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“C” is for Carolina Wren

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“C” is for Carolina Wren. State bird. The Carolina Wren became South Carolina’s official state bird on April 2, 1948. The act also made it a crime to kill a wren intentionally. It had been recognized unofficially as the state bird since early in the twentieth century, but in 1939 the General Assembly designated the mockingbird instead. The 1948 act repealed the 1939 designation. The wren was deemed a better choice since it includes “Carolina” in its name, is a permanent resident in every part of South Carolina, and sings practically year-round. Male and female wrens bond year-round. Nests may be constructed in gardens and porches of houses. It is not a migratory bird. The Carolina wren is beneficial to South Carolina agriculture on account of the great quantities of insects—including caterpillars—it consumes.

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Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.