Environmental Issues and Birds

It is said that within 100 years, half of all species of life on earth will be extinct.  Many industrialized governments tell us its’ natural selection.  Is it?  Let’s look at the birds depicted in this volume and reasons why they went extinct or are at risk.

//“Its extinction was probably largely caused by the destruction of its understory habitat by introduced cattle and deer, and predation of its nests by introduced rats and mongooses.”//

//“Endangered by massive illegal trapping for the cage bird trade.”//

//“Vulnerable due to habitat destruction and human disturbances to nesting areas.”//

//“Endangered due to habitat destruction and alteration.“//

//“Its extinction was caused by deforestation, hunting and predation by introduced rats and cats.” //

Hmmm… starting to notice a trend? Human involvement appears to have a whole lot to do with that “natural selection” argument offered.  Okay, fine… so we are causing some species to go extinct.  What difference does that make?  Well, apart from the obvious moral and quality of life issues, loss of species can harm us and our existence in ways we’re only starting to understand.  The birds, as well as bees and butterflies of our planet are important pollinators. Without pollinators, crops may flower but won’t fruit, hence no food makes it to the supermarket making higher prices and less food available. Hmmm, that could be problem, couldn’t it?  

Audubon recently reported that based on the last 40 years of data, even common species will not be so common tomorrow.  Since 1967 the average population of common birds in the United Sates have fallen 70% from 17.6 million to 5.35 million individuals. Certain areas, such as California, are showing declines as much as 95% in some species. So the threat of extinction isn’t limited to obscure and rare species in someone else’s yard-- it’s the jay in your yard, the hummingbird working your flowers, the finches chattering in your tree… and their survival is your responsibility.

**Do great art.** This one’s real easy. The primary idea behind the “Threatened, Endangered, Extinct” theme is that artist will be able to create imagery using the included bird species and help spread awareness. You have some tools with the “More Threatened, Endangered, Extinct” Songbird ReMix package. Use them and make a difference. Post your artwork featuring the endangered birds and tell your audience of their plights. Use the text in the Field Guide or write your own. I guarantee you someone will be moved, and perhaps, moved enough to also make a difference.

**Heal the earth one garden at a time.** One of the primary causes for endangerment and extinction is habitat loss. While few of us can purchase tracts of land to protect and save habitat, almost everyone can garden. Here’s your opportunity to give back to the planet. If you have planting space, whether it be acres or a couple pots on your balcony, use it and plant native plants. You know, the ones that actually belong there. If you’re not aware of what’s native to your area, contact your local native plant society or do internet searches. Native plants and the birds, insects and other wildlife have ancient relationships.  Once you start planting the right plants, the wildlife will rekindle these relationships.  From my own experience, our bird count when from 40 different species a year to over 100 within a three year period. The types of butterflies tripled and the native mammals and insects I didn’t even know existed in our area now are frequent visitors.  

**Provide water sources on your property.** Whether it’s a bird bath, a mister, a pond or stream, a water source is probably the most important feature you can put on your property for birds. Feeder, nesting boxes, or secluded cover (trees, shrubs, thickets) are also important. Don’t rake away all the leaves. Natural mulch is important to the health of native plants.  For many birds, mulch is their forage area. The National Wildlife Federation (http://www.nwf.org/backyard/) and Audubon (http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/) have home wildlife habitat programs. If you have native plants, shelter, food sources and water for wildlife you can be certified as a NWF “Backyard Wildlife Habitat” and for a small fee even get a placard to display out in your yard or on your fence saying so. If neighbors pass by and look at your garden, wondering why it looks a little different (native plants), tell them why. That too, has the snowball effect.

**Shop and live green.** This is easy to do. If you drink coffee, buy shade grown coffee. Buy organically grown products. Yes, there a little more expensive, but they’re generally better for you. If your city has a recycling service, use it. Also, many power companies offer “green power” options, sign up and if they don’t have one, ask why.  Use water, power and gas more wisely. Get energy saving bulbs and water saving toilets and showerheads.

**Pets…** Before everyone starts with the hate mail—I do not hate cats. The average well-fed outdoor housecat kills over a dozen songbirds a year. The housecat being well fed, cared for, with a safe place to sleep has a much clearer advantage than real predators (such as coyotes or hawks). While housecats are predators, they are not endemic (meaning they are foreign to the ecosystem). Let me put it another way… what if lions or cougars were let loose in a shopping mall? Would that be “nature taking its’ course”? No, big cats are not endemic to shopping malls or cities; they’re dangerous and don’t belong there. They belong in their natural habitat or locked up in a zoo.  So why are domestic cats treated differently? Simply said, cats are a domestic pet that belongs indoors. If you want to give that tired “roam free” argument, get a Cougar or similar cat, then I’ll listen… but my guess is the cougar will be more interested in the people within the house than a songbird outside.

**Be aware what goes on in your community.** Of all the government layers, the local levels are the most accessible to you. Hearings regarding important decisions in your community happen all the time. Attend some, and make a difference. I attended a hearing regarding the re-landscaping of a local park. Now they’re going to be planting native plants in the park. My wife, neighbors and I commented on a housing project asking for radical zoning changes on an area, which is currently wilderness. Now the city has to consider whether it wants to rubber stamp the developer’s vision or face the wrath of the community. Let your community leaders know you want “smart growth” and expect them to obey their own zoning laws. Building should occur in places where it’s appropriate to build, not because it’s the place where maximum profit can be achieved.

**Vote Smart.** When deciding whom to vote for, don’t trust the mailers or the candidate’s lip service. Just because they may title initiatives “Clean Air” or “Healthy Forests” doesn’t make it so.  Check their records. How did they really vote? The internet is great for that. The League of Women Voters (www.lwv.org) even has environmental score cards. The National Audubon Society (http://www.audubon.org/campaign) has an “Advisory” newsletter it emails out that states what going on in the Capital and even provides links to your elected officials along with editable form letters to express your concerns.  

Even more important is phone calls and letters to your elected officials expressing how important environmental issues are to you. Consider this, PR firms, lobbyists and others make daily contact with your representatives “helping” to explain the “needs” of their constituents. I’m sure your representatives hearing this day in and day out might start to believe that’s what you want. Call them and set them straight.

No, I’m not saying everyone should get their taxes raised—but why not pay your fair share?  For $5 to $20, you (and everyone in your car) can visit one of the US National Parks. That $5 to $20 is not for a day, but a full week. The US government has kept these prices low so that people of modest means can enjoy the natural beauty.  Almost every visitor center has a donation box—a day at Disneyland or out at the movies would have cost you considerably more—pay your fair share.

Frustrate a developer… Of course, not everyone can do this but 6-7 years ago, two vacant weed lots near our house came up for sale.  We (my wife and I) offered an amount that cut deep enough into the developers’ profit margins that they backed away from bidding on it.  We then turned the property in a native garden with the intention of never building on the property. We felt it was our turn to give back to the planet.  The developer approached us a year later, insisting that I sell one of the lots to him because it didn’t make any sense not to develop it.  Standing there arguing with him in our native garden, I realized that greed blinds so many people. He could not see that the property had been developed (into a beautiful native garden) nor could he see the wealth of natural beauty and life that surrounded him.

Population—a sticky issue…. Of course, there’s argument that the planet isn’t over-populated—but then again there’s argument that Global-warming isn’t happening, the dinosaurs are simply a fairy tale and smoking is good for you.  Consider this, it is predicted that within a decade there will not be not enough fresh water for the world population.  Food is already in short supply in some portions of the world.  The human population is the single largest factor in the depletion and destruction of our planet’s resources and the sooner we face up to it, the better.

Make responsible choices. Advertisers thrive on you making as many irresponsible and impulsive choices as possible.  Look in the mirror, be honest with yourself. Do you really need that huge SUV or 4,000 square foot home? Think of the resources and money you would save by living more modestly and environmentally friendly. Look at your footsteps.   

Work and Play responsibly.  Is it really faster to leaf blow your yard than using a rake?  I can rake our yard just as fast as a “Mow and Blow” garderner can without the pollution, dust and noise and actually get some exercise and quality time in the garden.  Plus, my yard waste ends up as mulch in the garden or is properly thrown in the green recycle barrel and not simply blown into the street and my adjacent neighbors’ yard.