OK, preaching to the converted here, but in answer to Lorne's
question and as a fun exercise, I jotted down a few reasons which
immediately came to mind:
* Birds can be effective pest-controllers (including insects, rodents, etc).
* Many plants rely on birds for pollination.
* Many plants rely on birds for seed dispersal.
* Without birds, we would be "knee-deep" in insects, spiders, etc.
(OK, perhaps an exaggeration but can anyone provide relevant figures?)
* Birds can be food for other animals.
* Birds can be eaten by humans - when appropriate (but not by me, I'm
vegetarian).
* Birds are not separate to but a part of the environment, and they
contribute to biodiversity.
* Birds can be indicators for the health of the environment.
* Birds can show us where water is in the desert.
* Birds feature in art through the ages and will continue to inspire
artists and writers.
* Without birds there would be no birdsong. And the history of music
would probably have run a different course.
* Birds provide a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about
and experience nature.
* Birds have the ability to lift our spirits and make the world a
more interesting and beautiful place.
There are probably as many reasons to care about birds as there are
people to voice those reasons. Hope that helps.
cheers,
Carol
At 1:44 PM +1000 5/4/07, Lorne Johnson wrote:
Secondly, a colleague recently said, flippantly, "Who cares about
birds?" when she and another woman were talking about the importance of
environmental protection. I was speechless, unable to defend our
feathered mates and left the room, furious. So, what should have I said.
Why should we care about our birds?
I'd love to hear what people think.
LJ
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