Published by the Post and Courier – https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/prothonotary-warbler-sc-migratory-bird/article_6d26f31c-28ad-4724-ae9f-285943d8628f.html 

February 11, 2026

By Anna Wilder awilder@postandcourier.com

COLUMBIA — Jack Ragley has always been interested in birds. The 9-year-old’s favorite is the blue jay.

But on Feb. 10, Jack stood inside the S.C. Statehouse to talk about another bird he cares deeply about and argue that lawmakers should officially recognize it as South Carolina’s migratory bird.

After all, the beautiful, bright yellow prothonotary warbler that lives in swamps and wetlands travels “really far” during its annual migration, he said.

Also, South Carolina is “one of the places it needs the most” to live and thrive, he told the lawmakers.

“This bird chooses South Carolina every year, and I think South Carolina should choose this bird, too,” Jack said.

State lawmakers are considering adding the prothonotary warbler to South Carolina’s list of official symbols, which would make it the state’s first officially designated migratory bird.

The prothonotary warbler is a “strikingly beautiful, golden-yellow” songbird that migrates annually between South Carolina and its wintering grounds in Central and South America, according to the bill’s text.

South Carolina does not currently have an official migratory bird. The Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) has been the state bird since 1948, when the designation was signed into law by then-Gov. Strom Thurmond.

Jack, a fourth grader from Columbia, wore his Scout uniform as he testified before the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs House Subcommittee.

“I like birds because they’re beautiful to the eyes and to the ears,” Jack told the lawmakers. “They make being outside more fun and watching birds makes me feel relaxed.”

He is a Webelos, meaning “we will be loyal scouts,” in Pack 37 and has been an active member for five years. He said studying the local habitat at his school, Heathwood Hall Episcopal, has made him love nature “even more.”

“When you start noticing birds, you start noticing a lot more about what’s outside,” Jack said.

South Carolina provides critical breeding grounds and a stopover habitat during the bird’s annual life cycle, particularly in the state’s hardwood forests, swamps and wetlands.

Jay Keck, a naturalist with South Carolina Wildlife Federation, said the bird is easy to spot if you know where to look.

The bird has short legs and a short tail and is slightly larger than other warblers. Its song sounds like “sweet sweet sweet,” Keck said.

“This will help us ensure the sweet sound of the warbler is a sound our swamps, forests and wetlands will have for generations to come,” Keck said.

The prothonotary warbler has been experiencing a population decline, with numbers dropping by approximately 40 percent since the 1960s.

Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, wrote via text that designating it as the official state migratory bird draws attention to the role in conserving “interconnected ecosystems and promotes awareness and responsible land and water management practices.”

It’s also a “really cool-looking golden-yellow songbird,” Davis wrote.

Audubon, a nonprofit conservation organization that manages more than 30,000 acres of critical bird habitat statewide, helps maintain essential habitat for the birds by preserving tree cavities for nesting and ensuring an abundant supply of insects for food. This is all critical as the species travels thousands of miles.

Jack learned about the bill from his parents, Jay and Connelly-Anne Ragley, who both work in government. He also attended an Audubon-hosted event where he spoke with staff and learned more about the bird.

Connelly-Anne Ragley emailed just about everyone — Jack’s teacher, former teacher, head of school, science director and more — so the entire fourth grade knew he was headed to the Statehouse to talk about why the bird was important.

Lawmakers voted to advance the bill out of subcommittee, sending it to a full committee.

“I thought it was kind of heart-touching to me, because I kind of worked hard to do this,” Jack said of lawmakers’ response to his testimony.

He said designating the bird would help kids like him learn more about the state and “feel proud of it.”

“Designating a state migratory bird like the prothonotary warbler allows us to bring more awareness to our feathered friends, including what all South Carolinians can do to help birds,” Jen Tyrrell, community science and research manager at Audubon.

Jack hopes the bill will be signed by Gov. Henry McMaster this year.

After his speech, he celebrated with a lunch outing with his mom before heading back to his fourth-grade classroom for “peak,” an outdoor education program where students paddleboard on a pond and learn about the environment.

Lawmakers on the panel told Jack that Rep. Bill Hixon, R-North Augusta, the full committee’s chair, would write him a school excuse note.

When asked if he would return if the bill reached McMaster for signing, Jack smiled.

“I’ll try.”

Published by the Post and Courier – https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/prothonotary-warbler-sc-migratory-bird/article_6d26f31c-28ad-4724-ae9f-285943d8628f.html