Our “Happy Places” (November 2020)
By Dave Weeshoff
For certain, the year 2020 will be viewed by historians as one of pandemic, social unrest, climate catastrophes, and political turmoil. We’re living this now, and many of us are trying to find ways to cope with the uncertainties and trials of our current situations.
What works for me is to sit quietly and remember the “Happy Places” that I’ve enjoyed in my life. They include the neighborhood park while growing up in Glendale, Bermuda on our honeymoon, local vacation sites while building a career and family, and, most recently, the Arctic, Antarctic, and many places in between.
What all my “Happy Places” have in common is the opportunity to reflect in awe at the variety of Planet Earth’s habitats and the amazing species of flora and fauna that have evolved, along with our species, over the millennia. My favorite destinations allowed for the enjoyment of, for example, Ivory Gulls (and Polar Bears) in the Arctic, King Penguins (and Leopard Seals) in the Antarctic, Flightless Cormorants (and Marine Iguanas) in the Galapagos, Laysan Albatross (and Hawaiian Green Turtles) on Midway Atoll, Western Bluebirds (and Squirrels) in my local park, Heermann’s Gulls (and Gray Whales) off our coast, and Red-necked Grebes (and Brown Bears) in Alaska.
But then, in my reverie, my mind wanders into notions of how fragile are these habitats, and the critters that live there, and the damage inflicted when we humans expand our range (and consumptive behaviors) into these natural, pristine places. It is then I consider our descendants and if they will also have natural “Happy Places” to reflect upon to assuage their fears and uncertainties. That is why conservation of Earth’s natural resources is my passion – not only for our avian friends, but for the progeny of all species.
As we approach the end of 2020, a most turbulent year, let’s consider how we, as individuals and as groups, can preserve our “Happy Places” by contributing, in dollars and deeds, to worthy non-profit organizations who share our values of species and habitat preservation – locally, nationally and internationally. And, perhaps, let’s make a New Year’s commitment to actively participate in conservation activities in our neighborhoods and elsewhere. Those activities could be as simple as joining habitat clean-ups, writing our policy makers, and as important as reducing our “Carbon Footprint” to mitigate the effects of Anthropogenic Climate Change.
As usual, please call me at (818) 618-1652 or email Dave.Weeshoff@SFVAudubon.org with questions, comments, criticism, or to enlist in our conservation activities on behalf of our feathered friends.
For certain, the year 2020 will be viewed by historians as one of pandemic, social unrest, climate catastrophes, and political turmoil. We’re living this now, and many of us are trying to find ways to cope with the uncertainties and trials of our current situations.
What works for me is to sit quietly and remember the “Happy Places” that I’ve enjoyed in my life. They include the neighborhood park while growing up in Glendale, Bermuda on our honeymoon, local vacation sites while building a career and family, and, most recently, the Arctic, Antarctic, and many places in between.
What all my “Happy Places” have in common is the opportunity to reflect in awe at the variety of Planet Earth’s habitats and the amazing species of flora and fauna that have evolved, along with our species, over the millennia. My favorite destinations allowed for the enjoyment of, for example, Ivory Gulls (and Polar Bears) in the Arctic, King Penguins (and Leopard Seals) in the Antarctic, Flightless Cormorants (and Marine Iguanas) in the Galapagos, Laysan Albatross (and Hawaiian Green Turtles) on Midway Atoll, Western Bluebirds (and Squirrels) in my local park, Heermann’s Gulls (and Gray Whales) off our coast, and Red-necked Grebes (and Brown Bears) in Alaska.
But then, in my reverie, my mind wanders into notions of how fragile are these habitats, and the critters that live there, and the damage inflicted when we humans expand our range (and consumptive behaviors) into these natural, pristine places. It is then I consider our descendants and if they will also have natural “Happy Places” to reflect upon to assuage their fears and uncertainties. That is why conservation of Earth’s natural resources is my passion – not only for our avian friends, but for the progeny of all species.
As we approach the end of 2020, a most turbulent year, let’s consider how we, as individuals and as groups, can preserve our “Happy Places” by contributing, in dollars and deeds, to worthy non-profit organizations who share our values of species and habitat preservation – locally, nationally and internationally. And, perhaps, let’s make a New Year’s commitment to actively participate in conservation activities in our neighborhoods and elsewhere. Those activities could be as simple as joining habitat clean-ups, writing our policy makers, and as important as reducing our “Carbon Footprint” to mitigate the effects of Anthropogenic Climate Change.
As usual, please call me at (818) 618-1652 or email Dave.Weeshoff@SFVAudubon.org with questions, comments, criticism, or to enlist in our conservation activities on behalf of our feathered friends.
April-May 2020
By Dave Weeshoff
In our February/March, 2020 edition of the Phainopepla I alluded to “…some things each of us can do to assist our wild avian friends in their struggle to survive.” Here are some suggestions:
- Educate ourselves on the issues. Climate Change is not just continuing, but accelerating, and must be addressed immediately and aggressively. We are at a “Tipping Point” where every additional molecule of C02 or methane extracted from ancient fossil reserves (coal, natural gas, oil) and emitted into the atmosphere will contribute to the warming of the climate until it is returned (sequestered) to the deep soil or deep ocean – taking many millennia through a process known as the “Carbon Cycle” (Google it). Another way to look at it is that every day we continue to add billions of tons C02 into the atmosphere, the average temperature of the earth will be raised for thousands of years, and, as yet, we have no demonstrable way to change that equation. Call or email me for additional information and references.
- Join a group or coalition. There are many rational, productive and welcoming local organizations to engage with. We are most successful when we work as a group, and are encouraged when we feel overwhelmed or cynical. Please contact me for suggestions.
- Advocate with elected officials (and those running for office), for local, state, national and international solutions to the world-wide Climate Emergency (and the need for additional avian protections internationally). This is much easier than you might think. I’ve met with many, and found them and/or their Staffs to be friendly and attentive to the opinions and information from their constituents. They want your vote. While California is at the forefront of climate actions, we need to see a dramatic change in perspective on the national level. Again, please contact me for suggestions.
- Reduce your “Carbon Footprint”. There are many ways each of us can do so, including reducing our miles driven, flights taken, meat eaten, plastic used, etc.
- Reduce the amount of pollutants introduced into the environment (including CO2). Install solar panels on your home, add insulation, use less water, turn off lights, don’t use your gas fireplace, etc.
- Plant native plants and trees. They use less water, capture C02, and attract wild birds as well.
- Use less plastic of all kinds – recycling is NOT the solution. Plastic is made from fossil fuels (oil and natural gas). Again, there are many options and action we can take to do so.
- Spread the word to friends, family, co-workers, strangers, other Birders. A recent survey shows that 70% of Americans believe that Climate Change is real and 60% believe it is human-caused, and the trend is upward, so the topic is on many minds.
As usual, please call me at (818) 618-1652 or email Dave.weeshoff@SFVAudubon.org with questions, comments, criticism, or to enlist in our conservation activities on behalf of our feathered friends.
February-March 2020
by Dave Weeshoff
As I finalize my presentation “Climate Change and Its Effects on Birds Worldwide” for the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, and the San Fernando Valley Audubon January General Meeting I am even more concerned with the plight of the 10,000+ bird species on our fragile planet.
My presentation starts with a review of the October 2019 report in Science Magazine that declares that each day there are about 3,000,000,000 – three BILLION – fewer North American birds than there were fifty years ago – an impact that very likely is proportionately replicated on the other continents. The causes of this decline are myriad; including introduced invasive species (plant and animal) of all kinds (e.g., outdoor cats), habitat destruction, pesticides, rodenticides, window strikes, and the list goes on. This report establishes a contemporary baseline for the future.
I then discuss the causes, and the effects, of Climate Change in sufficient detail to lead the audience to two dramatic conclusions:
- The structure, function, and resilience of all global ecosystems are changing rapidly, sometimes in unexpected ways, due to Anthropogenic Climate Change, and
- Environmental changes due to anthropogenic greenhouse emissions are occurring faster than animals (e.g., birds) can adapt.
I briefly describe Audubon’s newest study, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink, which illustrates in extraordinary detail the future of North American birds under a changing climate and includes a first-of-its-kind zip code-based climate tool: Audubon’s Birds and Climate Visualizer.
And finally, I review some things each of can do to assist our wild avian friends in their struggle to survive.
Our greatest obstacles to addressing these issues are best presented in an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times by Christopher Knittel, Oct. 28, 2019 which outlines “Five reasons climate change is the worst environmental problem the world has ever faced”. While I paraphrase below, please “Google” the original article:
- The pollutants that contribute are global – ones that do their damage no matter where they are released.
- Much of their damage is in the future, and we feel we can defer the remedies (we can’t).
- The pollutants (and their severe consequences) can’t be easily and directly linked to a single, specific “smoking gun”.
- Developing countries contribute a share of the pollution that drives it, and can’t readily afford to reduce their emissions. Developed countries have to help – they have gotten us to this place.
- The pollutants (e.g., carbon dioxide) are tied directly to crucial aspects of people’s lives, and we don’t want to change our lifestyles
Despite the overarching points made by Mr. Knittel, we all must aggressively address the causes of anthropogenic climate change, as individuals and as a species, now. We must organize and act decisively, now.
Please, go to www.Audubon,org for the Audubon report and to learn what you can do. And, as usual, please call me at (818) 618-1652 or email Dave.weeshoff@SFVAudubon.org with questions, comments, criticism, or to enlist in our conservation activities on behalf of our feathered friends.
December 2019-January 2020
By Dave Weeshoff
As an ardent bird lover like you, I was excited to learn of Audubon’s newest study, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink, which illustrates in extraordinary detail the future of North American birds under a changing climate. Using the same climate models as 80 countries, plus 140 million bird records – including observational data from bird lovers nationwide – the report reveals the effects a warming climate will have on more than 600 bird species through the end of the century. The report includes a first-of-its-kind zip code-based climate tool: Audubon’s Birds and Climate Visualizer, which shows how climate change will impact local birds and our community – and ways you can help.
Audubon’s science shows that the majority of North American bird species – even familiar, beloved birds like the Wood Thrush and American Robin – are at risk of extinction from climate change.
An important takeaway from Audubon’s new climate report is that if we take aggressive action now, we can help 76% of vulnerable species have a better chance of survival.
One of the most important things you can do to fight climate change is also one of the simplest: Talk about it. Research shows that discussing global warming with family and friends reinforces that the crisis is real and the science unequivocal. And yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they rarely or never have those conversations. For help in clarifying your personal message, the Audubon website has a “Guide to Climate Action” section outlining where to begin and how to amplify your efforts to make lasting change in the world.
As another example of what you can do, right now, Congress is considering a bill – The Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act of 2019 – that would help jumpstart the development of important technology to keep our electric grid resilient and reliable as we phase out fossil fuels and make way for clean, renewable energy sources. You can help by asking your members of Congress to cosponsor the BEST Act to invest in a cleaner tomorrow.
Please, go to www.Audubon,org for the Audubon report and to learn what more you can do. Climate Change is an existential threat to all life on our planet – no exaggeration – and each of us can do our part to minimize the impacts and the consequences.
And, as usual, please call me at (818) 618-1652 or email Dave.weeshoff@SFVAudubon.org with questions, comments, or to enlist in our conservation activities on behalf of our feathered friends.