[texbirds] Re: birding's future
- From: "" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "Stenmead@xxxxxxx" for DMARC)
- To: endersgt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:29:21 -0500
During 2013-2014 fall andspring semisters I taught and coordinated a Jr.
Master Naturalist Biodiversity on campus at Westbrook Intermediate School,
even conducting an on site field trip. It was soooo much fun and the
students were fantastic. Birds, insects and plants were the topics.
Thank you Tom for posting this!! There is indeed hope, but we (teachers,
birders and Master Naturalist) must keep promoting, coordinating and
volunteering to keep playing nature awareness and conservation forward!
Stennie Meadours
San Leon
In a message dated 11/24/2014 11:13:00 A.M. Central Standard Time,
endersgt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
This discourse is prompted by Dennis' comments. I apologize in advance if
it seems too lengthy.
After 30 years of begging various 3rd world countries to conserve their
ecosystems (and falling on deaf ears), the miraculous happened. Ecotourism
...
now these countries are falling all over themselves to bring in the $$. It
has become a major source of revenue. Two particular areas may take credit
for this boom. First, the incredible quality of the programming out there
to amaze the public. Second, the much maligned educational system in
America. Ecology has been taught since the 70's (low emphasis) but has become
a
major area of study at all levels. I taught 7th grade science for the last
14 years and even in that time frame, the importance has ramped up greatly.
The most recent changes to the TEKS at my grade level require study of
biodiversity in microhabitats (school yards). Most schools have an area set
aside. These things influence the perceptions of the general public.
I am a scientists and naturalist photographer but not an in depth birder.
In my classes each spring, we spent 10 minutes a day for 10 days
identifying yardbirds , their behaviors, flight characteristics and any thing
else
of interest. This was a Title One school with a diversity of cultural
backgrounds. We saw amazing events.... a Cooper's ambushing occupants of a
tree,
a Red Tail on a shallow stoop that lasted 15 seconds, the courtship dance
of two Mockingbirds on the roof of a house and a lot more. At this age they
were naturally into the courtship and mating behaviors. The girls loved it
when the female grackles completely ignored the males' displays. Point
is, they were indelibly engaged. This goes on all over the state and country.
This will impact the future of birding as they flashback to the positive
feelings they had about birds and other wildlife.
Tom Fleming
Grand Prairie
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