Get Involved: Vote for Candidates and Speak Out on Legislation That Helps Birds
As detailed in this series’ first post, bird populations in North America have suffered a terrible decline in the past generation; there are almost 30% fewer birds now than there were in the 1970s. That’s about 3 billion birds in 50 years, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We’ve lost large amounts of many popular species, including several favorite backyard birds, such as blue jays (1 in 4 lost), red-winged blackbirds (1 in 3 lost), and dark-eyed juncos (1 in 3 lost). There are many reasons for this decline, and in this month’s post for the series A Year of Helping Birds, we’re focusing on the many ways you can help birds by voting for candidates that support bird and conservation policies, as well as speaking out on issues that affect birds.
Elected officials - that is, politicians - at various levels of government, from local to state to national, have the power to pass laws and allocate resources that protect bird habitats and promote conservation efforts. By casting your vote, you make a choice in electing representatives who prioritize environmental conservation, support sustainable practices, and advocate for policies aimed at preserving bird populations and their habitats.
Voting is a critical way to support birds, and it’s bi-partisan: candidates on all sides can agree to preserve habitat and enact bird-friendly development. After elections are over, it’s also important to be aware of issues and legislation on a regular basis and to contact your representatives to let them know how important bird-friendly issues are to you, their constituency.
Voting for the Right Candidates
During an election period, you can research candidates running for election locally, for your state, and nationally where conservation issues are relevant. To determine if a political candidate is good for birds, assess their past record, voting history, and positions on key issues like conservation laws, habitat protection, climate change, pesticide regulation, and funding for conservation efforts. Look for endorsements from environmental advocacy groups (see a list under Learn More section). Consider a candidate’s transparency, accountability, and engagement with experts and communities. A bird-friendly candidate should display a record of prioritizing policies that protect birds and their habitats while also addressing broader environmental challenges such as climate change.
Issues and Advocacy
During non-election times, it’s important to be aware of issues that affect birds and to advocate for them by staying aware of issues and contacting your representatives when warranted. Speak out, and let everyone know - especially your elected representatives - how important birds are to you.
The best way to stay aware of issues is by following birding and conservation organizations, either through social media or by subscribing to their email newsletters, where they often alert followers to relevant issues. Chicago Audubon alerted followers to recent proposed bird habitat loss due to development at an important sedge meadow, as well as the demolition of the Bell Bowl Prairie.
Learn More
Here are some environmental advocacy groups that can provide guidance on candidates during an election period, and on issues throughout the year.
National - United States
National Audubon Action Network - A guide to key national initiatives with automated forms to contact your national representatives. Register for their email alerts to stay up-to-date.
Take Action for Birds - American Bird Conservancy - Identifies key bird-related issues and easy ways for you to voice your concerns.
Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is one of the largest and oldest environmental organizations in the United States. It provides information on a variety of environmental topics and associated legislation.
League of Conservation Voters (LCV): LCV is a political action committee that focuses on a broad range of environmental issues at the national level for the U.S. It has a candidate scorecard for all federal representatives, and it endorses and it identifies and supports candidates who have strong environmental records.
The Nature Conservancy: This organization focuses on conservation efforts and land protection. It provides information on key conservation issues and legislation with forms to contact your federal representatives.
Local
Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) - Leads issue advocacy campaigns with other environmental organizations in Illinois. With the IEC Scorecard, you can see detailed votes for all conservation-related legislation by all Illinois state senators and state representatives. Sign up for emails to learn about their Action Alerts.
Chicago Audubon Society - Follow on social media and subscribe to emails for bird and conservation advocacy updates.
Check out other Year of Helping Birds articles
