Title
World Migratory Bird Day Resolution - For the purpose of encouraging the City of Annapolis to implement sound bird-conservation practices by offering education to the public about the interactions between birds and people and about the contributions birds make to a healthy community.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 11-20
Introduced by: Mayor Buckley
Co-sponsored by:
A RESOLUTION concerning
World Migratory Bird Day
FOR the purpose of adopting, honoring, and upholding the commitments to the goals of the Bird City Maryland program and designate a World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in the City of Annapolis. Also, for the purpose of having the City of Annapolis designated as a Bird City. To that end, the City will apply to become a Bird City to promote the understanding that healthy communities are the sum of many parts, including healthy bird populations. Participation in the Bird City Maryland program will make the City of Annapolis friendlier for birds and improve the health and beauty of the City of Annapolis.
WHEREAS, migratory birds are some of the most beautiful and easily observed wildlife that share our community, and
WHEREAS, many citizens recognize and welcome migratory songbirds as symbolic harbingers of spring, and
WHEREAS, these migrant species also play an important economic role in our community, controlling pests and generating millions in recreational dollars statewide, and
WHEREAS, migratory birds and their habitats are declining throughout the Americas, facing a growing number of threats on their migration routes and in both their summer and winter homes, and
WHEREAS, public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory bird conservation, and
WHEREAS, citizens enthusiastic about birds, informed about the threats they face, and empowered to help address those threats can directly contribute to maintaining health bird populations, and
WHEREAS, since 1993 World Migratory Bird Day (formerly International Migratory Bird Day) has become a primary vehicle for focusing public attention on the nearly 350 species that travel between nesting habitats in our community and throughout North America and their wintering grounds in South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the southern U.S., and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of people will observe WMBD, gathering in town squares, community centers, schools, parks, nature centers, and wildlife refuges to learn about birds, take action to conserve them, and simply to have fun, and
WHEREAS, WMBD is not only a day to foster appreciation for wild birds and to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation, but also a call to action,
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis does hereby proclaim April 22, 2020 as World Migratory Bird Day in the City of Annapolis to coincide with Earth Day.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City of Annapolis will apply to Bird City Maryland, as it provides highly visible public recognition to municipalities that understand that healthy communities include healthy bird populations. Bird City Maryland supports communities in their efforts to protect and manage green space, educate their citizens, build and erect nesting structures, landscape with native plants, and reduce threats to birds. By joining Bird City Maryland, the City of Annapolis will present the positive image that its citizens desire for the place where they live, recreate, and conduct business.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.