Support Federal, State, and Local bills to protect birds

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Support Federal, State, and Local bills to protect birds

Birds are some of nature’s most amazing creatures. Nearly 200 species of birds – many smaller than a human fist – fly through our region during seasonal migrations that cover thousands of miles. Birds that stay here serenade us with songs, eat overabundant insects, and make up a key part of the Midwestern landscape.

As much as they enrich our lives, human environments are often unsafe places for birds. Night-time lighting disorients them, pets prey upon them, and farm chemicals poison their food sources. Along with habitat destruction, these threats have combined to reduce North America’s bird population by nearly 3 billion (30%) in the last 50 years. Chicago’s contribution to this loss has been especially large. Our city's location on the Mississippi Flyway, large buildings, and bright lights have made Chicago the country’s most dangerous city for migrating birds.

We have an obligation to do more to protect these important species. Instead, public policies have been doing more to harm birds than help them. Pending federal rules de-criminalize most killing of migratory birds. Rollbacks to endangered species protections, water quality standards, and wetlands protections further conspire to reduce bird populations nationwide. In Illinois and Chicago, we are still waiting for meaningful laws to help ensure that our region doesn’t experience more bird losses.

Now is the time to tell your elected officials to act!

Ask your Members of Congress to pass Rep. Quigley’s Bird Safety Building Act (H.R. 919) that will make federal buildings more bird-friendly.
Ask your Members of Congress to pass the Migratory Bird Protection Act (H.R.5552) that affirms protections for migratory birds against incidental killing by commercial interests.
Request state representatives to pass similar legislation (HB4476) that requires bird-friendly materials to be used in rehabbed government buildings.
Ask Chicago Alderman to pass the Bird Friendly Design Ordinance that requires more visible glass, less exterior lighting, and bird-conscious interior and exterior design.

You can also directly comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site and tell them not to finalize weaker rules for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ("the MBTA"). Go to www.Regulations.gov, search for “Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090,” click “Comment Now” link. Or, mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: JAO/1N; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041–380

More information is available on USFWS’s website: https://fws.gov/migratorybirds/2020Regulation.php.

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Support Federal, State, and Local bills to protect birds

As much as they enrich our lives, human environments are often unsafe places for birds. Night-time lighting disorients them, pets prey upon them, and farm chemicals poison their food sources. Along with habitat destruction, these threats have combined to reduce North America’s bird population by nearly 3 billion (30%) in the last 50 years. Chicago’s contribution to this loss has been especially large. Our location on the Mississippi Flyway, large buildings, and bright lights have made Chicago the country’s most dangerous city for migrating birds.

We have an obligation to do more to protect our feathered neighbors. Instead, public policies have been doing more to harm birds than help them. Pending federal rules de-criminalize most killing of migratory birds. Rollbacks to endangered species protections, water quality standards, and wetlands protections further conspire to reduce bird populations nationwide. In Illinois and Chicago, we are still waiting for meaningful laws to help ensure that our region doesn’t experience more bird losses.

Now is the time to tell your elected officials to act!

Ask your Members of Congress to pass Rep. Quigley’s Bird Safety Building Act (H.R. 919) that will make federal buildings more bird-friendly.
Ask your Members of Congress to pass the Migratory Bird Protection Act (H.R.5552) that affirms protections for migratory birds against incidental killing by commercial interests.
Request state representatives to pass similar legislation (HB4476) that requires bird-friendly materials to be used in rehabbed government buildings.
Ask Chicago Alderman to pass the Bird Friendly Design Ordinance that requires more visible glass, less exterior lighting, and bird-conscious interior and exterior design.

Illinois State Legislators

Subject: Support Bird-Safe State Buildings Act (H.B. 4476)

Message:

Birds that live in and migrate through the Chicago are important to me. They contribute to my quality of life, our environment and local economy. Nearly 200 species of birds fly through greater Chicago during their seasonal migrations. US Fish and Wildlife surveys show that more than 45 million people watch birds around their homes and away from home. A 2011 national survey shows that bird watchers spend nearly $41 BILLION annually on trips and equipment. Local community economies benefit from $14.9 BILLION that bird watchers spend on food, lodging and transportation. In 2011 666,000 jobs were created as a result of bird watching expenditures.

But, as you may know, birds in Chicago and throughout the country are declining. Their numbers in North America have dropped by nearly 3 billion, or 29%, since 1970. Chicago itself is the nation’s most dangerous city for migrating birds. And now, proposed rules will gut their bedrock protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“the MTBA”). Federal courts have struck down these proposed rules, but special interests that value profits over wildlife will try again.

It is critically important that we act now to stop the loss of birds in Illinois. I ask that you please support Rep. Morgan’s Bird-Safe State Buildings Act (H.B.4476). You can also enact stronger protections for Illinois’ endangered species and safeguard Illinois’ wetland bird habitats, many of which are now unprotected by the federal Clean Water Act. Thank you.

Remaining:

Chicago Alderman

Subject: Pass the Bird Friendly Design Ordinance

Message:

Birds that live in and migrate through the Chicago are important to me. They contribute to my quality of life, our environment and local economy.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveys show that more than 45 million people watch birds around their homes and away from home. A 2011 national survey shows that bird watchers spend nearly $41 BILLION annually on trips and equipment. Local community economies benefit from $14.9 BILLION that bird watchers spend on food, lodging and transportation. In 2011 666,000 jobs were created as a result of bird watching expenditures.

Nearly 200 species of birds fly through greater Chicago during their seasonal migrations. But, as you may know, birds in Chicago and throughout the country are declining. Their numbers in North America have dropped by nearly 3 billion, or 29%, since 1970. Chicago itself is the nation’s most dangerous city for migrating birds. And now, proposed rules will gut their bedrock protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“the MTBA”). Federal courts have struck down these proposed rules, but special interests that value profits over wildlife will try again. It is critically important that we do our part to stop the loss of birds here in Chicago.

I THANK YOU for passing O2020-136, which will give greater weight to bird protections in Chicago's Sustainable Development Policy. This is a first step of many more that are necessary.

I ask that you following this up by passing the full Bird Friendly Design Ordinance. You can also enact stronger protections for Chicago’s parks and other important bird habitat in the City. Thank you.

Remaining:

Members of Congress

Subject: Support Bird Safety Building Act (H.R. 919)

Message:

Birds that live in and migrate through the Chicago are important to me. They contribute to my quality of life, our environment and local economy. Nearly 200 species of birds fly through greater Chicago during their seasonal migrations. US Fish and Wildlife surveys show that more than 45 million people watch birds around their homes and away from home. A 2011 national survey shows that bird watchers spend nearly $41 BILLION annually on trips and equipment. Local community economies benefit from $14.9 BILLION that bird watchers spend on food, lodging and transportation. In 2011 666,000 jobs were created as a result of bird watching expenditures. For a federal administration that prides itself on a growing economy, gutting the MBTA does just the opposite.

As you may know, birds in Chicago and throughout the country are declining. Their numbers in North America have dropped by nearly 3 billion, or 29%, since 1970. Chicago itself is the nation’s most dangerous city for migrating birds. And now, proposed rules will gut their bedrock protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“the MTBA”). Federal courts have struck down these proposed rules, but special interests that value profits over wildlife will try again.

I request your help to stop the loss of our nation’s birds – pass legislation like H.R.5552 that strengthens the MTBA, rather than weakens it. Support existing proposals, like Rep. Quigley’s Bird Safety Building Act (H.R. 919). Make our country better for our feathered neighbors and all those, like me, who enjoy their company. Thank you.

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Support Federal, State, and Local bills to protect birds

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