initially purchased as a present for his wife, Rachel, but Jackson became the parrot’s custodian after she passed.

The only unmarried president was James Buchanan. His bachelor status motivated some of his voters to send him gifts to distract him from feeling isolated. Among the more majestic were two bald eagles, which resided at his Wheatland, Pennsylvania home.

President Abraham Lincoln learned a hard lesson when a live turkey was sent to the White House before the holidays. His son Tad bonded with it, and begged his father to pardon the bird meant for the family’s Christmas table. Thus began the tradition of the presidential turkey pardon.

President William McKinley possessed the most patriotic pet. His parrot, named Washington Post, could give an awesome rendition of “Yankee Doodle.” But perhaps the most notable nature-lover (and Audubon supporter) was President Teddy Roosevelt, who not only owned several birds — including a hyacinth macaw and a one-legged rooster — but also kept a checklist of all bird species seen on the White House grounds.

Calvin Coolidge outdid all previous presidents with his menagerie of birds. In a 1929 American Magazine article, Coolidge's wife, Grace, expounded that the couple owned two canaries named Nip and Tuck, a thrush they named Old Bill, a goose named Enoch, a white canary dubbed Snowflake, another canary named Peter Piper, and a troupial (oriole) called Do-Funny.

Franklin D. Roosevelt would escape from Secret Service agents in order to watch the woodland birds near his house in Hyde Park, New York, according to an administrative park ranger. Roosevelt's fascination stemmed from a boyhood hobby, and was inspired by his distant cousin, avid birder Theodore Roosevelt.

Residency at the White House was short-lived for the birds and their owners, but not for Dwight D. Eisenhower's parakeet, Gabby. She died while he was in office, and was laid to eternal rest by a gardener in the southwest corner of the grounds. Years later, a canary belonging to John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, was buried in this unique cemetery.

President Jimmy Carter, an avid birder, saw his first painted bunting in Georgia and recorded the rare sighting on his Life List. In a positive step for bird conservation, President George W. Bush announced a new strategy to preserve key migratory bird habitats because, he said, "birds fascinate and bring joy to millions of our citizens."

The White House grounds are home to chipmunks, squirrels, small birds and the occasional meadow vole (field mouse). Recently, a red-tailed hawk was spotted on a ledge of then-President Barack Obama’s East Wing residence. CNN's Senior Correspondent Jim Acosta witnessed the same hawk catching and eating an unlucky squirrel for lunch.

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And on topic…Which of the following bird-related incidents did NOT happen?

a. The Trump administration says it will no longer criminally prosecute companies that “accidentally” kill migratory birds. The decision reverses a ruling made by the Obama administration.

b. In 1873 at Ulysses S. Grant's second inaugural ball, temperatures were so cold that 100 celebratory canaries froze to death.

c. In an effort to keep pigeons away from his open-top limousine, President Richard Nixon spent $13,000 to spray Roost No More, a chemical bird repellent, along the parade route in 1973. Dozens of dead birds lined the streets.

d. During the 21-gun salute from the Presidential Battery for Ronald Reagan's re-election in 1985, two of the numerous white doves released moments before were accidentally shot and fell into the crowd.

The incident that DIDN’T happen is the same as the last letter of the last word in the last choice; all the rest occurred.

— Phil Kyle writes about birding every week for the Cape Cod Times. He is a past president of The Cape Cod Bird Club, and in his semi-retirement, works summers as head naturalist for Barnstable Harbor Ecotours. He can be reached by email at archeopt@gmail.com.