A Voice for the Birds

My Past: Nature Enthusiast

As long as I can remember, I have been a voice for the planet. This voice has been reflected in my daily personal choices. I would rather plant trees than cement. I prefer hiking over a car ride. I am inclined to nurture biodiverse gardens instead of grass monocultures. And I choose to live in a small house on a small piece of land close to the places where I travel most.

Professionally, I have spent years working to minimize human impact through planning and design. I studied and advocated for bicycle networks that cater to all bicycling abilities and provide safe routes for travel no matter where you are starting or wanting to go. I have created a template for pedestrians that mandates a transportation network which provides safe, convenient, pleasant places to walk. I ghost wrote a book outlining Prof. Phil Lewis’ Regional Design Process which directs planners to identify water, wetlands and steep topography to guide decisions about where to build and where not to build in order to preserve environmental corridors while providing for human growth. Eventually I expanded my focus to include holistic human health as an integral part of planet health, and so I practiced massage therapy.

My Present: Bird Losses & Quarantine

Since 1970, wild bird populations in the continental U.S. and Canada have declined by almost 30%, according to a study published in Science last Fall. My jaw dropped reading this report. I remember 1970! This was only 50 years ago – a shockingly short time in ecological terms.

To translate these findings into a less abstract image, where there were 4 cardinals at the bird feeder when I was a toddler, today there are only three, where there were 60 chickadees there are only 45 today. Some species appear to be affected more and others less, but the losses are not isolated. There are significant losses across many major bird families and in many different habitats.

“These bird losses are a strong signal that our human-altered landscapes are losing their ability to support birdlife.”

Ken Rosenberg, lead author, Cornell lab of Ornithology,
“Decline of the North American Avifauna”

To carry out the study, Cornell Lab of Ornithology conservation scientist Ken Rosenberg led a international team of scientists from seven institutions. They analyzed population trends for 529 bird species by reviewing bird-survey datasets and weather station radar data.

Their findings are alarming. The losses are pervasive across species and biomes. For example, forests have lost 1 billion birds. An additional 700 million have disappeared from grasslands. The authors conclude that habitat loss (particularly agricultural intensification and urban development) is a likely driving force behind the declines.

“I don’t think any of these major declines among birds are hopeless at this point. But that may not be true 10 years from now.”

KEN ROSENBERG, LEAD AUTHOR, CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY,
“DECLINE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN AVIFAUNA”

The call to action is urgent! If we do not act swiftly, future reports will be grim indeed. I cannot imagine a world without birds.

Due to Covid-19, I have been quarantined since mid-March. This has provided plenty of opportunity to reflect on this urgency. One of my few activities away from the house has been birding, choosing my times and destinations carefully to avoid other humans. With a more flexible schedule, for the first time in several years, I topped over 100 species during migration. My enthusiasm for the thrill of discovering, watching and identifying birds has been reinvigorated.

While at home, I have enjoyed the additional time available to tend to and nurture the birdscape around my house. Before Covid, I already had 15 bird feeders, a pondless waterfall and a fairly extensive collection of trees, shrubs and plants to support the birds. But now I have added even more food sources, water sources, and plants and trees for habitat. The birds have been appreciating my efforts, providing a constant stream of feathered visitors to the yard.

Throughout these endeavors, I reflect on the pervasive loss of birds reported in the Science journal study. And I reflect on the urgent call to action to reverse this trend and how I might re-imagine my future to commit myself more extensively to this cause.

My Future: A Voice for the Birds

My Dream is to be a voice for the birds. My words and my art will inspire, educate, advocate and raise awareness. My actions will set ripples in motion that will redirect human choices in favor of birds. Habitats will be preserved and restored so that populations will rebound. Buildings, power lines, and wind turbines will be built to reduce bird collisions. Businesses from paper mills, furniture makers, ranchers, and fisheries to companies growing coffee, chocolate, fruit and beef in the tropics will make choices that are bird-friendly. And individuals will advocate for bird-friendly laws and make informed choices that support birds.

My diverse background is a robust springboard from which to launch into bird conservation. I am already a “process expert” specializing in curiosity-driven explorations along with engaging writing and visual communication. I am a dynamic team member, a clear communicator, an efficient organizer and a creative and innovative problem solver. I am a supportive leader, a compassionate listener, an inspiring and engaging presenter, and a stellar customer service provider.

With a little bit of training I will easily become a “subject expert” in bird conservation. My passion, drive and ability to learn quickly will lead the way.

I am yelling from the highest mountaintops, across the vast plains, and through the dense forests, “I speak for the birds!”

I am seeking opportunities to educate and inspire people to restore and conserve bird habitats, while at the same time remaining safe in the pandemic. My passion is strong, my commitment deep, and my skills diverse. Now all I need is for someone to say, “Yes! Please help us make a difference!”

If you have any ideas or leads for me, I am listening. Please leave a message below in the comment section or contact me privately at HeatherHMaxwell@gmail.com. Together we can answer the urgent call to bring back the birds.

Reference

Axelson, Gustave. “Vanishing.” LivingBird, Autumn 2019, Vol. 38, Issue 4.