Bill Text: OH HR380 | 2013-2014 | 130th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: To designate the second Saturday of May as Bird Ohio
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2014-04-02 - Adopted [HR380 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2013-HR380-Introduced.html
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Representatives Dovilla, Redfern
Cosponsors:
Representatives Foley, Strahorn, Anielski, Kunze, Damschroder, Buchy, Mallory, Blessing, Baker, Boose, Brenner, Stebelton, Ashford, Patterson, Ramos, Fedor
| To designate the second Saturday of May as Bird Ohio | 1 |
| Day in order to recognize the importance of bird | 2 |
| and bird habitat stewardship and conservation. | 3 |
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
| WHEREAS, Ohio has played a major role in the development of | 4 |
| bird studies and research since the 1890s. It provides stopover | 5 |
| habitat for millions of birds as they pass through the state | 6 |
| during their migration northward each spring and also is home to | 7 |
| numerous species that reside in the state year-round. For example, | 8 |
| the bald eagle, a recognized symbol of our nation, has a | 9 |
| significant population in Ohio with a major percentage located in | 10 |
| Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie Counties, comprising the most | 11 |
| concentrated breeding population in the continental United States. | 12 |
| Ottawa County and the Oak Harbor area have adopted the name | 13 |
| "Warbler Capital of the World" to recognize the importance of the | 14 |
| spring migration and to attract visitors to the area; and | 15 |
| WHEREAS, Numerous agencies and organizations that recognize | 16 |
| the importance of bird and bird habitat education, research, and | 17 |
| conservation are located in Ohio, including, but not limited to, | 18 |
| Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Destination Toledo, Lake Erie Shores | 19 |
| and Islands, Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center, Metroparks of | 20 |
| the Toledo Area, Erie Metroparks, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland | 21 |
| Museum of Natural History, Columbus Audubon Society, Ohio | 22 |
| Ornithological Society, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio | 23 |
| zoos, and Ohio park districts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, | 24 |
| Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio park districts, and | 25 |
| other public agencies and private organizations have protected | 26 |
| thousands of acres of high-quality bird habitat across the state; | 27 |
| and | 28 |
| WHEREAS, Bird watching has become one of the most popular and | 29 |
| economically significant forms of outdoor recreation in Ohio and | 30 |
| throughout the United States. Birding tourism contributes | 31 |
| significantly to economic development in northwest Ohio. Thousands | 32 |
| of birdwatchers from across the country and around the world visit | 33 |
| northwest Ohio and the southwest shore of Lake Erie each spring to | 34 |
| witness the spectacle of bird migration and to participate in the | 35 |
| Biggest Week in American Birding Festival organized by the Black | 36 |
| Swamp Bird Observatory of Oak Harbor, Ohio. Studies conducted by | 37 |
| the Observatory and Bowling Green State University show that | 38 |
| visiting birdwatchers spend more than $30 million in northern Ohio | 39 |
| each spring; and | 40 |
| WHEREAS, Nature conservation, including protection of bird | 41 |
| habitats, has many aesthetic and economic values, including | 42 |
| increasing the value of real estate located near conserved lands | 43 |
| such as nature preserves and properties protected by conservation | 44 |
| easements; and | 45 |
| WHEREAS, Public awareness and concern are crucial components | 46 |
| of conserving natural areas as well as the birds and other | 47 |
| wildlife that live in those areas. Citizens who are enthusiastic | 48 |
| about birds and nature, informed about threats to the natural | 49 |
| world, and empowered to become involved in addressing those | 50 |
| threats can make a tremendous contribution to maintaining healthy | 51 |
| bird populations and protecting bird habitats; and | 52 |
| WHEREAS, Interest in bird and bird habitat stewardship and | 53 |
| conservation can grow by providing more bird watching and nature | 54 |
| education activities involving people of all ages. Many | 55 |
| educational materials are available to schools, educational | 56 |
| organizations, parents, and other citizens to foster public | 57 |
| awareness about the importance of bird and bird habitat | 58 |
| conservation; now therefore be it | 59 |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of | 60 |
| Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of the State of | 61 |
| Ohio, in adopting this resolution, designate the second Saturday | 62 |
| of May as Bird Ohio Day in order to recognize the importance of | 63 |
| bird and bird habitat stewardship and conservation; and be it | 64 |
| further | 65 |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of | 66 |
| Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of the State of | 67 |
| Ohio, encourage school districts, schools, teachers, and nature | 68 |
| educators in Ohio to offer lessons and activities to teach | 69 |
| students and other citizens about birds, bird habitat, and bird | 70 |
| conservation and also encourage citizens of and visitors to Ohio | 71 |
| to spend time outdoors enjoying the sights and sounds of birds and | 72 |
| engage in stewardship of the wildlife habitat on which migratory | 73 |
| and resident birds depend for their survival; and be it further | 74 |
| RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives | 75 |
| transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the news | 76 |
| media of Ohio. | 77 |
