Avian conservation through research and education

What Is Avian Conservation?

The term "conservation" has seemingly become one of those words that is used so often, and in so many different contexts, that the word itself has begun to lose its meaning. At BirdCountry.US, we define the conservation of North American birds as having three general, but equally important aspects:

1. Documentation of avian biodiversity

2. Documentation of human impacts on avian diversity

3. Development of workable solutions to lessen those human impacts

Documentation of Avian Biodiversity

    "Biodiversity" is another of those terms that is losing its meaning. Biological diversity is just what it sounds like - all the different types of biological organisms that make up our planet. As birders, we necessarily limit our observations to birds, and since we all cannot go all over the world, we generally limit ourselves to particular areas around our home - our favorite birding hotspots. But, at the same time, we are, perhaps unknowingly, limiting our observations even within those areas. Documentation of avian diversity doesn't encompass just species, but the age and sex classes of those species, and the behavior of the individuals within each of the classes.

    The birdwatching public does a tremendous job of accomplishing a lot of this documentation, and the Internet has allowed us to rapidly share this information. In many cases, this brings more and more birders into the field who, in turn, provide further documentation. Most of our observations document the presence or absence of a species. Many folks take the next step and include the numbers of individuals sighted at a particular time and place. Some even go beyond that and list the number of males, females, and immatures of certain species. With this level of information, we can start to get a picture of the makeup of a population. The final level, and the level at which our knowledge has serious gaps, is the documentation of the behavior of the various individuals of a population. Without this information, we cannot possibly make informed decisions as to the conservation efforts needed for a species.

    For instance, we have no knowledge of:

- the nesting success of Red-headed, Red-bellied, Downy, or Pileated Woodpeckers;

- the biology and ecology of the Gray-cheeked Thrush;

- how a Swainson's Thrush utilizes the various components of its habitat;

- the basic breeding and nesting biology of the Hermit Thrush;

- the abundance, the forest patch size requirements, or even the vocalization patterns of the Sharp-shinned Hawk;

- the migration habits of the Cooper's Hawk, its nesting success, or its breeding biology in urban and suburban habitats;

- the wintering biology of the Northern Goshawk.

    In this quick paragraph, we have only touched the tip of the iceberg of three small groups of birds: eastern woodpeckers, spot-breasted thrushes, and accipiters. And much of this information can be gleaned from observations of the estimated 60,000,000 birders around the country, with little effort. We can learn a lot while sipping coffee and looking out the window in the morning.

Documentation of human impacts on avian diversity

    There can be no doubt that humans have impacted the abundance and distribution of birds throughout the world. We all know how DDT and other pesticides have decimated avian populations in the past. More imminent threats today include deforestation, forest fragmentation, draining of wetlands, conversion of grasslands to agriculture, and the spread of invasive exotic species. At the same time, numerous agencies and organizations have worked endlessly to create new habitats and restore other areas to their once-pristine conditions. The average birder can make tremendous contributions to avian research by assisting in documenting the changes that occur, not only as habitat is lost, but as areas are reclaimed. One program in particular, The National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area (IBA) program, is in great need of birders around the country to document the avian diversity of these and adjacent areas. Much of the conservation work that has been done in the past has been trial-and-error, and there is nothing to stand in the way of this trend continuing. But if we better understand both the positive and negative effects that humans have on avian populations, we can better focus our efforts and, therefore, become more efficient and effective in those efforts.

Development of workable solutions to lessen those human impacts

    Lawsuits filed against individuals, agencies, organizations, or businesses that threaten avian populations rarely do what we need them to do - enhance our conservation efforts. Instead, they tend to build impenetrable barriers toward those very efforts. Even among the various conservation organizations, ill feelings from one faction toward another tend to stand in the way of conservation. It is doubtful that anyone can argue against the fact that Ducks Unlimited has done more for the restoration of wetlands and the birds that depend on them than any other organization or consortium of organizations anywhere in the world. Yet many birders tend to shy away from this group of hard-working, dedicated conservationists. Even among the various birding organizations, there are many factions that will not work together with other factions toward a common goal. Conservation, in its truest form, works to destroy any barriers between groups and individuals who share this common goal.

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BirdCountry.US stands for the basic tenet that together we can conserve birds and their habitats through the proper documentation of avian diversity, a thorough understanding of the impacts humans have on the birds and their habitats, and the development of workable solutions for all factions of our society. And while we are up against the wall with current problems such as global warming, overpopulation, and an atmosphere full of contaminants, we still have all the time in the world to accomplish our goals. We have, however, zero time to waste. To learn how BirdCountry.US involves itself in avian conservation and the numerous roles that YOU can play, click on the links below.

The essays included in Round River were taken from some of Leopold's notes that were still in manuscript form when he died fighting a fire in 1948. Edited by Leopold's son, Luna, these previously unpublished words are yet another gift from a man that gave us conservation and the land ethic that all should live by today. Only $18.95.

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