Kentucky marks 100 years since cardinals were named the state bird under KRS 2.080

Kentucky is marking 100 years since lawmakers adopted the cardinal as the official state bird in 1926, according to a Kentucky Lantern report published Monday, June 30. The paper says the statute, Kentucky Revised Statutes 2.080, identifies the “native redbird, commonly known as the Kentucky cardinal” as Kentucky’s state bird and formalized the designation at the start of what is now a century-long tradition.

The Kentucky Lantern account describes the move as an early example of state-level environmental stewardship, saying Kentucky became the first U.S. state to formally adopt a state bird in statute. The same report frames the cardinal as a constant presence in the commonwealth’s landscapes, including backyards and woodlands, and ties the bird’s ongoing visibility to continued public interest in local wildlife.

In the report, the author looks back at how lawmakers’ selection of the cardinal helped establish a shared symbol for Kentucky residents, a role that continues through civic and educational settings. The article also characterizes the 1926 adoption as part of a broader tradition of states using official symbols to express regional identity.

The Kentucky Lantern piece highlights that the cardinals’ year-round presence makes them a familiar species for families and schools. It also points to how wildlife recognition can influence public awareness of habitat and species protection, even though the article does not describe any single enforcement or conservation program linked specifically to the state-bird designation.

For Kentuckians today, the centennial offers a reminder that state symbols are grounded in formal law, not informal tradition. The Kentucky Lantern report notes that the state bird is codified in KRS 2.080, which means the designation is maintained through Kentucky’s legislative framework unless amended by future action.

Officials and organizations often use state symbols for community events, educational materials, and interpretive displays, and the cardinal designation is commonly cited in that context. The article does not claim specific agency directives tied to the centennial, but it presents the centennial itself as a public-facing moment for schools and community groups to revisit the state’s history with wildlife recognition.

While the Kentucky Lantern report provides the centennial narrative and the statutory citation, it does not lay out the legislative debate or committee record from 1926, nor does it document any subsequent amendments to KRS 2.080. Any details beyond the reported statute and the centennial framing would require additional review of legislative records or the text of the statute itself.