The IMBD 2003 theme explores how birds have been the inspiration for many of the most signifant conservation actions in the Americas. Thanks to birds, people have been motivated to improve conditions for all wildlife...and ourselves!

catalyst /kat-el-est/ noun: something or someone that provokes or speeds significant change or action

The IMBD 2003 art by Gerald Sneed portrays a variety of species that catalyzed conservation action, literally "poster birds" for environmental improvement!

The extinction of the Passenger Pigeon -- the last wild individual of one of the most numerous bird species on Earth was killed in 1900 -- helped ignite the conservation movement, waking society up to the permanent damage caused by unregulated harvest. Many other species such as the Snowy Egret were slaughtered for fashion -- bird plumes and skins were used to adorn ladies' hats -- in the late 1800s. In response to this overconsumption, bird lovers called for the formation of bird sanctuaries, including the first U.S. National Wildlife Refuge in 1903: Pelican Island, home to colonies of Brown Pelicans. A hundred years later, there are now over 500 National Wildlife Refuges, many founded for birds and all of which set aside land purely for the needs of wildlife.

Responsible sportsmen also recognized the need for regulated hunting of migratory waterfowl, such as the Green-winged Teal, other ducks, geese, and swans. Hunting licenses for waterfowl have funded the acquisition and management of millions of acres of wetlands, providing benefits to non-game wetland birds, such as the Yellow-headed Blackbird, many other kinds of wildlife, and humans, as well as waterfowl.

Our recognition of the long-distance migrations of birds such as the American Golden Plover resulted in powerful, lasting protective treaties between countries of North America and Asia; the treaties signed by Canada, U.S., Mexico, Japan and Russia legally protect almost all migratory birds from harm and set the stage for international cooperation for all migratory wildlife. The need for international cooperation has come up again and again, particularly because of the Thick-billed Parrot and other parrots drawing attention to the issue of harmful wildlife trade, and because of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and other neotropical migrants drawing attention to habitat loss and degradation in the tropics.

When populations of Osprey, Brown Pelican, and other top-of-the-food-chain birds crashed in the 1960s, society realized the far-reaching effects of environmental contaminants and reassessed our controls on pesticides and other toxins. Thanks to these "canaries in a coal mine," our environment is cleaner for wildlife and people alike.

Can you think of other ways in which birds acted as conservation catalysts?