Bairds go birding on family farm with Audubon Great Lakes

Thursday, August 12, 2021
Joining Congressman Jim Baird in using a telescope to look for birds at the Baird family farm outside Greencastle Thursday is bird expert Stephanie Beilke, conservation science manager for Audubon Great Lakes.
Courtesy photo

Indiana 4th District Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) and his son District 44 State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) went birdwatching Thursday with Audubon Great Lakes on the Baird’s family farm in Putnam County to discuss the impact of climate change on birds, and the importance of bipartisan climate and conservation solutions for all Hoosiers.

A rich agricultural state, more than 80 percent of Indiana’s land is devoted to farms, forests and woodlands. Located within the Mississippi Flyway, Indiana is part of an important migration corridor that brings hundreds of bird species to the state each year.

Audubon’s science found that rapidly changing climate could lead to population declines and local extinctions for as many as 27 percent of Indiana’s birds if species are unable to adapt. Common-sense solutions to climate change, like the Growing Climate Solutions Act, can help protect the majority of birds at risk.

“Farmers are the original environmentalists,” Congressman Jim Baird said. “I’m proud to support bipartisan solutions to climate change like the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would help farmers and ranchers in our communities leverage the sustainable practices that they already use to boost our rural economies to further protect the environment for birds and people. I’m grateful to Audubon Great Lakes for surveying the birds that live here on our family farm and for their conservation efforts across Indiana. I look forward to continuing our work together on bipartisan solutions that are smart for the economy and our environment.”

Marnie Urso, senior policy director for Audubon Great Lakes, Adam Forrer, policy director, Climate for Audubon Great Lakes, and Andrew Mills, vice president for Political Affairs for National Audubon Society, led the bird walk. They were accompanied bird experts Stephanie Beilke, conservation science manager at Audubon Great Lakes; Nick Gabry, president of Wabash Valley Audubon Society, and Susan Ulrich, board member, Sycamore Audubon Society.

During the bird walk, the group saw Indigo Buntings, Red-Winged Blackbirds, heard the croaking calls of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and kept an eye out for Pileated Woodpeckers that are frequent visitors to the farm.

The group also made a visit to the resident Bald Eagle nest. The emblem bird of the United States, the Bald Eagle has made an incredible comeback in many areas since the 1970s thanks to conservation efforts and the banning of the pesticide DDT. Audubon Great Lakes discussed conservation solutions that can help protect birds like eagles and their breeding habitat for generations to come.

Much of Audubon Great Lakes’ conservation work, including its plan of protecting and restoring more than 8,000 acres of wildlife habitat in Indiana alone, is made possible through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Audubon thanked Congressman Baird for supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act, which allows Congress to increase the GLRI funding incrementally from $300 million to $475 million by 2026.

“Audubon Great Lakes thanks Congressman Jim Baird and Rep. Beau Baird for going on a bird walk with us today to discuss solutions that will protect birds across Indiana, and for supporting policies like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act and the Growing Climate Solutions Act,” Urso said. “Further investments in common-sense bipartisan solutions at the state and federal level are crucial for building a healthy future for all Hoosiers and we look forward to continuing to work with them on common-sense solutions to protect birds and people.”

A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, the National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action.

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  • "Growing Climate Solutions Act"

    a carbon credit system that accepts and is based on the global climate change narrative.

    https://www.braun.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Growing%20Climate%20Sol...

    -- Posted by direstraits on Sat, Aug 14, 2021, at 1:26 PM
  • *

    Would you prefer that our representative reject the "global climate change narrative?"

    -- Posted by Bunny1E on Mon, Aug 16, 2021, at 1:09 PM
  • *

    And once again we see the Baird family posturing and posing, with the complicity of the BG.

    Anything to make themselves look good for a few votes.

    I am not surprised that Mr. Baird is extolling the virtue of carbon credit nonsense.

    Look hard enough and you will see that he will be getting paid for this... all while ignoring the fact that China is the main driver of man-made pollution. Funny how he doesn't even mention them.

    Mr Baird, how much of your own money (never mind the state/fed taxes that you love spending) was put into conservation efforts?

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Mon, Aug 16, 2021, at 7:20 PM
  • Greatest Global climate changed a long time ago- where we live was a glacier!!!! So, how did we ever survive that?

    -- Posted by beg on Mon, Aug 16, 2021, at 9:55 PM
  • I should add that I believe in climate change but take a practical perspective rather than ignoring the concerns or reacting irrationally (or to create an economic opportunity).

    -- Posted by beg on Mon, Aug 16, 2021, at 9:58 PM
  • Climate change is real in the sense that there have always been changes in weather. Right here in Indiana there is evidence of tropical plants and animals in the fossil record (very warm) in the limestone which is close to the surface here.

    Alternatively in the overburden above the limestone you will find granite boulders that were pushed down from what is now Canada by the ice glaciers (very cold) several thousand feet thick.

    Both natural occurrences.

    We couldn't have done a thing to change either one, or cause them to happen.

    Fast forward to present day and the climate change narrative is at the top of the ruling class list of things to exploit. The DC grifters are working the streets hard on this one. It could be massive in one more way to separate the deplorables from their middle class earnings.

    The burdensome regulations on every facet of everyday middleclass life because energy will be necessarily expensive, and a carbon tax will just add to that debt load eventually, the first step was to accept the currency of carbon credits, they sold that on a bipartisan vote you'll notice. You know like a soft sell by the climate change lobbyist to make it about warm and fuzzy things first. Birds and wildlife and such.

    Don't get me wrong, I like the birds and other wildlife too. Clean air and clean water I'm in. Just not the spin about their plight everywhere because of manmade climate change.

    Honestly, I like Jim Baird. I voted for him. I don't know if I can again, if these are the pressing issues he sees of our time. I am just tired of the status quo in these times of chaos on so many fronts of American life. This climate change agenda is the next big scam that is headed straight for all of us, yes even right here in Jim Baird's Congressional district. We are all weary of getting played by the know nothings in Washington. I just think he needs to know that. If he doesn't know it now. Will he ever?

    -- Posted by direstraits on Mon, Aug 16, 2021, at 10:30 PM
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