Western Bluebirds are declining, victims of habitat loss and displacement by introduced species. Donate to Audubon today and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $200,000. Dear Marguerite, Christmas Bird Counts always pack surprises, and this one was a dazzler. At one stop on the Tejon Ranch near Los Angeles—California’s biggest private ranch—we saw a Joshua tree shining in the morning light. It was adorned with Western Bluebirds, almost as if they were holiday ornaments on a Christmas tree. Their deep blue backs and rusty breasts looked as if they were lit from within. That sight reminded me why we at National Audubon Society do what we do for birds every day of the year. Sadly, scientists estimate that the population of Western Bluebirds has declined in past decades, the victim of habitat loss and intrusion by introduced bird species. Help us save bluebirds, other birds and their habitats with a generous summer donation to Audubon. And, from now until July 25, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $200,000! Bluebirds face many threats—the same ones that are driving many bird species toward the brink. Suburban sprawl along the West Coast is eating up bluebirds’ woodland habitat. And introduced species like house finches are competing for the tree cavities where the bluebirds prefer to nest. The Western Bluebird is one of dozens of familiar bird species headed for trouble. A Strategy to Meet the Challenge Modern threats demand an energetic response. Audubon’s conservation strategy is equal to the challenge. We’re using Big Data analytics to find hidden patterns in a century of Christmas Bird Count stats. The results will help to identify and protect Important Bird Areas and other critical habitats. We’re using climate models to predict the habitats birds will need in the future so that we can save places that will be important for birds 50 years from now. We’re using social media to organize and rally support for bird-friendly laws like the monumental RESTORE Act to help the Gulf rebound from the Deepwater Horizon spill. And we’re teaching families how to build bird boxes and take other bluebird-friendly measures at 47 nature centers nationwide. Underlying these strategies are timeless Audubon values—a love of birds and nature, a belief in the power of local communities and an unshakeable faith that where birds thrive, people prosper. I look forward to someday introducing my grandchildren to the joy of birding, and to their delighted gasps the first time a Western Bluebird fills their binoculars. With your help, that will happen. Please donate today and your gift will go twice as far to protect birds. Sincerely, Michael Sutton Vice President, Pacific Flyway National Audubon Society
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:30:11 +0000
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