Back to this again. Why don't we just have the hoodie crow, to represent New Labour, symbolically picking at the bones of long dead socialism.

We should have The Salmon.......as theres somthing seriously fishy going on in our politics

why does guga not like his namesake as national bird?

Do people expect to see a Bald Eagle when they visit New York City?

#1 A great suggestion!
#4 Yeah, I live here and have never even looked for one!

Isn't there a kilted Kestrel in Scotland? Yes/No?
How about the moose..(of the Rabbie Burns variety)

Nothing wrong with the golden eagle as a symbol............ but look what happened in Alaska when a settlement decided to name themselves after the state bird:

Good Question. In the late 1800's, early miners traveled far in search of gold. Food was sometimes scarce, but a particular area near the South Fork of the 40-Mile River was abundant in Ptarmigan, now the state bird which bears a resemblance to a chicken (Ah the foreshadowing is thicker than steel.) The miners kept themselves alive with the help of the Ptarmigan (if you consider being eaten as helping.)

In 1902, Chicken was to become incorporated, the second town in Alaska to do so. The name "Ptarmigan" was suggested. Many people liked the name, but felt the quotation marks were too presumptuous. The name was shortened to Ptarmigan.

The only problem was that nobody could agree on the correct spelling. They didn't want their town name to be the source of ridicule and laughter, so they decided on "Chicken." (The irony is thicker than the foreshadowing.)

The point about looking for an eagle is - it's great fun trying.

The attempt requires you to take a journey into beautiful countryside.

You can choose to walk and look for yourself. Alternatively you can be taken on a Loch Shiel boat trip or a Mull land rover safari, guided by someone with a knowledge and enthusiasm for their area far beyond the bird itself.

You have to be quiet and observant, allowing you to absorb the full range of wild life; the splendour and variety of the scenery; the peace and the atmosphere.

It is All these factors that make Scotland truly unique and which attract back, in their thousands, those who take the time to stand and stare - including those looking for eagles.

I thought we had all decided on the sh*te hawk? It's everywhere, highly visible and audible and always found raking through our bins.

Most appropriate.

They could sketch a wee furry rodent type animal and call it the HAGGIS!

Or just use a GROUSE!

How about Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie to encompass Scotland's standing in this outdated partnership. It's not long now - and then we can have a symbol that we can be proud of again. The mice outside my house exist on scraps.

The day Scotland falls into the hands of the SNP is the day the nation goes backwards..The SNP cannot look forward, with them its always about the past..

An independent Scotland is not what I would I would vote for. But if it comes about I will need to support it proudly! I cant do that if its the SNP, so anyone but them will be fine...

With that in mind lets chose a symbol that reflects the FUTURE OF SCOTLAND as opposed to that past..

Not sure what yet, still thinking! But there must be someting...

Oh no not again, said the bowl of petunias!

HOw about a nice lump of Orkney Cheese.

Who the hell is Mauritius the DoDo anyway?

The Golden Eagle is a wonderful choice for an emblem, a truly magnificent bird of which we should be proud. I was privileged to see one close-up, when it flew a few feet above my car. It seems that Ms Ferguson, by puting off making a decision as to whether this bird is a suitable emblem, is doing what this government does best - nothing!

Media 1 This article is not intended for political discussion, so let's knock the independence thing on the head here. It's a bit of fun, at least the last time
this was discussed most of us got into the spirit of
poking fun at the Scotsman. I dunno how big brother
will respond this time, seems all the comments on yesterdays fun article about the weather have been
taken down. Ya Boo BB not got a very thick skin has he?

Astro this Orkney cheese, is it intended as bait, if so might be better off with a cuddly wee lamb, they can lift one whole you know. Not many about at this time of year.

Patricia Ferguson, the tourism minister is of course completely correct, I have made quite a number of visits to the US and i am bitterly disappointed not to have seen a bald eagle, i definitely wont go back until they can guarantee a sighting each trip.

Just spent two months touring New Zealand and saw only 1 Kiwi bird - in captivity, Just because the Golden Eagle is rare and is rarely seen by visitors should not turn people off. If we are looking for a national symbol which tourists are bound to see then how about a bloody pigeon?!?!?

The fact is that because the Kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand, a lot more money is directed towards saving the species, which is thought to have only 50,000 left in the wild.

www.our-scotland.org - Scottish Politics and Current Affairs Forum

The eagle is not really apt to represent us as it is found throughout europe. I would suggest that a bird either found only in scotland and certainly not a raptor which symbolises violence.

GP I am raptuous about that, So maybe we should go for the raptor then and we wouldn't need any other detterent.

Yes, lets not have a bird that eats any living thing. I wonder how much this has cost us the taxpayer to investigate????

Such a bird does not exist. Indeed such an animal does not exist.

Crossbill, we have one that's indigenous to here.

Alaska named a toon after their national bird, ate them all, leading to their extinction. They even named a Gnome city. So that's what happened to the Gnomes.

Maybe we should create a new town to rehabilitate the Labour pigmies when the Scottish electorate finally waken up to prevent our own extinction by Labour nuclear terrorists.

Isn't there a Golden Eagle in Edinburgh Zoo which tourists could see?

Theres a Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco.

Golden Arches in many towns and cities that is instantly recognisable by most of the world.

ClarinsFan #27 - Don't know about Edinburgh zoo but there certainly are a pair of them in Camperdown Park in Dundee last time I was there.

Beautiful birds but a bit scary when you are close up to them. Those talons and that beak could do a lot of damage.

Ferguson has reservations about the golden eagle because it is rarely seen. Then she mentions Nessie! I see Nessie regularly when I'm standing in the check-out queue at Tesco's.

I think our national bird should be the guga.

I thought you Scots already have a national animal, approved by the tourism bosses - 'Nessie'.

Maybe if we capture a few and clip there wings so they can't escape, there might be more chance of people seeing them. Where could we keep them? I don't know.....erm....some castle maybe?

To keep the animal rights folk off our backs we could start a rumour that Scotland will fall if they fly away.

I think we should adopt the Haggis as our national bird and prove to the world that we have a good sense of humour.

No again!

The Sh*te Hawk is the new national symbol - it was on Radio Scotland this morning!

I think a logo of a tourist minister actually doing something meaningful for the people in the tourist trade would have to be discounted as that also would seldom be seen.

As long as it no Jackie Bird!!!!!

What ever happened to the pigeons on Holyrood? Surely they should be our national emblem!

afterthought, we got a bird living next door that gets looked at a lot.

32 Nessie isnae a burd ya bampot
34 The flyin haggis is only one o many species o haggis
The ithers canae fly. There's, the moorland haggis,
the hillside haggis, the artic haggis, the aquatic
haggis, the curried haggis, and the veggie haggis

AJ Awa it wisnae!

Arthur

Ye forgot the rare and elusive machair haggis (that Trump could kill off wi his golf empire), the peat bog haggis and the much sought after urban haggis for it's pelt.

And dinnae forget the Golden Haggis. The glorious king of all the Haggi species.

Now that we've got that over, maybe The Scotsman can spend time on what it's supposed to do - reporting news of substance - not creating news with pointless, irrelevant campaigns. Leave the campaigns to the campaigners.

Re: #30 Thanks for this

Just shows how incompetent the whole Scottish Tourist shebang are (especially Patricia Ferguson, the tourism minister) when it takes someone from Germany, to point out that visitors to Scotland can be guarenteed of seeing a pair of Golden Eagles at Camperdown Park in Dundee, if not in Edinburgh Zoo, as I had thought.

It's of independent means, living well off the natural resources - not too many of them about at the moment but are distinguished, loyal to their partners, wonderful parents and intelligent providers and magnificently adapted to their environment when seriously and closely examined. Not a bad role model and symbol for and of a potentially independent Scotland?
May I recommend a reading of Burn's 'Address to the Unco Guid' as a reminder of the humility we ought show each other (me too) instead of pouncing so readily - it seems we are in danger of imposed and fearful silence due to some of the automatic, shallow Lazy-boy critics?
Well said Yeoman of Yorkshire - by the way!

It ain't over till the fat bird sings!

Machair?

Whatever happened to that classic programme? Did you have a part Dave?

Nice post Louisa, however I dont like birds telling me how to live my life.

Aye Dave ye've blown it now, ah didnae say onything aboot them cos they is oan the endangered list.
The Golden, is down tae yersel as it only lives oan Barra
now, an does it's best tae keep oot o your way.
The Urban Haggis is plentiful if it is the baseball capped
sub species, well known by it's mating call which sounds something like "hawrespekyabugger" to which te female if she is interested replies "hoogetaffyanyaff"
Don't suppose you see many of these on the islands conditions not being to their liking.

No AJ, it was filmed up in Lewis. It was cringeworth mate to say the least and dominated by the gaelic mafia.

Did you enjoy it?

Thanks to all of you for your stimulatingly funny comments. I have been feeling a bit depressed over the last few days and what with the cheeses comments yesterday and the birdy comments today you have brightened up my week. That's what I love about scots our wit and ability to make fun of ourselves is brilliant. Ta muchly and all have a great Christmas.

Not familiar wi the urban haggis. Though I saw one in Edinburgh once, had the distinctive burberry style markings.

The golden haggis is a magnificant animal and I have had the pleasure of a single sighting once, very late at night after a few shandies in the barra hotel. A joy to behold!

You tae Molly anne. Feel free tae join in the festive fun!

The Golden Eagle is a great symbol for the Scotland. Yes, let's be known for the eagle - why not? It is an animal we should be proud of, one which speaks of the best of the Scottish nation. Maybe we could even draw a little inspiration for the Scottish character - or do we really prefer Rab C. Nesbit and the tartan tam o'shanter with attached red hair. Let's aspire to a better symbol of our nation's character than Nessie.

Get over the cynicism - why do we Scots always have to pull ourselves down? Let's stand tall and be proud for once, we are a great nation.

could we noy just adopt the brafer to keep all happy lol....

Was it no the other eagle article where twa folk frae Perth pit their tuppence wurth in an bored us rigid.

Dave,

Never watched it, I think it was scrapped PDQ! However things that are absolutely mince, can often become classic and imprinted on the mind - a bit like the English cricket team and the MacDonald Brothers!

What's a brafer chris. fnar fnar!

Are Labour MSPS picked for their ability to be a national embaressment. This idiot Ferguson should
be told that, we no longer care what Labour think, their days are well and truely numbered. What a critisism: The Golden Eagle is a rare bird, tourists would be dissapointed at not seeing one ???????.

This would be hilarious if we were not paying this
fool . Get her out !!!!

Marina, We aw ken that, it's jist sae obviuos we dinnae
need tae talk aboot it, we are the only nation sae secure in oor greatness that we kin tak the mik oot o oorsels, dae ye no see.
As a matter of fact an followin sum comments on St Andrews day aboot great Scots an the greatness o Scots a stairted sum research wi the purpose o proposin each day o the year a national holiday as each day wiz bound tae be commemorative o some
weel kent worthy. Ah'm needin a bit o help wi the database though ah've goat tae 80 ish so far.

a brafer is for putting tits in and there is a few of them runnin this country so i thought it would be appropriate lol

What about a emu with it,s head stuck in the sand,just like the folyrood gaggle.

Ms Ferguson's 'objection' misses the point. Surely part of the point of adopting such a magnificent bird as our symbol is its rarity. Its out there, but you have to really look for it. Like common sense in an MSP.

Tourism minister typical idiot politician. So how many 'reposed lions' do we see lurking about Scotland?

The Golden Eagle would be great.

Igray.
What seems to the problem on your paper? If the there is no Golden Eagle do not complain. Get one carved, stuff this up on the border of the England and Scotland, and write on this, “You are entering the Scotland. We have many things like kilts and the Loc eating the tyres. We have the mountains and the good hikers and turkey gobblers. We have the hic hic hic Scottish whisky drunkards and chain fag smokers. You are safe in our hand. Why talk of golden eagle when the coins are token and the Golden era is dead.

This is bout the only thing the Scottish Executive has got right. I think the whole thing is a waste of time, effort and money. Why do we need a national bird?

If we need a national animal, why not the stag? Oh, I remember, because the Scottish Executive want to class it as vermin, without closed seasons and mow them down in their hundreds of thousands. But is that because they hate the deer or the landowners?

Also, the Golden Eagle is one of the most wide spread birds in the World. Why does this make it a suitable national emblem for Scotland? The Kiwi is found only in New Zealand, that is probably why they have it, what do you think?

or we could be more like mauritius and adopt an extinct animal and no one will hav to worry about seeing it ..? a j mconnelrex sounds good

Arthur - If you are referring to me " frae Perth", you haven't yet read the Burn's poem that I suggested from the comfort of your seated position -if I'm wrong, I apologise, but it's still worth reading and definitely not boring, unlike some vacuous and unfunny comments posted here? I agree with Mike - unsurprisingly.

#60 - Totally correct, - and this is a Minister??? Talk about electing numpties to office?? Roll on May!
It would be almost funny if it weren't for the fact that this kind of comment comes from a person supposedly in charge of a vital area of our economy. Her comment is also ridiculously patronising to tourists who, unlike some politicians I could mention, don't have bird brains. (apologies to birds!)

I havent got the attention psan for this anymore.

How about a wee , radge angry scottie dog?

#70 good idea what could be more scottish than a scottie dug sorry radge scottie dug lol

Astro Turf

It should be 'dug'. A good suggestion though!

Since the Kingdom looks like a wee radge scottie dug, I'll back that!

Actually Louisa I was given the complete works of our national bard as a 21st birthday present and have read it from cover to cover. That is not the point, this is a totally shallow and vaious article to which we are responding with humour as we did with the previous eagle article. The eagle has been accepted as the Scottish Bird for as long as I remember we don't need a discussion about it, nor does it need to be official.
You find some of the respondents shallow and lazy boy critics, perhaps you should take a look at critiques from the same people where the article is less trivial.
Do try to be less anally retentive my dear, try sitting up straight on the po when you go.

If it's a wally dug whit yees is wantin theres wan in Embra ca'd Greyfriars Bobby.

Cheers Firozali. How is life ?

Arthur,

The PC brigade wid go bananas if oor national symbol wiz named efter 'Bobby'.

It's a masculine name, plus it's Weegie, fur 'yer hole'!

Thats not fair, look they are moderating our Surrealist African Friend.

Whit Jist Ma Hole, I didnae ken

Patricia Ferguson: what a peasant!

What an idiot the woman is.Tourist minister?She's A DEAD LOSS.

Anything to get us away from the "nessie and kilt" image. There is nothing wrong with the Golden Eagle, but personally I would go for the Wildcat or the Glasga Keelie.

I thought Carol Smillie was our national bird!

Astro How did ye say hello tae him afore he posted an dae ye ken whit he's oan aboot?

Look at the times Arthur , if you get moderated your posts only appear when stewart has finished his fag and coffe and can be bothered.

Surely you know about the tyre eating loc ?

I spent two years in Mauritius and never saw a dodo but I still consider it is an excellent symbol.

Arthur - you may have read them all (?) but have you realised that the poem Address to the Unco Guid is blatantly and fundamentally anti-anal retentiveness in castigating those who cannot adopt a philosophical stance by forgiving those who make little mistakes whilst fomenting their own - I would have thought a Burn's scholar would have realised that immediately and drawn my attention to the fact instead of your disconnected final comment which is unnecessarily childish, impudent and unwarranted.
My initial comment was light-hearted and I didn't realise there was an embargo on those of us who have not read every single previous Scotsman article due to having a life?

Carol Smillie Is the National Burd of the flightless variety.

This is our life louisa , come join us , you will be happy here.

Astro Actually erm no ah didnae ken aboot the tyre eatin loc. Whitever that is. An yer post jist raises a bunle o ither matters whit ah appear tae be in total ignorance o. Fir Instance Ah dinnae think ma post are moderated cos they appear immediately an ah didnae ken that Stewie The moderator? wis a pal o yours, an whits mair ah dinnae think that fair

Louisa Keep diggin lass yer just confirmin first impressions here. Whit's apperently humourous to you isn't tae me, an I would suspect certain ithers. An I have read Burn, I made no claim to be a scholar, as you apperntly are.

Golden Eagles are found more commonly abroad although i have seen a few in the Highlands and Islands...back in the old times they sold the eagles for many mullah up here in Lewis..

Loads of birds are here Perigrin Falcons, Kites, Seagulls, Gail Porter, Sharleen Spiterri etc however Buzzards are the most common B of Prey, the Scottish crossbill is the only unique bird.

Im for the Eagle but its like having a debate over changing the national anthem..its never going to happen!

Arthur , if you get barred you will 'meet' stewart , Trust me .

And no he is not a friend of Astro/Bupf/Mario Antoinette/Marie Antoinette.

I think it should definitely be the CHAV

Astro Ye Cannae leave it here????

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang my five door fendered friend

race

ooh

cmon wheres the competition

Tweee easy.. Bama bam

The real question is who will have the last word on this? There is a strong argument for the chav.

http://www.scottishradiance.com/letters/imin9707.htm

I think it should be the hoodie subspecies of ned as chav's are known in Scotland. They can easily be observed by tourists in large flocks usually not far from a source of their preferred sustenance buckfast.

I always thought a sh*tehawk was a type of politician best known for being uneconomical with the truth.

Astro, You're no gonnae convince me that Stewie an you arnae pals. He moved the articles roond when this wan got tae 95 an aw the comments disappeared, so dinnae tell me yoos arnae in cahoots.

Leave it out Scotsman, we dont need another Scottish symbol, we have enough already. Its what in Scotlands heart and mind that matters not monochrome symbols

But Chavs cannae fly unless they've been oan the buckfast, we talkin here aboot an intelligent flyin cymbal, are we no?

I think it should be the Capercaillie.

It encompasses everything Scottish, (fiesty, brave and very territorial), and is indigenous.

Haw wewumman it's awfy kind o ye tae say were ingenius, ah'm telt ah,m vergin oan it masel!!

And endangered and unable to fly more than 4 feet off the ground weewumman.

So the heid honcho is this Stewarty boy!?!

Astro, could ye pit in a guid wurd fur me?

Does the Minister not know that the Dodo is extinct and that the only time you will see one in Mauritius is the stuffed one in museum in Port Louis.
Kind of ruins the rest of her argument............

AJ Ah hear tell Stewie is wan o the neeburs.

Brumont We have one in the Royal Scottish Museum
an a daft lookin thing it is too.

The neeburs Arthur? Ye mean a regular poster like yersel?

Im no a scotsman buddy , im an Independent spy.

I am a bit puzzled here. I was taught by parents and teachers (long time ago mind you) that the Golden Eagle was our national bird already, and the Scottish Thistle our national flower. So why do we have to pick what we already have??? As for it being rare, we usually manage to see eagles when we are up north, albeit only one or two. My sightings of "Nessie" on the other hand have been so rare as to be nil. The kilt is part of our national dress, so cannot be a symbol to me that would be daft, as daft as pinstriped kilts.

As for Haggis....well everyone knows the best time to see them is at midnight on midsummers eve in 'Muchy burn when they come for the mating season. I am just glad the locals strictly enforce the hunting ban at that time. The wee beasties would be such easy pickings otherwise.

Not many eagles around. Maybe the Scot Exec should do more about gamekeepers and toffs poisoning and shooting them.
http://radgedug.blogspot.com/

AJ Sees you yous is a neebur an there's wee Jackie she's a neebur. It's how fifers used tae adress wan anither as in "howaryedaen neebur"
Jackie Ah agree wi you ah huv aye regarded the eagle
as wir national avian.
Ma late Granma wiz a Shetlander an hud mony a story
aboot eagles swoopin in an caryin aff lambs in their talons, or takin the big fish oot o Girlsta Loch.

how about a flying bottle of irn bru ?

Naw wee jimmy dinnae be daft, it's the person whits drunk it whits fleein efterwards

Av said it before. If it wis gude enough fur Rory its gude enough fur me.
But then naebody remembers Rory of the Eagles,ah think he wis fae Dundee, he wis yin o D.C. Thomson's Bairns ,but he worked oot o the Heilands during the Jacobite risings.

AJ the effluenthawk is no indigenous tae this country.

The Capercaillies we have now in Scotland are the result of a reintroduction from Norway, the native ones died out. They're suitably fierce though, unlike the golden eagle which is a wimp.

Astro dae ye mean the newspaper?

111# Dave - thats a good description for Scotland.
So it should be the capercaillie then.

I have lived in the USA for 51 years and never seen a bald eagle in the wild. I think it would be fine for Scotland to adopt the Golden Eagle. It is much more majestic than a pigeon!!!

I've seen the stuffed dodo in Port Louis and it is a bona fide fake. We have just as much right to claim the haggis as our national beastie.

Oh, and the thistle isnae a flower, its a weed.

I have seen just the bird you are looking for on the television and it is a "Jock". The one from the Irn Bru adverts. http://thespindoctor.info

Heres a bunch of people in Huntly with a golden eagle

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/544882410UafJsg

Hey Johnny Gorbals dinnae be sae insultin tae yer national floor pal, A weed is jist a plant grawin whaur ye dinnae want it grawin. And in ony case cultivated floors were aw jist weeds wance ye ken.

... and here is Kendo Nagasakis Website.

http://www.kendonagasaki.net/

AJ Ah thought he wiz deed?

Cheers GP but am no sure if we could get that far off the ground!

Bram Seer,

Maybe no, but ye've got tae admit, there's hunners and thoosans o' them.

The stories of Golden Eagles swwooping doon and carrying aff bairns and lambs is aw very well, but the sh*te hawks at pittenween will snatch yer fish supper, and that's no a legend, it's a fact!

Ozzy That wiznae funny nane o them can fly

Astro,

Kendo is looking well!

Aye that's proabably the best thing that cud happen tae a fish supper oot o thon wee shoppie, the wan at Anstruthers better

See thon Bram Seer he's a fake n aw, that big rocks
still there above strathpeffer.

#137 Arthur, Yes but don't you think it resembles a 'Jock'?
The sh*te hawk used to arrive every Thursday when I was in the RAF, it was the paymaster.
We English have the Bulldog so maybe you should have a Skye Terrier or some breed of dog. http://thespindoctor.info

AJ ..That could the answer to hunger and poverty....Maybe we should be eating them, A Pittenweem supper, ..seagull and chips,that's the game. Where's yir Kentucky fried bantam noo!.

Might you there's a lot to be said fur capercaillie they are braw singers...

#128 Cloudwalker
I have been to Arkansas regularly and the place was hoaching with bald eagles!!!

I thought we had settled on the sh*te hawk too!! The eagle is undeniably a magnificent bird but I have never seen one in the wild. Sh*te hawks on the other hand...........

I always thought a discussion about the weather inavriably led on to other things - evidently not!!!!

After spending my summer holidays in the Highlands and Islands for the last 15 years I finally spotted a golden eagle this year. Hurrah!!
It was circling around a hill my husband was climbing - alas he didn't see it. Sadly, he's never seen one, and he's a Highlander born and bred :-(
Then again, he's never seen Nessie either....

Aye Tilly, thon wiz a lucky escape he had there, coz it is said in these pairts that it's the wan ye dinnae see whit gets ye.

123 Bram Seer
Are you sure it was'nt Wild Young Dirky, or was that another comic.
DODO's are deid in Mauritius but no in Scotland
they are to be found strutting about in THAT building
in Edinburgh.
Why don'nt we super-impose a wildcats head on the body of the Golden eagle, Scotland would be flooded with tourists and nature lovers wanting to know where to see it.

Nessie sits at the BP garage on the way into Inverness centre. The Highlands and Islands are hoaching with Golden Eagles but no bald birds!

Baw Heid They dinnae dae much struttin on account o the fact that their erses are too near the groond.

The point is that the golden eagle is not and never has been synonimous with scotland.
I have travelled a fair bit an no one has ever mentioned golden eagles.
They have all heard of grouse etc. but not once I have I heard golden eagles and scotland mentioned in the same sentence. No worldy association exists for this, it is a petty wee rspb game play.

Canada has the right idea. I like "Beaver".

Nr. 7: you are so right!
The point about looking out for an eagle is: get out of your car, stop chattering an have a sense of nature!
This summer I've seen this rare bird in Harris.

"However, Patricia Ferguson, the tourism minister, was more cautious.
She wrote: "I would have the slight concern that the eagle being recognised as the Scottish national bird might send out the misleading message to visitors that they will routinely see golden eagles when they visit Scotland. "

So, the UK has a unicorn and a lion on the Royal Coat of Arms, the Welsh have a dragon symbol, the Scottish have a lion rampant.

Has any tourist ever been reported as wanting their money back because they didn't see any of those creatures when they visited here?

That's a silly reason for not having a golden eagle.

GP ah refer ye tae whit ah said in 120, perhaps the puir
wee burdie is less prevalent noo cos he's been hunted doon, fir chasin his prey.

I've lived in the US most of my 42 year old life with a 3 year stint in Bearsden as a lad. In the balance of the 39 years I've lived in the US since I've seen a bald eagle in the wild only thrice but that has never put a damper on the symbol or the unlikely event that a spotting did occur...in fact quite the opposite. With everything else that Scotland has to offer for tourism I doubt the absence of a gold eagle sighting would dissapoint even the most ornithological of visitors.

B B John, Ah dinnae think it wise to gang there again
much as ah am partial tae these cute wee furry things

Some of you folk need to get a life your spitten oot alot of rubbish. When I went to school in Aberdeen the Golden Eagle and the thistle were already oors. We have two flags, most nations can't say that. The Saltire and the Lion Rampant. We have a symbol that millions recognise throughout the Commonwealth, the Crown, which has always been a passport to my heart of a tradition and custom that I am proud of. The next thing some of you will want is to become a banana republic. Don't change what works. Do you all want to be a copy of the USA with your eagle. The Nazis had a braw one. As a member of the Canadian Argylls, the Crown remains a symbol of our Colonel-in- Chief, whom I have had the privilege of meeting. She works very hard for the good of Britain and her Commonwealth. From an auld git proud of his roots .

Some nice comments, got a few chuckles this morning. When or if Scotland becomes independent the golden eagle would be a great choice. Don't worry about the tourist seeing it or for that matter any of younzes (a bit of SW Pa talk there) see it. I live in what the state advertises the Wildlands of Pa. and visited forty of the 51 states and never saw a bald eagle. The golden eagle is a noble bird and look at the added tourist money you can get while they chase Nessie and the eagle, that is in bare feet of course. Please keep the thistle as you national flowerk Oh, yes we have a state flower, mountail laurel, and of course a tree, bird, insect, etc. Seems like whan a represenative want to pass a bill we get a new state something or rather but other than mountain laurel and hemlock tree we don't pay much attention to the others. We of course have the national bird and the American rose as a national flower, I think.

must be a north thing coz I can honestly say the golden eagle was never taught to us as being oors.

i still think the bird if we are to have one should only exist in scotland or at least be known as a link externally. The golden eagle is not known as ours outside this blog.

Ask any german, italian, french, spanish, amercian, australian, new zealander or any other nationality and they won't know what you are talking about.

I thought this was resolved....the Sh*te Hawk won the last time.

#78 Spot on, my lad. The Czech Republic's got a double tailed rampant lion. But no, it's not a bird either.

Spot on #14 !! ...just an idea but a Phoenix might be more appropriate ..whch might also symbolise the resurection of a competent government without such nincompoops who have nothing to do except make stupid arguments about NOT using the Golden Eagle for Scotland's national symbol. To my way of thinking the Golden Eagle is already the symbol for Scotland. ...and this is an Englishmun speaking!!

Do you know, Mr. Blackie I do so hate that Americanism "Get a life". I would have thought that
you Canadians were inventive and independent enough to have dreamt up your own annoying colloquialisms, in the absence of which i will give you one of our own, which is, "awa an boil yer heid"
If it appears to youn that most of us are as you put it "spitten oot rubbish" it's because we do in actual fact have a life, which is full of fun, which in turn is what we are having for the most part here. Actually what we are doing is "havering" because we refuse to debate such a trite article seriously.
The reason being that most Scots have long accepted the Golden Eagle as our National Bird, and don't see the need for further debate, or any need to make it official.
As to your remarks about banana republics it is a matter of opinion as to whether we support independence or not, currently it appears that there is a majority on both sides of the border in favour.
When it happens we will still be part of the Commonwealth, with HMQ as head of state. We are in effect changing that which doesn't work namely
parliamentary union. And as for the Eagle its a differnt species to the yankee one, and we had it first.

Quite what credentials the tourism minister thinks she's got to comment publicly on this I don't know. Make it unofficial (we don't want such a majestic beast representing the Executive buffoons), put it to referendum, or forget it. Bot everything has to be classified, labelled and set down in black and white. And anyway, what would Shetlanders feel about a Golden Eagle? Puffin, more like. Or even better, the proud and dangerous Bonxie.

"Scotland cannot have a golden eagle as its national bird lest tourists are disappointed when they come to the country and fail to spot one, the tourism minister claims"
Then, "Ms Ferguson said Scotland already had internationally recognised icons, such as Nessie and the kilt".

Tell us Ms Ferguson, how many tourists have seen Nessie?

Given the recent gaffs, perhaps Jack and his cronies are actually practising for next year's Fringe?

Or what about the Grouse? Whisky sales would go through the roof...

I weighed into this topic the last time it came around. If you fear that few would see Eagles, then care enough for the natural environment to save and restore habitate and bring more eagles back. We are trying to replant the Caledonian forests, why not protect Eagle habitate and carefully nurture their return. They were not always uncommon birds, and they are signatory species. If the environment is healthy for Eagles, then it is healthy for many many species down the food chain.

I spent 7 weeks driving 6500 miles on a road trip in the US a couple of years ago. I saw one [probable] Bold Eagle at a distance in The Grand Canyon throughout the whole trip. Why not the Golden Eagle, it’s a perfect national symbol for Scotland.

GP it seems will not be convinced, I don't of course belive that it is a northern thing, apart from my Shetland Granma, I was also taught pride in the Thistle
and Eagle at primary school in Edinburgh.
Perhaps a vote amoung Scots on the list might convince him.
Who amoung us learned about the Golden Eagle as a child, and was it in the north or not?

Arthur, I quite agree. I guess I have been around my teenagers at home and when I taught High School so much that some of their lingo has entered my vocabulary. I do not speak the Doric anymore. Just wait a few years the Americans will speak Spanish as their first language and in Canada we hope Quebec goes her own way Since Pierre T was PM, Parliament has been pushing the French on Ontario and forced the new flag down the throats of The Royal Canadian Legion back in 65.

Its good that Scotland can identify with the Golden Eagle, at least its a possitive move. Its irrelevant if your likely to spot one or not, what #166 is spot on
Its far better to have a strong possitive image that links Scotland with the nature that exists within Scotland, than have some lame brained ones Ive seen on this board

As for the Golden Eagle being a rare species, thats not disputed. Come may, Neu Liebour ministers like ms Ferguson will be an extinct species. I know a Stalker on one estate not 80 miles from where I live, who makes a small fortune out of the shooting parties by betting that he can show them a Golden Eagle, An Osprey and a Peregrine Falcon all inside one hour. No I'm not telling you where the estate is......
Niall.

Aoda @157

What's the 51st state? I always though America had only 50 states, no?

Can't really believe the Exec has time to take this at all seriously. They should be sorting out the Crown Estate's nonsensical taxation of our coastlines, or maybe doing something to pretect the habitat of the eagles in question, or some such thing.

Niall, Ah ken that one too, just put stuffed ones up a high tree before ye take the grockles round, and insist
it's the birds natural siesta time, or its hatchin it's chicks. Nice little earner, that one!

We've got them John Dee. Neds, Chavs and Neets. All predatory, fearless and dangerous.

Dave,
Ye're a wee bit oot o touch there, they keep connin
other we bits here an there intae the union, dae ye no remember no sae lang ago it wis mooted that The UK
might become the 53rd State

John Dee Fear Factor animals, is an interesting concept
is it like what the X Factor is for humans

Dave, the 51st state Tony Blair's UK.

Aye, it was an enjoyable film too. Samual L Jackson made a convincing Scotsman!

164. YabbaDabbaDoo - If its common place rather than rareity you prefer, then lying politician would be the best bet. Otherwise go for scarcity since it represents the unobtainable quality that we can all strive for and measure ourselves against. The lesser spotted CHAV is also rare while the dole queue is common place. Just a few thoughts.

#180 "one mean mother in a kilt"

151. Hebr. friend - It was a decoy placed there to attract other eagles.

on topic, if a tourist wanted to see the "national bird", a rare bird like the golden eagle would take them to places that are "off the tour" and their image of Scotland may be better for it. Or, they could just go to "The Donald's" new golf course and do a bit of bird watching there. No guns allowed.

What about a capur… kapur… capurcai…

those fat ones with the fan tails!?

...For an independent Scotland? I agree with Mr Blackie on that one. The only symbol appropriate for a Republica Scotia would be (pardon the cliche)
The Dodo.

Why the hell do we need a national bird?
What next? A national fish, or perhaps a national sausage!

The emblem should be something to do with the Clyde!

Ship building is Scotland's claim to fame as far as industry goes...More recently oil!

People will say whiskey, but the ship yards empoyed thousands upon thousands from all over Britian, an absolutely marvellous effort!

So, a boat on the clyde, an oil rig and a cask of whiskey would be Scotland in a nutshell! Maybe add a Grouse for good measure

#173, You thought right and I typed wrong. When I get up in the morning I read The Scotsman, especially the comments. The chuckles I get and my first cup of coffee starts the day off right. With egg on my face I admit my error. Never did say that I could type, or spell.

If Canada has a beaver and France has a fighting cock we could have a Glasgow hairy.

#172 John Dee,
We have plenty of fear factor animals living in Scotland i.e. cro magnum hooded yobs.

Here we go again no wonder Scotland does not get taken seriously. Golden Eagles are admired all over the world, we have The Scottish who live and are admired all over the world. You Tourist Chiefs are too small minded, your like horses with blinkers so you don't get distracted while trying to win. For once do your job and have some gutts and make a good decision for once. Your not even doing as good As the Irish on Tourism. Step aside and we shall get someone with more vision someone who does not have their head up their ass. I guess thats why an Aussie played William Wallace and it was mostly filmed in Ireland. Raymond Pritchard

I thought the national bird of Scotland was the middle finger raised high, pointed south toward England...

Heimdall #181 - as far as I'm aware, dole queues were common in the early 80s. Perhaps you know different?

john dee
you are such a lucky fellow

I think Scotland's bird should be the Great crested tit, as surely everyone knows our golden eagle, but we have to find something no one knows, and I only wanted to put the word tit on this site.

Really though, why do they keep asking the same questions? We had the unofficial referendum a few weeks ago when the sh*te hawk won. OK a golden eagle it is, then. As someone has already pointed out, no-one has seen a lion rampantly wandering around the highlands - it hasn't bothered anybody. Nobody wants to change that. Too many politicians, not enough to do!!

Maybe we can have a Tit one year then a Tat the next

We do not have 'Chavs' in Scotland as our hooligans are termed 'Neds'...I absolutely refuse to lay my eyes on any flag bearing an image of these delinquents. Now a far more appropriate emblem would be the 'Wee Bachle'...you can find them throughout Scotland and they are affectionatly referred to on many any occasion....it would epitomise the largesse of us Scots in our tolerance towards the poor and indeed our legendery good humour...and why not eh?

Bachle indeed it is!

Precious few visitors to the United States ever see a bald eagle. If I had not gone to a preserve when in New Zealand, I doubt I would have seen a kiwi. The point is, a national bird should be characteristic of the people and the nation -- NOT what a few misguided bureacrats think tourists might want to see.

We may well end up with a canary in a cage, come the May election if we can't find common ground without stabbing each other in the backs.

As Bill Aitken reckons you don't see a golden eagle on every street corner in Edinburgh and Glasgow, I suggest we nominate the vulture as the national bird for the mindset of our politicians who think Scotland is only Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Unicorn on the Queen's coat of arms is Scotland's contribution and is also on your passport. It faces a standing lion passant which is England's contribution (it began life as a leopard). I suppose it stems from the union of the crowns. Lord Lyon would know all about that.

Interesting to read he is against national icons as the first things a subjected nation has taken away from it is their national icons. Patricia Ferguson might like to comment on that.

Good God! What's been goin on in here?? Yesterday it was cheese, today everything but!!

I cannot understand the need for another icon. Thought we had enough already? Is this for the brave new Scotland? Not quite a country, not entirely a nation in it's own right and only a region of the EU?

201. Barbara Lake, Sacramento
You’re right Barbara - all those national bird are not common or are difficult to see - especially the Dodo one would need a time machine.
The kiwi as well as being nocturnal is now endangered due to introduced predators eg., stoats, dogs (one particular dog killed 300 kiwi) cats and rats. To see one you have to visit a ‘nocturnal house’ or one of the new fenced-off predator proof sanctuaries such as Bushy Park Sanctuary outside Wanganui. The bald eagle although saved from extinction is, I have been told, having difficulties with wind farms, ie., flying into the windmills.
Whit aboot a wee cock sparra?

Sat on a barra.......

What kind of wine is good with Golden eagle? I prefere a Boston Lager with bald eagle, but i'm having more refined company for dinner.....

Forgot to mention that Lord Lyon might like the power that comes with his shortbread tin status.

Power to the islands and their flags.

At last this has been resolved.
The eagles at holyrood have thrown this rspb sponsored rubbish in the bin where it belongs.

I had a couple of Lion Rampants' chasing me round Linlithgow Peel the other day. Throwing them a McSweens haggis put them off the scent though.

For your information, the 51st state is THE GREAT STATE OF CONFUSION. State bird, the ponyoujohn, state flower, poison ivy, state mythical beast- the snallygastor. Thank you, Gov. Con Fused.

Can always reintroduce a few eagles and get on with it.

All this talk of bananas, cheese, haggis, and whisky has made me hungry! Ciao.

# 183, Heimdall
Where have you been end of June? Harris? Masqueraded as a decoy? :-)

With all the gobble-de-gook that comes out of Edinburgh these days, try the'Turkey'

I wish I could see an Eagle more often. The last time I saw an Eagle was in Mangasta in Lewis 30 miles from Stornaway. The Phillipines deserve the Dodo, all their people are over her nursing so the island is bereft of useful people to support it!!!!!!

Dependent Scotland is a Magpie.

Astro #70 - please, not the Scottie dug! I was walking along the machair, just me and nature and the Atlantic - and a couple a long, long way away from me walking their Scottie. He came bounding along, sniffed me up and down - and pished into ma shoes. Since then, I take binoculars when walking on the machair - to spot such nasty wee animals! Let's stick with a bird, no? You can claim it was an "act of God" if something lands on your head. This wee Scottie was like a guided missile!

I have never seen a Kiwi in the wild. Looked and looked. However, seen plenty in the wildlife sancturys. Made no difference to the importance of the symbol. We have a National plant the Fern. We Have a Moa (an extinct bird like an ostrich) and a Maori on the coat of arms. Wow a human is included! So go for it! Choose as many a possible. It isn't about tourist.

Glad to see we're back on the important Golden Eagle question again .It's about time we had something serious to discuss on this thread....Thank you all..tears in ma eyes reading some of your comments great way to start the morning..only trouble is..it keeps me late.
May 2007..get out there and vote out the sh*** hawks and in with the SNP.
S.cotland's N.eglected.Peregrine.
beat that!

I had always wondered what the first step in contemporary nation building was. Adopting a written constitution first crossed my mind, but I never dreamed it was picking out a national bird.

As for other possible choices that differ from the eagle or falcon, how about the Red Kite, a graceful bird fairly recently saved from extinction?

http://wildlife.visitscotland.com/species/birds/birds-of-...

I completely agree the Sh**te Hawk is most definetly the best choice. Scotland is full Of those. The Parliamentarian Sh**e hawk being the most vocal.

LOL! Oh god, you people are too funny! I’m dying here.

The dodo *was* a fat, grounded bird—somewhat goofy looking and quite passive. I seem to recall hearin’ massive immigration wiped ‘em out centuries ago; took only about fifty years, methinks.

162 and 169.

Aw now, why y’all gotta go an insult innocent lil ol Americans and their Americanisms? I might think you frolicking peeps don’t luv us no more.

Blackie, my maple sugar! So ye’re high screwl teacher, are ye? Well now don’t that just explain the current ejoocashun system.

Darlin’ you really *must* get a life. Puhleeze!

And I happen to be rather fond of the Spanish language. Me importa un rábano lo que la gente piense. Least of all you dodos up north, but now ah’m sorta thinkin’ you, however, best skedaddle and start learnin’ how teh speak Arabic cuz ah’m hearin’ thru the grapevine you an them thar teens will be a needin’ it gosh darn soon like. Ain't that sweet.

Hasta la vista, baby
Branda

141. Ozzy - Do the terriers up there fy as well? it must be the clean air!

The truth is that the powers-that-be do not want a Golden Eagle since they cannot draw one - it won't keep still long enough since it has far less tollerance to the pollution out of their mouths of the politicians. Rumour has it though, that they are able to draw a white X on a blue background so they may settle for that although I favour they add two small dots on the blue - one to represent an airborne Golden Eagle and the other to represent a high Chav (called ned) with his hood up. I guess this will be the last word on this

222. Branda, Arizona - I am glad you are here too. The Dodo was in fact 'an evolutionary success' tracing itself back some 25.6 million years ago wher it separated to form its own species and (this will please the pidgeon fanciers) - it is a member of the dove and pidgeon family (according to DNA tests carried out at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, England) and closest to the Asian pidgeon. It was never as fat as once thought - it was big boned. It merely traded its ability to fly for the ability to store larger amounts of fat in case of hard times. To store the fat, they got bigger which made it more difficult to fly. However Surrendering the ability to fly in order to elude enemies as an easy trade-off - there were no enemies to flee. It was unfortunate that they did not see trouble coming. A bit like the Scots so maybe a good choice after all for the flag of Scotland

The golden eagle is perfect for Scotland. It's elegant, and rare.

Well this is certainly apropos, isn't it?

Nah, not just the Scots, Heimdall.

From what you've described above, sounds like the dodo oughta become the national symbol for the anglo-7:
Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, N.Z., Scotland and the USA

If I had a vote, I'd choose the feisty little terrier. Depict him (spunky male of course) tinkling on your *favorite* politician.

If the situation becomes direful you could then go with the killer eagle owl. Depict him gazing up at the crescent moon.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=556602006

The question I'm having is can the golden eagle take this big fella down? Ya know I had to ask :)

Branda the Barbarian

227. Branda, Arizona - Well he could he he had a mind to being that his wingspan is close to 7 1/2 foot compared with the Eagle owl's wingspan of 5 foot but hes a tough little blighter all the same. The interesting thing is that. creatures of true strength really do not beat up on each other they have mutual respect of each other leaving each to find and fulfill their own destiny - we could learn a bit from these guys and gals! I like the idea of the terrier but I am still waiting to hear back from 141. Ozzy as to whether they really fly up there. A flying terrier should be able to take them both on, on account of his temperement alone. Branda, have you given up on the other page? I am still making entries there - Heimdall Fitzvigrond

Its 2 am here I recon this lot have gone to bed

Astro Turf, correct me if I am wrong. But I belive they were inffering to the country of Mauritius, has the Dodo as it's national symbal. I don't think they were giving the bird a name.

228: "wingspan is close to 7 1/2 foot compared with the Eagle owl's wingspan of 5 foot but hes a tough little blighter..."

Well there ya go. They're mentally keen, fast and strong. Long life span too. King and queen of the mountaintop, perched high and free (freedom!)

LOL! And aren't the females bigger than the males--and territorial? The golden eagle it is!

So symbolically...intelligent, powerful, seemingly immortal, free, and courageous. It is an enchanting beast. No doubt about that.

Have I given up on the other page?

'Fraid so. Folks will start yawning if I keep going. I think I erased the slates yesterday. I caught a nasty cold; just not feelin' my usual scrappy self. I so enjoyed the hilarious banter here today. It's slightly after 8pm, so I'm hittin' the roost very early too with a Weimaraner on one side and a Viszla on the other. Mayhap a mug o whiskey will help cure my sniffles.

Wishing Scotland many eaglets for years to come,
Branda

The canadian national bird is not the beaver (no wings you see) its The Common Loon 'nuff said

Has nobody considered the Midgie.?

Correct me if I am wrong but if I remember correctly the dodo bird is extinct. So if the minister thinks people are going to be dissapointed that they might not see a golden eagle, how dissappointed are the people who go to mauritus to see the dodo!!!!

I believe that the famous Grouse should be THE
ONLY ONE.

235. Owen824
Hi Owen - I think it was hinted back in post 205 that the Dodo was extinct “those national bird are not common or are difficult to see - especially the Dodo one would need a time machine.”
It’s just not the lack of Dodos that would, ‘disappoint the people who go to Mauritius” this nation’s ecosystems have been devastated; forests destroyed - unique species decimated and nearing extinction. Mauritius is becoming like Sumatra and so many other exploited areas a ‘basket case’. but who cares while we have reality shows and sport - the planet can quietly disappear. Kiwi endangered- Bald eagle - saved from extinction - Dodo extinct. Sadly we have people like ‘2dogs in D.C.’ (post 207) jest (perhaps) about devouring endangered species. There are people on this planet who’s enjoyment is killing endangered species. Who cares what our national symbol; is just try and save what bird life is left eg., puffin, lapwing, redpoll and many that were prolific when I was a child in Scotland but now sadly much rarer.

233. Banana Heid - I am up fr that, we could always add a few more dots.

237. Robbie, New Zealand et. al. - We are still finding species. I'll wager the Dodo is NOT extinct merely very hard to find. Just because we cannot see it it does nt mean its not there. Furthermore, with DNA work advancing as it is it will not be long before they 'ressurrect' the Dodo (along with T. REX). They will probably have it waiting for them on Mars so the first colonists can have some good dinners.

Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson's caution is ill founded.She states that few people will view the bird and tourists may be disappointed. The Golden Eagle is rare and beautiful bird and it depicts dignity in profile. Worthy of appearing as a symbol for a country where beauty abounds. Not wishing to appear smug in my attempt to educate this Minister who I am sure has knowledge that the Bald Eagle is a symbol in the US, however does her knowledge extend to the fact that 97% of the land mass in that country does not house a single Bald eagle and that Americans who have yet to see one are in a greater majority. Every year the Brackendale area of Squamish, a town 100K north of here, has a Bald Eagle count organized by the owner of the Brackendale Art Gallery which houses native artifacts, and Americans come to be a part of this event. It takes place around New Years Day and the count on many occasions has reached three thousand birds. The Bear the Bald Eagle and the Salmon are all part of the Indians tradition and appear on their Totems and much of the stories that are learned from the First Nations are mythological being handed down from the Elders over generations going back more than a thousand years and other citizens of Canada who do not benefit from the sight of those wilderness creatures, do gain knowledge from the stories. Scotland has beauty and tradition and that is what you offer to visitors and the Golden Eagle is a part of it. The Minister has to understand that Brand Marketing has its place in attracting one time tourists but Culture and Tradition is what they will remember.

A kiwi as the national bird? Surely some Australian politician must have been hit repeatedly by a flying kiwi, and now has the impression that it must be a bird since it's frequently airborne...

Can we have the tomato as our national bird?

I like kiwi's. Yummy source of Vitamin C. And before anyone complains, I'm not talking about eatin' the bird or New Zealanders. Although... :)

It seems to me the issue is *suddenly* no longer open for debate. Your MSPs REJECTED the golden eagle as Scotland's national bird yesterday.
http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1807682006

What can one do? Phone, email a letter of appeal?

Or end up with a pigeon afterall:
"The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds suggested a *pigeon* or a seagull would be a more appropriate choice if the country was to follow Ms Ferguson's thought process."

Parliament Members / contact:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/index.htm

Ms. Ferguson MSP / contact details:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/patricia_ferg...

Fight for what *you* want people! Be active, but courteous and eloquent in your correspondence if you want to be taken seriously. The pen is still mightier than the sword if you wield it with deadly precision.

Branda the Barbarian

241. Deorsa / 12:21am 7 Dec 2006
A kiwi as the national bird?
Didn't really understand you comment, Deorsa. As you are American perhaps you don't understand the difference between kiwifruit and a Kiwi, the flightless national bird of New Zealand and also the name New Zealanders call themselves.
To quote from a US web site:

"Some people refer to kiwifruit as "kiwis", but this is incorrect. (New Zealanders also find this very irritating!) A "kiwi" is a bird, a human New Zealander.

The kiwi bird's name comes from the Maori language, and imitates the cry of the male kiwi during the mating season. The first European settlers to encounter the kiwi very sensibly used the Maori name, which is probably thousands of years old, rather than trying to rename the bird.
So, remember, that little brown berry is a "kiwifruit", not a Kiwi.

Relax Kiwi man and lighten up a bit. You seem stressed out.

I don't think Deorsa is American, unless another displaced Scot or Gael. LOL! Mayhap English or Irish? They're often confused.

Americans don't say kiwifruit. Extra syllables give us acute indigestion. Besides its redundant when we're stalking the produce section. We're not thinking about national birds or New Zealanders when we're squeezing melons or wee fuzzy fruit.

Branda the Barbarian

4. Branda, Arizona / 6:27am 7 Dec 2006
" Relax Kiwi man and lighten up a bit. You seem stressed out."

Just got back home after great meal and fun at local club. Stressed out ? Never been stressed out in my life but the internet is a great learning medium and I felt that 241 Deorsa didn't seem to know what a Kiwi was (our national bird) and just gave her some info from a US website.
I'm more than relaxed but let's learn as we have fun. Deorsa was talking about Australian politicians (does she think New Zealand in Australia?)

"Americans don't say kiwifruit." Hey fine there's a lot you and perhaps us say wrong but that's the name WE gave them and many Americans get Britain and England mixed up - so we expect it. But who cares? Is it better to give the forum correct details or let people continue being wrong for ever. If I make an error I'm more than happy to be corrected (hopefully politely).
Anyway best wishes to all.

For an indenpendent Scotland (God help us all) the flags would need to be changed to a fluttering giro. As for the bird, a hoodie crow would do because there are lots of them and they are best at picking over rotting corpses. Which is what Scotland will become. The neds would feel included too which would be nice.

245. “Just got back home after great meal and fun at local club.”

Ah now, there’s that NZ spirit I’ve come to know and love.

“…many Americans get Britain and England mixed up.”

True. Our education system ain’t what it use to be since the teacher’s union hijacked it years ago. Not sure what fluff they’re teaching, but it’s increasingly obvious geography and history is no longer in the lineup. Not much use for english grammar and spelling either. LOL!

;) Turkey is s’pose to be something we put on the dinner table each year during Thanksgiving celebration. And Chile is a peppery culinary concoction we devour with Guinness at halftime during the Super Bowl championship.

Ben Franklin wanted wild turkey to be our national symbol instead of the bald eagle. He didn’t like eagles for some bizarre reason.

Branda

To Brenda #247...The "peppery culinary concoction..........." to which you refer, is chili (actually chili con carne when it contains meat), "Chile" is a country in South America. Only by your own reference to education do I bring this to point.

Oh come on, people! LOL! Lighten up. I live in the Southwest, for heaven's sake. We invented a bazillion ways to cook with chili peppers. If I'm not mistaken, Texans, claim it as their official Tex-Mex dish.

Actually, we've shortened it to just chili. Too many syllables, ya know.

LOL! Of course I know the difference between Chile and chili. So why didn't you correct me on the Turkey faux pas?

I give up. I'm taking my marbles somewhere else.
Branda

To Branda #249..We own a condo in Arizona by the way, like many Canadians on the west coast who winter there. A little town called Chandler, SE of Phoenix, are you close by. If so you must show me the bar where Guinness is served, have never seen it there. Not exactly the drink of choice any Mexican beer being preferable for the climate. I also pay taxes to the State, so I am legit.

250. "We own a condo in *Arizona* by the way, like many Canadians on the west coast who winter there."

I know :) There's so many cars on the road with Canadian license plates this time of year I often forget where I'm at. And here I was thinking Canadians didn't like us very much, LOL!

I seldom get up to Phoenix--usually pass thru so have not had an opportunity to check out the pubs. However, there are two favorites of mine ya might enjoy. What the heck; let's make it three! Someone is probably going to have me thrown off this thread soon.

Rúla Búla (Tempe AZ)
http://www.rulabula.com

The Old Dubliner (Tucson AZ)
http://www.aulddubliner.com/Tucson

Nimbus (Tucson AZ) *yummy oatmeal stout*
http://www.nimbusbeer.com/oatmeal-stout.html

That do ya, darlin'?

Slainte Mhath
Branda

How about a two-faced, scowly, blonde bird (closely resembles a Justice Minister)!