Migratory birds are in critical need of your help today. We receive numerous emails and calls from people reporting that they are seeing far fewer birds in Michigan in recent years. While many factors can play a role in this, including loss of habitat, climate change, fewer insects and native food sources, predation, collisions, and more, it is important to remember that you can still play a vital role in alleviating losses in our treasured, valuable avian world.
Within the state of Michigan, there are many legislative issues that Michigan Audubon continues monitoring and working toward on behalf of birds. When it comes to federal policy and advocacy, however, the American Bird Conservancy’s staff in Washington, D.C., works to ensure our voices are heard in major national concerns that affect birds and their habitats.
Contacting your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives on important bird-related issues may seem daunting, but it has never been easier. Each of the issues discussed below has a short online form you can fill out, which populates an email to your legislator with persuasive language to help you make your voice heard. It even has a section for you to add a personal comment. Special thanks to our partners at American Bird Conservancy for streamlining this work and for carrying out our voices on Capitol Hill!
While Michigan Audubon is a statewide organization, birds know no geographic bounds and, as such, we want to ensure our members and supporters are aware of important action alerts on the federal level. The implications of weakening the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act, would have huge negative ramifications for birds, wildlife, the environment, and human health. Please act today to add your support to the work and funding for continued, necessary bird conservation and environmental protection on a national scale.
Entreat Your Legislator to Co-Sponsor the Migratory Bird Protection Act
Recent actions by the Department of Interior have further weakened the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, with steps being taken to codify the opinion (M-37050) that has ended all enforcement against the predictable and preventable killing of migratory birds from commercial activities. In January, Representative Lowenthal (D-CA) introduced the Migratory Bird Protection Act (HR 5552) to restore the protections for migratory birds from these industrial takes — demonstrating how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act can be updated and strengthened to cover incidental take explicitly and to regulate industrial sources of bird mortality.
Solicit Your Legislator to Keep the National Environmental Policy Act Strong
The White House Council on Environmental Quality is proposing to severely weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by significantly reducing the scientific review process of environmental effects caused by federal projects such as highways, dams, and oil pipelines. Prospective changes could shorten the review to two years and could allow the effects of climate change to not be considered or to be ignored altogether. Proposed changes also nearly eliminate public input, leaving you unable to voice your concerns about the impact these projects can have on wildlife and the habitats on which they depend.
Petition Your Legislator to Support Bird Conservation Funding
Without funding, it is impossible to put things into action, and protecting North American birds is no different. With fiscal planning for 2021 on the horizon, we want to encourage federal increases for a number of key programs that benefit birds, including Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program, and invasive species control.
Petitions seem to go nowhere sometimes, I know, but I want to assure that — in conjunction with our partners at the American Bird Conservancy — we at Michigan Audubon will work to represent and utilize the power of your feedback and concerns to carry out our mission and work to protect birds, their habitats, and the policies that were put in place to protect and preserve them.
Thank you for your continued support!
For the birds,
Heather Good
Executive Director
Further Reading
Photo Credits: Piping Plover © Melissa Groo, Red Knot © Skye Haas, Purple Martin © Josh Haas, Kirtland’s Warbler © Joel Trick, Sandhill Crane © Sheldon Goldstein