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History
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From Prank to Prestige: How a Plastic Flamingo Became the Official Bird of Madison, Wisconsin
In a testament to its quirky spirit, Madison, Wisconsin's official bird is the pink plastic flamingo. The title commemorates a legendary 1979 prank by UW students from the Pail and Shovel Party, who famously covered the campus's Bascom Hill with over one thousand of the iconic lawn ornaments.
When you think of an official city bird, you probably picture a noble cardinal, a cheerful robin, or perhaps a majestic eagle. But in Madison, Wisconsin, civic symbolism takes a decidedly more whimsical turn. The official bird of this vibrant Midwestern city isn't feathered at all—it's the iconic, kitschy, and unapologetically pink plastic flamingo.
The Dawn of a Plastic Menagerie
The story begins not in a nature preserve, but on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall of 1979. The culprits were the Pail and Shovel Party, a student government group led by the notorious duo Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon. They had won their election on a platform of pure absurdity, promising to flood the gymnasium for a mock naval battle and bring the Statue of Liberty to Madison.
On the morning of September 4, 1979, as students returned for the first day of classes, they were greeted by an astonishing sight. The sweeping green lawn of Bascom Hill, the heart of the campus, had been transformed overnight into a sea of pink. Exactly 1,008 plastic flamingos stood proudly on the grass, a surreal and hilarious spectacle that immediately became campus legend.
A Legacy of Levity
The flamingo prank was not an isolated incident. The Pail and Shovel Party was famous for its grand, satirical gestures. They fulfilled their Statue of Liberty promise by building a stunningly accurate replica of Lady Liberty's head and torch and placing it on the frozen surface of Lake Mendota, making it appear as if she were sinking. These stunts were more than just jokes; they were a form of performance art that captured the anti-establishment, fun-loving spirit of Madison.
The flamingo flock, however, held a special place in the city's heart. It represented a moment of pure, unexpected joy. The image of the pink birds against the stately backdrop of university buildings became an enduring symbol of Madison's unique character—a city that values education and progress but never takes itself too seriously.
From Lawn Ornament to Official Icon
Decades passed, but the legend of the flamingo prank lived on. As the 30th anniversary of the event approached in 2009, the Madison Common Council decided to make it official. In a unanimous vote, they officially named the plastic flamingo the city bird. The resolution celebrated the prank as an iconic event that contributed to the city's reputation for creativity and eccentricity.
The resolution passed by the council stated that the flamingo represents 'a civic pride that is not afraid to be silly.'
The prank has since been institutionalized. Today, the Wisconsin Alumni Association holds an annual 'Fill the Hill' fundraiser, where donors can 'populate' Bascom Hill with plastic flamingos to raise money for student aid, turning the legendary prank into a force for good.
The plastic flamingo is a perfect mascot for Madison. It's a reminder that sometimes the most memorable moments in a city's history aren't born from solemn decrees, but from a flash of brilliant, irreverent fun.