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Do you protect birds close to your home?

4/28/2015

11 Comments

 
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When we see a flock of birds migrating, we are filled with wonder and a deep sense of continuation. Everything is right with the world. I particularly love to hear geese calling as they wing their way overhead toward the east in Spring here in Hertfordshire, England. These giant birds are full of grace and symmetry, usually flocking together in the form of a V with one leader at the point.


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News from the other side of the North Atlantic Ocean from the UK: The state of New York is to turn off non-essential lights in state-run buildings to help birds navigate their migratory routes in spring and autumn.

Apart from the birds who use the Earth's magnetic field some navigate by using landscape features, such as coastline, mountains or even motorways (freeways or highways), other migrating birds are believed to use the sun and stars to navigate. However, they can be disorientated by electric lights, causing them to crash into buildings. The fatal light attraction phenomenon is estimated to kill up to one billion birds a year in the US.

Millions of birds migrate through New York along the Atlantic Flyway route to make their home in New York's forests, lakes and rivers.

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Now those passing over the New York city by night will stand a better chance of making it further north. Bright outdoor lights will be turned off between 23:00 and dawn during peak migration seasons in spring and autumn. Other well-known New York landmarks have already signed up to the National Audubon Society's Lights Out program, including the Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building and Time Warner Center.

The National Audubon Society already works with other major cities to protect birds from strikes, including Baltimore, Chicago, and San Francisco. Source: BBC. 

In the European Union, public opinion favors conservation, via a variety of nature-protection groups.

I love the idea of cities, even countries working together to nature and protect the creatures in our beautiful world, some of which are descended from dinosaurs. Just imagine life without birdsong.


21/09/2005 © Francene Stanley

UNGRASPED MELODY


The sound tickling my brain

Releasing remembered pain

With ungrasped melody there

At the back, under my hair.



Music made by nearby birds

Although by my ears it's heard

It strokes parts contained within

Tweaking inside with a pin.



Ecstasy for all to feel

Not through chemicals, but real

Pay attention and you'll hear

Every birdsong that is near.



So many different notes

All put forth from tiny throats

Composed in alien ways

Seem to burst forth in relays.



Each note strikes a different part

Of my brain and of my heart

The same feeling that's perceived

When huge fireworks are achieved.



The birdsong lulls me to relax

Pushing out all thoughts that tax

Snatches of memory drift

Other patterns of time shift.

When we moved into our home sixteen years ago, I installed two bird boxes either side of the wall facing the front garden. The idea of providing shelter for small English birds appealed to me. Year after year, tiny, secretive birds nested in the boxes. Every now and then, the quick flight of a bird heading above our front windows right now gives me a sigh of satisfaction.

11 Comments
Lata Subramanian link
4/27/2015 07:29:32 pm

So glad New York is taking steps to protect the birds. Enjoyed the poem too!

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sweety smiles
4/27/2015 08:11:42 pm

Good to see New york is taking good measures for protecting the birds.Poem is quiet touchy ..

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Alana link
4/27/2015 08:29:45 pm

I grew up in New York City. I knew the Empire State Building (102 stories tall) has turned off its lights for migration for years, but I'm glad to see other of the city's tall buildings joining the practice. I could not imagine a life without birds. It would not be a world that I would want to live in.

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Anamika Agnihotri link
4/27/2015 08:57:23 pm

This post gives a nice feeling that humans are concerned about nature conservation and big cities are taking steps aimed at helping migratory birds. Lovely poem.

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Ruthanne link
4/27/2015 10:16:45 pm

I love birds, and in fact, as I'm writing this we have a Northern Flicker in our backyard. :) We've heard a woodpecker doing its work in a nearby tree, but haven't seen it until this morning.

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Tami Principe link
4/27/2015 10:40:25 pm

I am so happy that other buildings are cooperating with the lights out event. This is vital to successful bird migration. I loved the poem as well.

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Kimberly link
4/28/2015 12:54:13 am

I was not aware the city lights had such an impact on the avian population. I'm so glad I read this, it's prompting me to learn more. Great post on a news worthy topic,
Kimberly
FiftyJewels.com

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Anmol Rawat link
4/28/2015 03:59:14 am

This was a beautiful post and loved the poem. I have a pet parrot and I love him :) It's good that so much is beingf done for birds.

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K.Lee Banks link
4/28/2015 06:45:13 am

That is so amazing about NYC turning off lights to help the birds - I had no idea!

We love welcoming birds year round, even through our long, cold winters here in Maine, USA--but they are especially plentiful now that spring has finally arrived.

We have feeders up in our back yard outside our den window and the side yard outside our livingroom picture window. It's so much fun for us - and our "fur babies" to watch our feathered friends enjoying their food!

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Laurel Regan link
4/28/2015 08:53:16 am

How fascinating - so glad New York and other major cities are doing what it takes to protect birds. Thank you for this interesting information!

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Sandy Segur link
4/29/2015 01:29:11 am

It is wonderful that New York helps with the birds. What are some things smaller cities or towns can do? I enjoy watching birds.

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    Author

    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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