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If I can get out of Philly early tomorrow morning (there's a storm raging), I'll be off to the Fourth International Partners in Flight Meeting in McAllen, Texas. I missed the last PIF meetings (2002), but had a great time at the 1995 PIF meeting at Cape May. If you're in Texas for the meetings, drop me a note. Maybe we can get some Green Jays and Chachalacas together. Or you could stop by my paper presentation on urban bird conservation on Friday afternoon.
Here's my paper abstract:
Urban Bird Conservation: Linking Yards and Neighborhoods to Regional Bird Conservation Initiatives.
The majority of North Americans (76% in Mexico, 81% in Canada and USA) live in urban areas. In the United States, urban areas cover over 3% of the contiguous 48 states, and an additional 25% (1.39 million km2) of the land is developed at exurban residential densities greater than one house per 40 acres. These areas include important habitat for at least 100 of the 178 species listed on the 2007 WatchList, and 110 of the 121 species recently identified by Audubon as Common Birds in Decline. This creates the duel challenges of a) engaging urbanites in bird conservation and b) protecting vulnerable bird habitats and populations in urban, suburban, and exurban settings. Audubon programs address these challenges by committing landowners to bird-friendly gardening and landscaping practices, and by teaching landowners how to manage their individual properties and local neighborhoods for birds of regional conservation concern. A survey of Audubon state programs and 490 local Audubon chapters identifies challenges and opportunities for engaging urban audiences in bird conservation and linking management of yards and neighborhoods to national, state, and regional bird conservation initiatives.
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2 comments:
I wish....but I'll be back here in PA. Your topic is an important one, as habitat preservation just isn't for the park or preserve. When I lived in an urban area I came to realize how even small pieces of habitat provided suitable places for birds to live and thrive.
I am an activist working on free roaming feral and domestic cat issues. I live near the home of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory which is in Lake Jackson Texas. Lake Jackson has an exemption to the animal control ordinance allowing cats to roam free. Also, they allow feral cat colony managers to maintain colonies in the city without license, inspection, or education. Please urge Lake Jackson to adopt bird friendly laws and the polices needed to enforce them. Please write to the Brazosport Facts(thefacts.com)The local birders are reluctant to write the paper for fear of losing funding for their bird observatory. A general fear of feral cat colony groups is pervasive in the birder world. I also find that alot of birders do not want to put their cats inside or keep them in a kennel. I would like to see a survey done on the matter- Do birders keep a safe backyard for their birds? Are they reluctant to fight city haul for bird friendly laws?
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