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BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING
2014
Conservation is the heart of The Biggest Week In American Birding For Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) and our partners, the effort we put forth on the festival is worth it because the event raises awareness and appreciation for birds and habitat conservation in a major way. The bottom line is this: we want to help people fall in love with birds, and this is a perfect place to make that happen! We believe that connecting people to the joys of birding is the first step in building support for conservation because people care more about the things they love. And when spring migration has winged its way through the area, and the Magee Marsh Boardwalk is once again draped in quiet shadows, the folks at BSBO will gather up the economic impact you helped generate during your visit and we will trumpet that to all those who will listen. The heart of conservation keeps beating! Below, we offer some simple, fun, beautiful, and even tasty ways to help give something back to the birds that bring such joy to our lives. Buy a stamp, drink some bird -friendly coffee, take a kid (or any beginner) birding, and help us help the birds.
1) HELP US SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE WIND ENERGY IN NW OHIO: SIGN OUR PETITION The Issue Wind turbines are creeping their way into the Lake Erie Marsh Region from the east and west. They are being proposed for schools, small businesses, and private residences. These are not the massive, commercial turbines, but “smaller” units, seemingly innocuous by comparison. But there are some facts that everyone should know. These so called “midsized” turbines can exceed 300 feet and there are currently no regulations whatsoever to control where they are installed in relation to bird and wildlife sensitive areas. Visit www.bsbobird.org for more information.
2) DONATE THE GUIA PROGRAM Visit Black Swamp Bird Observatory to learn how you can donate copies of Guia to important bird conservation programs through our partners at Sonoran Joint Venture and Connecting Cultures, a program of Environment for the Americas. They help us distribute copies of Kenn’s Spanish language bird guide to people across the southwestern US and northern Mexico. These books will be used as valuable tools for bird guide training workshops.
3) DRINK SHADE-GROWN COFFEE Drinking certified shade-grown coffee is an easy way to support bird habitat conservation. This brand can be purchased at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory Gift Shop. Your host at the “Biggest Week” is happy to recommend Birds & Beans for all of your shade-grown coffee needs.
4) DON'T RELEASE HELIUM BALLOONS: They can kill birds and other wildlife!
Releasing helium balloons seems innocent enough - and many people release them to celebrate events or memorialize a lost friend or loved one. Sure, they look nice going up, but once they come down they create horrible looking litter and they pose very serious dangers to birds and wildlife. We know that most people just don't understand the dangers and we're trying to help get the word out. We also believe that no one would want to celebrate some event or memorialize a friend or loved one in a way that could kill a beautiful bird, sea turtle, or other wildlife. For more information visit: www.balloonsblow.org.
5) PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK HELPING BIRDS: LEAVE A BIRDER’S CALLING CARD Pick up these cards at event site locations and use them when you visit area businesses. We want the region’s business owners to know that you are here because of the great birds you will see so they will lend support to habitat conservation!
6) PURCHASE CONSERVATION STAMPS
All of these conservation stamps are available for purchase in the Black Swamp Bird Observatory for $15.
OHIO WILDLIFE LEGACY STAMP Buying this collectable wildlife stamp will show you support for: habitat restoration, land purchases, conservation easements keeping common species common
endangered & threatened native species
educational products for students & wildlife enthusiasts
wildlife and habitat research projects FEDERAL DUCK STAMP
Federal Duck Stamps are a vital tool for wetland conservation. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Junior Duck Stamp is another stamp that every birder should purchase! The Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) is a pictorial stamp produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize the conservation efforts of young people and support environmental and conservation education programs in the United States. The stamp design is selected from a national art contest.
7) TAKE A KID BIRDING The future of bird conservation depends on keeping the next generation tuned in to nature. Take a few minutes to take your kids out for a walk. Volunteer to lead nature hikes for kids at a nature center, for your local Audubon Chapter, for your family and friends.
2014 Biggest Week in American Birding