Earth Share of Washington

Audubon Report on Common Birds in Decline Echoed Worldwide

Growing Threats Include Logging, Invasive Species & Agriculture

A new international report entitled State of the World’s Birds reveals precipitous declines in populations of many of the world’s most familiar birds, broadening the alarm first sounded in the U.S. by Audubon’s 2007 Common Birds in Decline analysis.

The BirdLife report highlights avian losses worldwide. A staggering 45% of common European birds are declining, and on the other side of the globe, Australian wading birds have seen population losses of 81% in just quarter of a century. In Latin America, the Yellow Cardinal - once common in Argentina - is now classified as globally Endangered.

Citing the 2007 Audubon report, BirdLife’s State of the World’s Birds report states that populations of “Twenty North American common birds have more than halved in number in the last four decades.” The Northern Bobwhite fell most dramatically, by 82%. As documented in Audubon’s first State of the Birds report in 2004 and reinforced in this report, “Some of North America’s fastest declining birds are grassland species whose habitat has been damaged by agricultural expansion and intensification.”

More than half of the bird species that breed North America and winter in the Neotropics show declining populations over the past 40 years. To help combat this problem, Audubon’s International Alliances Program was founded in 2006. It establishes connections that can make a difference across the Western Hemisphere. Audubon protects many wetlands and grasslands on the major flyways, by working with BirdLife to designate and protect Important Bird Areas. The global effort identifies and conserves areas vital to birds and other biodiversity. Here in the U.S. Audubon works with its extensive local Chapter network: landowners, public agencies, community groups, and other non-profits to advance the sound management of Important Bird Areas. Audubon Chapters and state offices are extend these localized efforts through alliances with other non-governmental organizations that enable Americans to help protect habitat along the entire migratory routes of familiar species.

Audubon Washington has 73 Important Bird Areas covering approximately 1 million acres. Eco-systems covered by these sites include wetlands, forests, estuaries, shrub steppe and riparian areas. Bird data from these sites is incorporated into the Washington State Natural Heritage Program to give information to potential developers or elected officials as they consider land use changes. Our Audubon members who are citizen scientists can adopt IBA sites to monitor and assess habitat conditions.

Washington Gets a Little More Bicycle Friendly

Bicycle Alliance in Bellevue: Managing a New Commuter Station
With the opening of the Commuter Connection station at the Bellevue Transit Center on September 11, bicyclists commuting to and from Bellevue now have a secure, indoor place to park their bikes.

Bellevue is Washington’s fifth-largest city, at a population of nearly 120,000. A former bedroom community, Bellevue has enjoyed much growth in high-tech jobs and now draws commuters from throughout the Puget Sound area, including a growing number of cyclists. Working in partnership with TransManage, the transportation service of the Downtown Bellevue Association, the Bicycle Alliance will manage bike-parking for up to 27 riders. The Commuter Connection will offer 24-hour keycard access for riders who sign up and pay a fee. The station will be staffed part-time by BAW Commute Specialist Every Day, and TransManage staff will also be present to assist walk-up customers with riding the bus, carpooling, and vanpooling.

Although the Bicycle Alliance has more than two years of experience in operating BikeStation Seattle, this will be the first time for BAW to fully manage a bike parking facility, including operation of membership and security. The agreement with the City of Bellevue extends through summer 2009.

“We know that secure bike-parking is emerging as an issue in many communities that have a growth in bicycle commuting. Every downtown has lots of places for parking cars, but few cities have secure bike-parking,” said BAW Executive Director Gordon Black. “That needs to get addressed, because we think it is a barrier to getting more people biking. We hope other cities will consider this type of approach.”

Spokane Creates Bike/Ped Post
After years of effort by bicycle advocates, the City of Spokane has agreed to hire its first citywide bicycle-pedestrian coordinator. First identified in the city’s comprehensive plan in 2001, the idea of a specific staff appointment to oversee bicycle and pedestrian issues gained momentum as the city worked on its Bicycle Master Plan. “We have a very strong advocate on the city council in Councilman Richard Rush,” said Bob Lutz, a BAW member who chairs Spokane’s Bicycle Advisory Board. “Councilman Rush has been very supportive of our efforts and he is really the one who has shepherded this through the process.”

The post is being funded by the city for two years, sufficient time to implement the first stages of the bike master plan. Lutz expects to see a final version of the plan completed before the end of 2008. Unlike other similarly-sized cities in Washington, such as Vancouver and Bellevue, Spokane never had a dedicated staff position.

Seattle Trying Not to Miss the Boat Train on Transit-Oriented Development

It’s no secret that the best way to accommodate the central Puget Sound region’s rapidly growing population is to create more transit-oriented communities – places where people can live, work, shop and play without relying on a greenhouse-gas-emitting car.

With Link light rail set to begin service from SeaTac airport to downtown Seattle in 2009, and to the University of Washington by 2016, the window to shape the type of development that we see in station area neighborhoods is quickly closing.

After months of debate and negotiation that included substantial advocacy from Futurewise’s Urban Development program, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted in September on a plan to update neighborhood plans for three key light rail neighborhoods in Southeast Seattle.

Together with efforts already underway in the transit-rich urban centers of South Downtown, South Lake Union and Northgate, Seattle is well-positioned to make meaningful plans for public and private investment to make these transit communities more vibrant, safe and walkable.