Johnson County conservation bond vote is for the birds

Bald Eagles soaring overhead are a sight to behold! Once a rare sight in Iowa until after the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972. The species slowly recovered and now nests in every county in our state. A great success story of wildlife reclamation.

We need that hope when reading in a recent Gazette article that North American has lost 3 billion birds in the past 50 years. (Oct. 21, “National Zoo’s bird-banding helps track movement, decline”). That’s one-third of all birds! Grassland birds like Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink are harder hit- over 50% reduction in population. Scientists have identified that habitat loss and habitat degradation are the biggest drivers of overall decline.

We have hope right here in Johnson County. We can vote for birds! Vote YES for the Conservation Bond, Our Land, Our Water, Our Future. A YES vote will bring us more of the results we’ve seen from the fully utilized 2008 bond. Johnson County Conservation has created tremendous advancements in wildlife habitat with five brand-new public properties with habitats of prairies, wetlands, savannas, and woodlands. Habitat is important not only for birds but for sustainability of the entire ecosystem. Vote YES to continue the work of conservation in Johnson County. A beautiful way to support birds!

Linda Quinn

Iowa City

On behalf of the Iowa City Bird Club