A beloved festive symbol, the robin has been a cheery star of countless Christmas cards as far back as the mid-19th century, as well as appearing on many Christmas postage stamps.

I get why our forefathers chose the Bald Eagle to be our National Symbol. She is a magnificent animal, soaring the morning skies, the very embodiment of “purple mountains majesty” in living form.

Though the robin’s connection to a raised environmental awareness has largely been forgotten, the bird itself is still immensely popular, particularly at this time of year.

Indeed, the robin, the official Wisconsin state bird, is as distinctive as our white-headed, but much larger, national symbol. The robin, with an estimated population of 310 million in the U.S ...

From the robin to the cranberry to the polka, lobbying by state schoolchildren often play a role in Wisconsin's symbols. News Sports Packers Business Suburbs Advertise Obituaries eNewspaper Legals.