Birders United in a New Political Reality

In 2004 Birders United was established as a political action committee to oppose the reelection of George W. Bush. In Bush’s first term we undertook the effort because Bush had undermined or overturned important environmental regulations, ignored requests by knowledgeable scientists to list birds as endangered, and in almost all cases favored oil and gas drillers, real estate developers, sugar companies, mining operations, and logging interests to the detriment of birds and their habitats.

Bush, too, appointed a large number of federal judges who favored repeal or weakening of federal environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

One Bush administration official even supported the bombing by the U.S. military of the habitat of endangered birds offering the justification that the bombing would disperse the birds to more islands so birders would have more places to observe them.

Obviously, our 2004 effort was unsuccessful in defeating Bush. But we had formed a large and growing group of concerned birders who were determined to fight on.

Now, four years later, we have the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States. We are confident that President Obama will be far friendlier to birds and their habitats than has President Bush.

But birders must remain vigilant and politically active. Birders United vows to continue on as a watchdog to observe the policies and actions of the new administration and to recommend initiatives that will strengthen and enlarge the habitats of birds and increase protections for species that are most vulnerable.

So, too, we will keep an eye on the dealings of the new Congress and urge our members to contact their representatives when their support is needed on legislation that will benefit birds and their habitats.

But in the new political climate, perhaps our most important mission will be to act as a watchdog over developments on the state and local level. In many areas, the political machinery remains in the hands of those who would do harm to birds and their habitats.

In addition, Birders United will keep a close eye on corporations and developers and bring their actions to the attention of lawmakers when they act out of greed at the expense of birds.

 

 

Free bumper stickers are available to supporters of Birders United. Complete the form on our contact page or send an e-mail to contact@BirdersUnited.com containing your mailing address and we will ship a bumper sticker to you. (U.S. mailing addresses only, please.)

Free decal stickers are available to supporters of Birders United. Affix them to a window of your car, home or just about any surface to show your support and spread the word! Complete the form on our contact page or send an e-mail to contact@BirdersUnited.com containing your mailing address and we will ship a sticker to you. (U.S. mailing addresses only, please.)