Why Birds Are Vital to a Healthy Planet

Birds are a critical part of the natural world. They pollinateand disperse seeds for many plants, and they are effective in rodent and insectcontrol. Additionally, they recycle nutrients back to the earth, helping to balanceour ecosystem.

Many people look up at birds and feel inspired. Not onlyfor their freedom to go wherever they want whenever they want, but because of theirability to migrate.

About 4,000 species of birds migrate regularly, and theirjourney is fraught with peril. Birds have to fly through great discomfort, includingpollution, natural disasters, cold, fear, hunger, and exhaustion. If theirjourneys require traversing large bodies of water or the ocean, they must flythe entire distance without stopping.

Some of the greatest threats facing birds and wildlife are:habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and pesticides.

Imagine what it might be like for an exhausted bird toarrive at its migration destination, hundreds or even thousands of miles fromits origin, only to discover that the landscape had been clearcut, either fordevelopment, or agriculture.

The one choice that has the most positive outcomes is to drink shade grown organic coffee.

How does this help birds? Shade-grown coffeeprovides critical habitat for the birds, and organic coffee is poison-free.Organic coffee contributes to the health of the ecosystem by avoiding amono-culture that can, over time, deplete the soil. Organic coffee preservesbiodiversity, and protects our forests, local water sources, and the farmerswho harvest the beans.

Birds are capable of astounding feats:

· The Bar-headed goose flies the highest, up to5.5 miles above sea level
· The Arctic tern flies the farthest – clocking 50,000miles from Arctic to theAntarctic
· The Great Snipe flies the fastest – at 60 milesper hour covering 4200 miles
· The Bar-tailed Godwit has the longest non-stopjourney – 7000 miles without eating or drinking
· The Blackpoll warbler is a songbird that weighsonly four ounces, but nearly doubles its weight in preparation for crossing theAtlantic Ocean, a journey of 2300 miles that takes 86 hours of non-stop flying.

Birdwatching has become one of the fastest growing hobbiesin the United States. With very little (or no) financial outlay, you can getoutside, learn new things, meet new people, do it year-round, and connect tothe natural world. Birdwatching is forever – did you ever meet anyone whoadmitted to being a former Birdwatcher? Curiosity about the natural world mayencourage us to want to learn more about biology, geography, history, and evenhow to eat healthy and sustainably.

To continue helping birds, in addition to buying organic, bird friendly coffee, we can provide habitat for them by planting nativeflowers, bushes and trees. Avoiding pesticides and herbicides on lawns willstop killing the insects that are their food source, and having chemical-freegrounds will keep our pets safe and healthy.

Birds are inspiring! What are some of the qualitiesthey have?

Unwavering commitment to life. The ability to overcome personaldiscomfort to accomplish their goal (migration). The ability of Arctic speciesto endure the harshest climates on earth and tolerate unrelenting cold - andtheir ability to adapt to different climates when they migrate.

Be a part of the solution! Contribute to a healthier planetby drinking organic coffee. You’ll be glad you did, and so will the birds!

by Kim Nagy

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