Is traveling beyond our immediate backyard in search of birds detrimental to avian species? Some folks have suggested birding is bad for birds! Here‘s their reasoning: as we pursue our interest, enjoying birds, and even racing around Ohio (or the region, or the country) building our bird lists, we are also burning fossil fuels—lots of them—adding to greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists believe global greenhouse gasses have already negatively affected bird habitats and migratory patterns.
What can birders do?
First of all, we should not guilt-trip each other to stop birding, but we should do something to address the issue itself. That‘s where a new initiative, the Carbon Offset Bird Project (COBP), flies into action this September at the Midwest Birding Symposium (MBS) with the Ohio Ornithological Society and Bird Watcher’s Digest as major players.
The COBP is an experimental, voluntary effort to offset birding-related carbon emissions through financial contributions. Funds will be used to se- cure quality bird habitat—vital migratory bird habitat—in Ohio. This project is modeled loosely after other carbon offset programs involving air or vehicle travel, but is among the first specifically tailored to birders and local birds at a birding event. That‘s why a local carbon-offset support effort will be launched at MBS benefiting local habitat preservation at Meadowbrook Marsh.
There are already numerous carbon offset programs underway, involving laudable mitigation and renewable energy campaigns. These often include carbon reforestation projects in developing countries, renewable energy projects in the United States such as solar or wind, and renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in developing countries. At the same time, there is a growing movement at both the corporate and individual levels toward offsets: mitigating our remaining footprint by reducing or displacing the CO2 we help emit, in some other place or by an alternate method. But the COBP at the MBS is intended to offset a particular behavior with a particular local solution directly related to our birds, breeding or migrating through Ohio.
First, a few basic principles. Participation is encouraged, but is totally voluntary. Participants will be encouraged to offset 100 percent of their individual bird activity-related emissions. If successful, the COBP could serve as a model for other Ohio festivals, bird clubs, and even supporting companies to make a difference for birds and combat CO2 emissions. A broader COBP might eventually be launched nationally, acquiring and securing local valuable habitat for nesting, migrating, and wintering birds of many species.
How does COBP work?
Using our special travel calculator at the MBS (similar to existing applications in use by other carbon offset organizations) participants will have the opportunity to calculate their bird-related carbon footprint, measuring the impact of travel to and from the MBS and field trips during the event. The calculation will reveal the pounds of greenhouse emissions released and will assign a monetary value to offset those CO2 emissions. In our case, it's $20 per ton. The figure of $20 per ton of CO2 is an amount slightly higher than many current offset formulas, but it is probably justified given other CO2 emissions from ongoing activities in preparation for and, especially, during the MBS at Lakeside.
Just as exciting as the launch of COBP at MBS and the role of OOS, is the particular project that will benefit from donations. The offset project is Meadowbrook Marsh, currently 113 acres of marsh, woodland, and meadow in Danbury Township, near MBS activities just east of Lakeside.
