Houston Zoo’s Post

Breaking: McCormick Place Just Got a Whole Lot Safer for Birds! At Feather Friendly, protecting birds isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. When McCormick Place needed a scientifically tested solution after last year’s mass collision, they trusted us to deliver. And we did. The result? Nearly 120,000 sq ft of glass at McCormick Place — that’s about two football fields—has been treated with Feather Friendly Large-scale Pro markers by our authorized dealer/applicator NGS—in time for the ongoing fall migration.  This massive initiative would not have been possible without a call for change from the brilliant minds at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Field Museum, and local advocacy groups such as Chicago Bird Collision Monitors.  According to a news report from Fox 32 Chicago that you can see here https://lnkd.in/g-QKZxEm, a massive reduction in collisions is already being seen, and we are excited to see the results of comprehensive monitoring! McCormick Place is now setting the standard in environmental stewardship—who’s next in joining this movement to make our cities safer for birds? #birdconservation #featherfriendly #birdsafe #wildlifeconservation #nature #urbanspaces #mccormickplace MPEA

Tom Opre - The Last keeper In Scotland, where picturesque landscapes mask a different reality, the historic port of Greenock on the River Clyde stands as a relic of industrial prowess. The central belt of Scotland, now home to 70% of Scots, evolved from a hub of factories and mills to a political powerhouse, overshadowing the traditional Highland way of life. Today, a fierce battle over land use rages, juxtaposing preservationists, politicians, and activists against rural communities and landowners. Central to this conflict are the sporting estates, vital for the rural economy through recreational hunting, now caught in the crossfire of policy decisions. This battle, reminiscent of class warfare and the struggle for control over land and legacy, highlights the contrasts within Scotland's borders, reflecting deep-seated class divisions and a fight for control, ultimately underscores the complex, contrasting realities of Scotland. The future of biodiversity, habitat conservation, and age-old traditions hinges on this pivotal clash, echoing a powerful call for decisive action across the glens.

Preserving our expansive beautiful land is what makes our state great. It’s a fine balance of development and ecological control and preservation that will enable true prosperity for all.

Check out this inspiring, insightful piece on the critical work being done to restore bison to their native lands in Wyoming and beyond. https://lnkd.in/gNK2QQDR

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Oyster Bay thrived as a key contributor to local economic growth, fueled by its historic shellfish industry. Now, a crucial restoration initiative aims to revive and sustain this legacy. The Harbor served as a primary producer of hard clams and oysters in New York State, contributing a remarkable 90% to the state’s commercial oyster crop, as highlighted in NYSDEC Shellfish Landing Reports. However, the vitality of shellfish populations, particularly oysters, has seen a drastic decline over the past 50 years, resulting in the near complete loss of crucial reef structures. In 2020, the commercial oyster harvest plummeted to less than 1% of the prior 10-year average, and clam harvests declined by 45% compared to the 2010-2019 average. This decline, observed across many Long Island embayments, results from various human-induced factors like stormwater discharges, coastal development, habitat loss, harvest practices, and widespread shellfish predators. To combat this loss, The Town seeds millions of shellfish into Oyster Bay Harbor and the Great South Bay each year. Continuous generations are crucial to re-develop reef systems and to  improve water quality. This year, 12 million shellfish (8 million oysters and 4 million clams) were seeded into protected underwater lands for restoration purposes. These efforts have garnered an array of interest from leading institutions and national organizations, fostering partnerships with Stony Brook University, Adelphi University, and the Nature Conservancy. These institutions, along with the Town, recognize the restoration potential of Oyster Bay Harbor, highlighting specific areas where natural spawning is already occurring and room for enhanced habitat. To further support habitat enhancement, the Town initiated a shell recycling program in 2022, collaborating with 15 local restaurants. Over 20,000 pounds of oyster and clam shells have been collected, diverting waste from landfills to create new habitat in targeted areas for shellfish planting. As part of this grant project with Stony Brook University, the Town has allocated a substantial portion of the collected recycled shells for substrate enhancement and the creation of pilot oyster reefs. I'm thrilled, both professionally and personally, to be involved in this exciting opportunity over the next few years. Engaging in this restoration effort is not just a commitment but a chance to make a meaningful difference in the place I call home 

There are many ways women at Defenders lead with science, however, all with one common goal: to protect and conserve wildlife and wild places and to leave the world a better place than we found it. For the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, meet some of our wildlife champions and learn more about their roles at Defenders, how they got to where they are today and celebrate their achievements to date. https://dfnd.us/3SPPzAG

👏🏻 Rewarding Ranchers 👏🏻 The Migratory Big Game Initiative allows landowners to stack Farm Bill payments from BOTH the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency. It also offers a new incentive for producers in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana: a habitat lease that provides annual payments for landowners who maintain intact rangelands for migrating wildlife. The USDA is providing a package of investments in key conservation programs, which includes funding to support increased staffing capacity and the deployment of streamlined program application processes for agricultural producers and landowners. Learn more about these incentives and the Migratory Big Game Initiative here: https://buff.ly/3lpnLVW

At the beginning of this month, we asked the question: What is the value of land? 🏞🌳 Ultimately, its sort of a trick question. Land holds immense value, but there is no way to truly measure the totality of its worth, its importance, or its significance. We can assess the land for human utility, for development, for monetary value... but what about the species that share this land with us? What is the value of land for a black bear, for a white-tailed deer, for a Red Wolf, for a piping plover? When it comes down to it, land is invaluable. The private and public lands of our state hold immense importance for us and for the wildlife in our state. It's our responsibility to care for them. In the words of Aldo Leopold, "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." Want to know more about what you can do to foster Lands for Wildlife? Head to ncwf.org.

It’s exciting to see more natural burial options available. Not only that, there’s also a shift in how people perceive end-of-life planning, embracing more sustainable and meangingful choices. I highly recommend reading our blog post “7 Innovative Burial Alternatives” here: https://lnkd.in/gHbY54vq

At the beginning of this month, we asked the question: What is the value of land? 🏞🌳 Ultimately, its sort of a trick question. Land holds immense value, but there is no way to truly measure the totality of its worth, its importance, or its significance. We can assess the land for human utility, for development, for monetary value... but what about the species that share this land with us? What is the value of land for a black bear, for a white-tailed deer, for a Red Wolf, for a piping plover? When it comes down to it, land is invaluable. The private and public lands of our state hold immense importance for us and for the wildlife in our state. It's our responsibility to care for them. In the words of Aldo Leopold, "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." Want to know more about what you can do to foster Lands for Wildlife? Head to ncwf.org.