That sound is the Western Meadowlark, and Montana has a bunch of schoolchildren to thank for making it our official state bird. The Vote Montana Kids Decided Without Any AdultsIn 1930, Montana's schoolchildren were asked to pick the bird that best represented their state. The response came back overwhelmingly in favor of the Western Meadowlark, and the state legislature followed their lead the next session, making it official on March 14, 1931. Photo by Jon Sailer on Unsplash a small yellow bird sitting on top of a wooden postMontana Isn't the Only State That Claims This SongMontana shares the meadowlark with five other states: Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. The Grain Scare That Almost Cost the Meadowlark Its TitleFarmers worried early on that the meadowlark might be eating their grain.