Environmental Advocates Call on Connecticut to Protect Bird Populations in the State

A report by the Connecticut Audubon Society says grasslands and shrub lands are disappearing, because they're either getting wiped out in development projects or maturing into forests.  

 

The society's Tom Anderson says some bird species require these kinds of habitats to survive.  He says it's crucial they're protected because a wide variety of bird species indicates a healthy environment overall.

 

"You wouldn't want a city without a good amount of economic diversity, and ethnic diversity," he said.  "That's what makes a good community.  And in the same way, diversity of birds species is what makes a good ecological community."

 

Anderson says the Audubon society's working on a number of projects to help preserve these habitats.  He also says they want the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to determine what habitats are still available in Connecticut, and plan how to maintain them.

 

"When we have a better idea of the conservation land we already have and what its values are, that'll give us sort of a baseline for moving forward in the future," he said.

 

Jenny Dickson with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says they're already working on a similar task.  But she says it's challenging to keep track of all privately owned land. Dickson says the department's working on a number of related conservation initiatives to preserve shrub lands across the state.