President's Message: Which Are You?

By Jason Frederick

Sometimes in conversations on field trips or at meetings, the topic of birding, bird watching, and conservation comes up. Some ask if there is a difference. In my opinion, I believe it depends on the individual and the circumstances.

Some people like to watch the birds that come to their feeders and occasionally going to a park or wildlife refuge to see birds and other wildlife. Their life list might not be very large or exciting to the big listers, but to them they enjoy their hobby or interest. Some bird watchers do not even have binoculars or a field guide, yet they know what birds come to their yard, when they arrive, when they depart, when they raise their young, and when their numbers go up or down. Some bird watchers do not think what they do is very scientific nor do they involve themselves in matters of conservation of birds, their habitats, or other wildlife.

Some birders just go to local parks and refuges to enjoy their hobby. Others make trips to add birds to their life lists. Some chase rare birds down to add to their list. Then there are those that chase birds all over the state through out the year for big years and big days. Is there any scientific importance to this? Does this help in the ways of conservation? Yes!

So, those are some of the differences and similarities that the different levels of the hobby of birds have. Which one is the right one? Which one is the wrong one? Here is my opinion: They all are important to conservation and they all can be a detriment to the survival of birds and their habitats. How? If you do not protect what you love it will no longer be there!! Each one of the individuals I wrote about earlier can make a difference. Here is how:

Tell others about your passion for birds. Sure some people will laugh or make fun of you. But guess what, you will be the first one they come to when they find an injured bird or see a strange or beautiful new bird in their yard or tell you about a cool bird they saw at the beach or on their last trip.

Share the information that you gather with others. Citizen science projects like Christmas Bird Counts, Great Backyard Bird Counts and North American Migratory Counts are very important to protecting wildlife. Scientists are not able to be everywhere all the time. Information about arrivals, departures, population numbers, nesting dates, and other data are need for ornithologists to determine population trends around the country and around the world. Citizen science helped to bring attention to the devastation that DDT was causing to bird populations and later that same information helped to get DDT banned in the United States.

When called upon, stand up and make your voice heard when it comes to protecting the habitats of the wildlife you love. When you vote, vote for a candidate that has the same desire to protect wildlife and their habitats. When that candidate takes office, let them know your concerns and wishes about wildlife. Rather than ask, what is Audubon going to do or what is my local officials going to do? You ask what you can do to help Audubon and what you can do to help your local officials make a change. It can be scary or nerve wracking at times, but the reward is worth it. You can make a difference.

What will your legacy be? Can the wildlife you enjoy count on you? Ask a board member how you can help.