Each May, Pennsylvania hosts the greatest number of bird species that pass through the Commonwealth all year. This awe-inspiring annual event of bird migration from Central and South America through Pennsylvania reminds us of the global significance of Pennsylvania's habitat. With its numerous mountain ridges, wetlands, and grasslands, millions of birds find temporary habitat within the borders of the Commonwealth.

Throughout Pennsylvania, Audubon members and other partners are diligently counting as many bird species as possible as part of our annual Birdathon during peak migration and nesting time. The counting helps monitor the population trends for Pennsylvania's native and migratory bird species.

On May 17, we will be counting more than birds - we will be counting votes.

The following Growing Greener Bond Question will appear on the May 17 primary election ballot: Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to borrow up to $625 million for the maintenance and protection of the environment, open space and farmland preservation, watershed protection, abandoned mine remediation, and other environmental initiatives?

Please vote YES.

Every registered voter may vote YES on May 17. Often times, only Democrats and Republicans vote in primary elections. You may vote for the Growing Greener Bond Question regardless of your party affiliation.

This effort builds on the highly successful Growing Greener program initiated by Governor Tom Ridge. The question before the voters represents a bipartisan effort by Republican and Democratic legislators and Governor Ed Rendell. Officials from both parties worked diligently to come up with the $625 million compromise and are actively promoting the initiative in their districts as we approach the primary election.

This is a unique opportunity to secure $625 million to help restore and conserve the habitats upon which our birds and other wildlife rely and to invest in the land and water that make Pennsylvania such a special place to live, work, and play. A few elements of the program show how it will benefit our land, water, and wildlife.

During the 1990s, Pennsylvania ranked 48th in population growth, yet only four other states lost more open land to development - that is land that is lost to birds, other wildlife, and our children forever. The rate of land development in Pennsylvania outpaces the rate of land conservation by an average ratio of nearly three acres to one, despite the fact that our population growth is slowing. Sprawling development is draining the lifeblood of our older communities, destroying our rural economies, and fundamentally changing the landscapes that have historically defined Pennsylvania.

For example, we are losing 110,000 acres of farmland per year, about the size of Delaware County. Over a million acres of Pennsylvania farmland habitat has been lost since 1960, and the rate at which farmland is being lost is accelerating. Only 1 acre is being saved for every 5 that are being developed. At the same time, farmers are waiting to enroll in the farmland preservation program, yet they are unable to do so because of inadequate resources.

If you are like me, you grew up hunting small game on farms and also enjoy watching birds that live in and around agricultural lands. With each passing day, we lose more and more farmland habitat and another piece of our outdoor heritage. This is occurring at the same time that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service reports that nearly 90% of our grassland birds are in steep decline.

The Growing Greener Bond Question is will also improve water quality in a number of ways, including cleaning up our abandoned mine legacy.

At least 44 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are scarred by mine lands that were abandoned without adequate reclamation before the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 - which, by the way, is set to expire this September without Congressional action. Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) is responsible for more than one third of our state's officially impaired waterways, rendering more than 4,000 miles of stream unfit for drinking, fishing, or swimming. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has estimated that we lose up to $70 million a year in potential fishing and boating revenues as a result of AMD.

Birds, fish, and other wildlife can't vote, but you can. Please vote YES on May 17. See you at the polls. Pennsylvania Audubon.

4/29/2005