Iraqfauna

I don't know much about this, but I found some information on conservation in Iraq. Anyone with ideas on this, please respond!

A Connecticut National Guard Sergeant and bird-watcher by the name of Jonathan Trouern-Trend was able to photograph and study birds while he was stationed near Baghdad. His sightings were posted on the blog Birding Babylon. He also published a book with the same title. If anyone has read this book please feel free to comment. I hope to read it in the near future.

Jonathan Trouern-Trend (according to the online information I found) is hoping that people will have ideas and put them on the website Iraq Fauna. He feels the Iraqi scientific community has been isolated and we should pull them into the world community.

I am going to continue searching for information on birding and conservation in Iraq and what we can do to help.

Check out the Birding Babylon when you get a chance, it is pretty cool.

Note
I understand that there are very strong views on the war in Iraq, but I wish that readers only respond with birding and conservation issues and not personal political opinions. I will do the same in return. This blog promotes the idea that you can conserve and protect without wasting time and money on big political battles.

World Conservation Brainstorm

I am always trying to research and think up new ways to save birds and their habitat. On this blog, I hope to reach other people to brainstorm ideas.
Researching programs and organizations from other areas helps me learn how to do more in my own area. We birders know how important it is for all places to be concerned for bird habitats, especially the ones involving neotropical birds.

So, I decided to try a new blog for international areas.

World Conservation Brainstorm is asking for new ideas on birding and conservation concerning specific world issues and foreign countries. Birders unite!

Wasted Space

One of the ideas for Birdfreak is called CAWS (Changing All Wasted Space). I have nothing against lawns, they are pretty and durable, especially when you want to play catch, tag, and kickball with the kids. But the next time you are out and about, look around at the churches and businesses you pass by. Most of the time you will find an extremely large expanse of nothing but grass. Someone is hired to cut and maintain the grass. Many times there are automatic sprinklers wasting water and a fertilizing company will come spray some toxic weed killers to make it lush and green. Most native plants are not just beautiful. They are hardy and usually very low maintenance, saving time and money.

Fortunately for the birds, native landscaping around homes and businesses is becoming more and more popular. Many consumers appreciate when businesses go an extra mile to do things for the environment. One great site, Wild Ones, promotes establishing native areas around homes and businesses. The Rock River Valley Chapter near my home holds a native plant, shrub, and tree sale every spring. I am not sure if the other chapters sell plants, but the site is a great research tool. There are 49 chapters in 12 different states so far and hopefully they will be in every state soon. (You can get a list of chapters on their site.)
So, let's get rid of the grass! Or at least some of it.

Much like the Dutch Elm disease, when only one species of plant (or tree) is planted exclusively (monotypic lawns) the lack of diversity creates a serious problem if a bug or disease is introduced. Thus, even planting natives, it is vital to create a habitat with many different kinds of plants so an excellent balance can be reached.

Let's get native!

The Dripper Difference

Once upon a time, (about three years ago) the backyard was full of birdfeeders and plants favored by birds. Summer migration came and went. The bird list was okay, but nothing to brag about. The next year my brother and I decided to rig a garden hose up to a tree branch so it would drip into an upside down garbage can lid. Migration came again that spring and holy birdpoo! we had seventeen warblers that spring, along with Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Swainson's Thrushes, and many more! Coincidence? Maybe. But when your 4-year-old neice gets to see a Cape May Warbler right outside the back window...it's super sweet. I believe that just the sound of water made an instant (and continuous) change in the bird activity of the yard. The End

Welcome to the brainstorm session

This blog is to gather ideas on ways to save and restore habitat for birds. Any concept, idea, or project is welcome! Let's work together to bring great ideas to life and save habitat for all wild birds.