Hi all --

Today (Wednesday March 10), a lot of Ohio's luckiest birders are in
Columbus, attending the annual Wildlife Diversity Conference and learning
about everything from owls to katydids to skunks.  I'm not there -- I'm
stuck in front of the computer, buried under a looming deadline.  But I'm
thinking about the conference, thinking about how impressive it is that this
event should be hosted by Ohio's Department of Natural Resources - Division
of Wildlife.

I've lived in many parts of the U.S. and have seen the workings of many
state wildlife agencies, and I can guarantee that Ohio's Division of
Wildlife is one of the best. When I moved here five years ago I was
immediately impressed to learn of what the DOW had done to bring Bald Eagles
back to healthy populations in the state.  Since then I've learned that the
Division is involved with everything from Henslow's Sparrows to Eastern
Spadefoots.  There are some states where the wildlife agencies are focused
almost exclusively on species that can be hunted or fished, but the people
running Ohio's DNR and DOW really "get it" and really do support all of
biological diversity.

This year the Division of Wildlife is introducing a brand new Wildlife
Legacy Stamp.  Proceeds from sale of the stamp will go to support
conservation of all wildlife, including birds, throughout the state.  The
first Legacy Stamp features a great photo of a Baltimore Oriole, taken by
Russell Reynolds of Lima (known as "Russowl" here on Ohio-Birds).   I hope
that every birder who lives in or birds in Ohio will get this stamp and
display it proudly -- it's only $15.00, and it gives us a chance to
demonstrate that birders are a force in preserving the resource on which our
recreation depends.  I'd call it a bargain:  if I had to pay a dime for
every great bird that I saw on Division of Wildlife properties like Magee
Marsh, Metzger Marsh, Pickerel Creek, Toussaint, Mallard Club Marsh, Willow
Point, etc., it would cost me a lot more than fifteen bucks a year.

For a look at the stamp and for information on how to get yours, you can
check out

http://birdingwithkennandkim.blogspot.com/  (see the entry for March 1), or

http://www.bsbo.org/ohio_wildlife_legacy_stamp.htm


Outside of Ohio, all over the U.S., there are still wildlife professionals
who claim that hunters and anglers pay for all the conservation work.  Here
in Ohio we have a chance to flex some muscle and show that that's no longer
the case.  I hope that the birders of this state will rise to the challenge.
I bought my 2010 stamp already; now I just need to finish my project so I
can go birding again!

Kenn Kaufman
Oak Harbor, Ohio

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