For the Birds!
The Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress in 1973 to protect animals and
plants that were at risk of becoming extinct. The following editorial appeared in a local
newspaper in North Carolina in 1937
Dear Citizens of Triston,
As a concemed citizen of Triston and member of the North Carolina Conservation of
Nature Council, I am asking for the community's help with a serious issue. First, I want to
congratulate our town's mayor and city council for planning to build a new community
theater. However, do they realize that building the theater on Asbury Woodlands will
destroy the prime breeding ground for an endangered species?
The Bachman's warbler is a small bird about four inches in length. This green-backed bird
has a bright yellow belly and face and is sometimes confused with the similarly colored
hooded warbler.
Since 1897, the population of the Bachman's warbler has decreased from over 500,000 to
fewer than 100 in North Carolina. The main reason is the destruction of the areas (like
Asbury Woodlands) that it uses for its natural breeding grounds. Bachman's warblers
prefer thickly wooded swamps and wet thickets in heavy, full-grown forests where they
can build their nests and feed on insects.
This does not mean that we cannot build a community theater. A similar situation recently
arose in Cape Pristo, North Carolina. Nobel Hotels canceled its plans to build a high-rise
structure when it became known that the roseate tem, another endangered bird, was
living in the suggested location. Nobel Hotels put up a new building several miles down
the beach from the original location, and the roseate tern kept its habitat.
Our community has forever prided itself on caring for our natural surroundings. The city
council has promised that the proposed theater will be "highly tasteful" and that the
structure will "complement the spirit of our town."
The city council's honorable concern for the endangered Bachman's warbler would
smooth the feathers of many voters. With their help and the support of our townspeople,
future generations will appreciate the beauty of this little bird.
Sincerely.
Redmond Harris
The last sighting of the Bachman's warbler in the United States was in 1988, and the last
warbler nest was found in 1937 in Alabama.
The author suggests that a better solution would be to build a Nobel Hotel as did Cape Pristo, North Carolina.
The author restates his claim that the building plan would destroy the breeding ground for the Bachman's warbler.