put your lists into action

Today is Blog Action Day, where over 10,000 bloggers worldwide are speaking out on a single subject, the environment.

It made me think about something that birders do that they could turn into a positive action to help the environment. I think that just about anyone who loves birds -- whether they travel the world or never go beyond their own neighborhood -- writes down what they see. Elaborate or simple, these lists kept over time have tremendous power.

Rather than just lamenting that the nice woodlot where you have seen good birds over the years is being developed, do something about it before the bulldozers arrive. Habitat is not (legally) destroyed Property is not developed without going through some sort of planning commission, hearing, permitting process, etc. It's nearly always true that there is a public comment period at some point along the line. Find out how this works in your community, and when development is proposed, speak out.

I have submitted comments to our state agency that regulates wetland permits. Anybody can do this. I had happened to have visited a vacant corner lot several times when I found survey stakes on it one day. There wasn't anything especially spectacular there, but it was a nice mixed habitat that was hard to come by in our very metropolitan area. I went online, found the permit request (which provided many details about the proposed housing development), and submitted comments to the agency. My comments included a list of birds, insects, and plants I'd noted there, as well as general comments about the effects of lawn care products, parking lot runoff, fragmentation, etc. that seemed appropriate to this project. This was enough that the development plan as proposed by the owner had to be modified -- twice. (This process took long enough that the economy in Michigan tanked and the entire development is on hold.)

You don't need to have detailed scientific data to influence this process. It helps to have dates and numbers, and the more specific the better. But often community opposition can be enough to change the tide. Letters to government officials are also very effective, especially with local governments. I've read that politicians consider each letter to represent the views of 100 people that didn't bother to express their opinions. A well-written series of letters (and demographic studies have proven birders are an educated and literate lot) is a powerful tool for change. It's one birders are well advised to utilize often.

As you see the next grassland paved over or forest succumb to the chain saw, don't just think, "How could they let this happen?" Remember that they is you.

Comments

[Mike]

I like your take on this, Nuthatch. Sound advice!

[John]

Letters to local officials and agencies are definitely effective. It took comments from only about nine people to extend the life of a bus line in DC. The trouble is finding out about plans before they happen.