Resolution 18-015 Recognizing 2018 as The Year of the Bird

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

Aderhold

RESOLUTION 18-015

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, RECOGNIZING 2018 AS “THE YEAR OF THE BIRD”, AND THEREBY ENCOURAGES ITS CITIZENS TO CONTINUE MAKING HOMER AND THE KACHEMAK BAY AREA A BIRD-FRIENDLY PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT.

WHEREAS, 2018 marks the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one of the earliest wildlife conservation laws enacted anywhere in the world; and

WHEREAS, National Geographic, Audubon, Birdlife International and Cornell Lab of Ornithology together with dozens of other organizations created an alliance to declare 2018 as the “Year of the Bird”; and

WHEREAS, The Year of the Bird gives Homer citizens inspiration, awareness and instruction in making the town and our homes more bird-friendly and a nationally recognized “hot spot” which attracts both Alaskan and visiting birders (National Audubon Society said “The town of Homer is a birding hotspot, easily accessible” and lists it as one of 10 recommended destinations for birders http://www.audubon.org/news/birding-alaska); and

WHEREAS, The Year of the Bird gives the City of Homer and its residents an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the importance of wildlife conservation efforts made by the City, such as nominating parcels owned by the city in Beluga Slough, Mud Bay, and Mariner Park Lagoon as additions to the Kachemak Bay Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network; and

WHEREAS, Birders, birding and wildlife viewing in general bring economic benefit to Homer, including lodging, charters, and services; and

WHEREAS, Homer, in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and many supporting businesses and volunteers hosts the annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, an early season event that celebrates migrating shorebirds and brings many visitors to Homer, now in its 27th year; and

WHEREAS, Homer birders have participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count for 41 consecutive years, led by Dave Erikson; and

WHEREAS, Homer is headquarters for a land trust and several state and federal resource management agencies that have locally based staff who manage local lands and waters and routinely undertake research and monitoring projects to provide a better understanding of our fauna (including bird populations and habitat) and flora, including:

•             The Kachemak Heritage Land Trust

•             Kachemak Bay State Park managed by the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation

•             Kachemak Bay and Anchor River/Fritz Creek Critical Habitat Areas managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

•             Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge with its Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

•             Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; and

WHEREAS, Homer provides exceptional opportunity for local and visiting students to experience nature education and citizen science projects offered by; 

•             Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

•             Cook Inlet Keeper

•             Discovery Labs by Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

•             Pratt Museum; and

WHEREAS, Homer is homeport for the M/V Tiglax, the primary research vessel for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; and

WHEREAS, Homer has the Kachemak Bay Campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage which provides classes and student research opportunities related to birds and other local fauna and flora; and

WHEREAS, Homer is the home of Kachemak Bay Birders, a very active local organization that promotes the enjoyment and protection of Kachemak Bay native birds and their habitat through citizen science, field trips, education and stewardship.  Kachemak Bay Birders sponsors the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project that collaborates internationally with shorebird biologists; and

WHEREAS, Homer is the home of Kachemak Crane Watch, a citizens’ organization whose goal is to study, foster and protect the local Sandhill Crane population; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, hereby recognizes 2018 as “The Year of the Bird”, and thereby encourages its citizens to continue making Homer and the Kachemak Bay area a bird-friendly place to live and visit.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 12 day of February, 2018.

CITY OF HOMER
 

DONNA ADERHOLD, MAYOR PRO TEMPORE

ATTEST:

_________________________________________

MELISSA JACOBSEN, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal note: N/A