What if every country had her own national bird? Some already do. Ecuador has the Andean condor, the Peacock belongs to India. Our own barn swallow has been claimed by both Austria and Estonia and now, Israel has chosen the hoopoe.
The choice is an odd one. Not because this striking bird is not worthy or because it is in decline in Israel – its numbers are rising - but because it is dismissed in the Old Testament as abhorrent, unclean and not to be eaten.
Jews are still barred from consuming hoopoes yet after six months of polling, 35 per cent of the 155,000 people taking part voted to make the hoopoe their flagship species. As a result, the bird’s image will now appear on stamps, coins and clothing.
“Today, more than ever, we need green scenery, fresh air and the beautiful multi-coloured birds that flock here,” said Israel’s president Shimon Peres who sees bird watching as one of his country’s major assets.
The vote was also regarded as a ‘lesson in democracy and in bird preservation awareness’ according to Israeli newspapers.
Such lessons would be useful in the UK where, on the day the hoopoe’s election was announced, an adult peregrine died in England after being found in a spring-loaded trap.
Eight of these illegal devices have been discovered near peregrine nests in the West Midlands.
The peregrine is a fine bird, an avian torpedo only just recovering from severe population declines caused by the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Thousands of people are enjoying privileged views of peregines and their young, today, on buildings in several UK town and city centres.
England doesn’t have a national bird. Nor does Scotland, Wales or Ireland although the UK has the robin. Maybe we won't deserve one until the illegal persecution of Britain's birds of prey comes to an end.