Conservation
HCBC supports the conservation of the wild birds of Howard County and beyond. This includes measures which also provide non-avian environmental benefits. The targets of HCBC’s conservation efforts include, but are not limited to, state and county legislators, local government agencies, private sector companies and private property owners. Here are some examples of HCBC’s conservation goals:
Live Responsibly
Here are the eight essential habits we can adopt today plus more information provided by the University of Maryland Extension Service: https://howardbirds.website/conservation/live-responsibly/
Read the full article “Bay-Wise Living Landscapes: For Maryland’s Birds, Bees, and the Bay” by Stacy on page 5 of the November issue of The Maryland Yellowthroat.
Safe Skies
Locally, we emulate the efforts of the MOS affiliate Safe Skies Maryland to make windows in individual, government, and private buildings safer for birds. View their site for “Sources of materials for homeowners” and “Howard County government building standards.”
Successful projects: Howard County Conservancy and Robinson Nature Center.
Responsible Birding
Enjoy birding while limiting your resource consumption
Consider reducing your use of fossil-fueled transportation
Cooperate with other organizations seeking lower carbon footprints
Responsible Pet Ownership
- Cats are safer when indoors
- Promote use of “catios”
- Promote “Trap-Neuter-Adopt” and “Trap-Neuter-Contain” not “Trap-Neuter-Abandon/Release.”
Influence Legislation
Contact legislators on specific bills – especially the legislators from your district – to
- Support federal and state efforts to protect natural habitat
- Ban or limit harmful chemicals and pesticides
Influence Policy
Encourage minimal impact designs during the planning stage of any new projects
Project examples:
- Centennial Park stream restoration
- Sewell’s Orchard pond reconstruction
It’s up to you to contact your legislative representatives and make your voice known!
Find your Congressman:
https://www.house.gov/
Write your Senator: https://www.senatecontact.com/maryland/
Contact your Maryland Assembly representative:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District
What can you do to help birds?
Treat your home windows so birds don’t collide with them. Read the extract from MOS’s The Yellowthroat Vol 44(1) Bird Strike Prevention for ideas
Have your children make a disposable bird feeder from recycled materials. Use the PBS Kids or Natural History Museum plans.