This story originally appeared in the Nov/Dec 2019 edition of The Chicago Birder, COS's bi-monthly member newsletter. Opening each newsletter is “Warblings from the Board,” an open letter from a member of the COS board. For more information about this, other membership benefits, and ways your support makes our work possible, take a look at our membership page.

By Edward Warden

It’s not easy to be a birder sometimes.

No, we’re not just talking about all those near misses on your nemesis bird. We’re talking about the heavy stuff. Bird populations across North America have declined by nearly 3 billion. It’s been all over the news, The National Audubon Society has declared a state of emergency, and the scientific community is reeling. It’s a clarion call to rise up and take meaningful action.

Great, but you’ve heard all this before; probably many times. From feral cats, to glass buildings, to habitat destruction, the threats birds face are ongoing and countless. You do your individual actions--recycle, support environmental organizations, sign letters to politicians--but you still can’t help but wonder if it amounts to anything. What can you really do? Is all this attention going to disappear tomorrow, just another blip in the short-term memory of the modern media?

We get it. We really do. You can’t care about something as much as members of our community do without getting very emotionally invested. Doubts are inevitable. Frustration is likely. You may even find yourself somewhat in despair. And you are right to feel that way. Which is why it’s important that before you go any further, you look after yourself. These things take a toll, physically and emotionally, and you matter. The birds can wait. And we want you to know, we’re here for you.

We are distinguished as Chicago’s oldest bird conservation organization. But what is the purpose of such an organization? It’s not actually about the birds but rather the people. All of the work we do is meaningless if we don’t first ensure that every one of us that makes up this incredible, passionate, diverse community of bird lovers, is able to get out of bed every day. So reach out to a birder. Get a drink with one and take the time to vent. And if you don’t have a birder on your speed dial you feel comfortable with, drop us a line! Send us an email or tag us on social media. If you need to take time away from the front lines for your own sanity or health, do it. You are the best advocate a bird could wish for and they need you to be your best. A happy, healthy advocate is a passionate, compelling and, ultimately, winning advocate.

There’s a lot of power in being part of an organization like COS. Collective support is one of the most underrated but important facets of that. We hope that as we shift into a new year, you’ll take a moment to renew your membership and your commitment to this collective. Despite what seems like a world of constant downers, maybe even in spite of it, we have a lot of good tidings, meaningful actions to take, and hope right here all because of your support. When you’re good and ready to jump back into the trenches and bring the birds back with renewed vigor, we’ll be right there with you.

Warblings from the Board: We're Here for You