Our mission is clear and we strive to promote and protect the values of a healthy environment. We're doing our part to make a commitment to conservation and hope that many of you will also take on the challenge of being an ambassador for the environment, birds and the natural world around us by following these easy steps: Just remember - H.E.R.O.N

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Habitat- take pride in our area. Volunteer for clean up days, plant native species and create better habitat in any way we can. The largest threat to our birds is loss of habitat . Even though we are surrounded with preserves and protected wildlife areas, we often overlook our own small spaces. Imagine replacing an unused portion of lawn with a strip of butterfly milkweed, little bluestem grass, and beautiful foxglove or try asters, swamp milkweed and cardinal flower. School projects to plant native plants and gardens are springing up and could use your support. The birds and butterflies will thank you for it. 

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Engage- Each of us has Knowledge and experience of the natural world around us. Many folks don't take the time to notice and even more don't spend much time outdoors. If there are young people in your life, kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, students, try to introduce them to the natural world and to the birds. It's easy for birders of all levels to talk about and point out birds and young minds are sponges for knowledge. Take the time to engage the youth of today to invest in the causes of tomorrow. Invite them to our meetings and to become a member, participate in contests and scholarship programs, volunteer with us and get involved with furthering our goals. 

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Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - We have heard these three words time and time again. Possibly even to the point of being sick of them, but now more than ever the birds and habitats around us need us to think and act better on their behalf. We make choices every time we make a purchase and those choices have a direct effect on many species of birds here in our area and on their wintering grounds to the south. These are a few small changes that we can do to help: Try shade-grown coffee. Use canvas shopping bags to keep plastic bags from our oceans. use a sustainable water bottle rather than disposable plastic bottles that endanger wildlife on many levels. these simple alternatives may seem small, but can add up. are you willing to make a small change to ensure the future of so many species in jeopardy? 

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Observe- There are many opportunities around us to participate in Citizen Science when we find, observe, record and count bird species. These records and data are integral parts of a larger picture of bird distribution and abundance. Opportunities abound for each of us, regardless of skill level, age, location or season. Each one of us can play a part.

This data, whether submitted to eBird, your Christmas Bird Count, Breeding Bird Atlas Surveys, Project FeederWatch, The Great Backyard Bird Count or your Ohio Birds Records Committee, will become part of a larger picture of bird distribution, population decline, species expansion and migrational shifts. The hobby that we all love can play a major role in Citizen Science.

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Nurture- Relationships that we form play a large role in who we are and what we do. These relationships can sometimes lead us to unexpected discoveries about ourselves and the world surrounding us. Sometimes all it takes is a spoken word or a flash of an idea to begin something new and worthwhile. Engage new birders and welcome them with open arms. We are allies in a battle to make sure our world still has open spaces and birds to see. The other birders we know all have a story and its worth listening to because maybe one thing will stick out and lead you to a new project, focus, endeavor or even location. Nurture these relationships. Be kind to one another because we all share a love of birds and the natural world. Without us, and these relationships, both are in peril.

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