“Do you like birds?” This is a question I asked many people as they approached our St. Lucie Audubon booth at a community event. I never heard a “No” but yet we are faced with a dire prediction of losing 389 species of our birds in the coming years due to climate change.

What can we do? How can we individually make a difference? I believe by participating in our local chapter, educating our youth and adults, listening to our program speakers to understand the environment around us and continue loving all the wonderful, beautiful birds we see every day.

There was a time when I did not notice birds at all. I knew they were there, but did not connect them to our quality of life or natural treasures.

I think most people are like that. That is why it is important to ask our neighbors, our children, our family members, “Do you like birds?” If they say “Yes” then we have their attention. If you like birds, you can do something…Join our chapter, come to our informative meetings, participate in our community events to help educate our community. It is a way that we can impact our changing climate and it is by asking, “Do you like birds?”

— Ellen Lynch