Donna, You've brought up an excellent point and challenge for all educators. What needs to be taught is how the human species is connected to, is a part of the natural world and visa versa. And how whatever is done to the natural world does affect our quality of life. Just about all of the presentations and some school curriculae I've seen don't go far enough - beyond "dog and pony" acts, mere show-and-tell's or i.d.'s. Sure, there's the "wow" factor when someone shows a hawk or owl, however, that bird is shown out of context, out of its natural element, which only serves to perpetuate the widening disconnect between people and nature. It's the same in zoos. How many presenters, teachers tell: what such a bird's role is in the overall scheme of things, what is its natural habitat, what can we do to protect such habitats? Use that "wow" factor to hook an audience, then get to the nitty gritty: how that bird is connected to all of us. So many kids don't even know where their food comes from! Talk about a disconnect! One of my favorite facts I love to impart during my presentations is: about 80% of our food crops is pollinated by some form of wildlife - birds, bats, insects. Imagine, what would we do without them? One more thing, then I'll shut up! I had a wonderful experience in September when I released 2 rehabilitated Osprey. I have friends who live by a cove and on whose property one of the Osprey was found injured. Somehow, word got out of the impending releases and some of the neighborhood showed up! Talk about "wow" factor! No one ever saw an Osprey so close, and saw what a beautiful and magnificent creature it is. . I seized the opportunity to explain how the Osprey was on the brink of extinction not all that long ago, the effects of DDT, the food chain, etc. Then, the birds did their bit and flew! The gasps, "cool's" were very audible as the Ospreys began their southward journeys. Hopefully, the message was heard and taken to heart that day. Great birding, everyone! Meredith Sampson Old Greenwich "If you talk to the animals, they will talk to you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George -- "Sunshine" <sunny19682@comcast.net> wrote: >>This is where environmental education is so sorely needed, beyond "preaching to the already-converted", and helping people connect with nature, understand the relevance of it to their own quality of life, and become better stewards. You can't protect what you don't know. This reminds me of Steve Irwin saying that people protect what they love. While on the thought of environmental education, how do you change things when so much is cut out of public education today and there is a general apathy of kids in schools? I can't tell you how many kids I interned with are under the impression that they will become sports or rock stars and make big dollars and have huge homes and expensive cars. Planet Earth will turn totally into a concrete jungle if we don't reach enough people. I can only hope to make more connections to the environment when I get my own science classroom. Donna Lorello Branford _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _____________________________________________________________ Click to shop for certified diamonds and engagement rings. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3nZfTESD6QrCZzqAPNkfoVigPkQ1PHEgq16La16rAtdHjIM0/