May 5-14 proclaimed National American Birding Week

May 5—U.S. Reps. Bob Latta and Marcy Kaptur introduced a bipartisan resolution proclaiming May 5 through May 14 as "National American Birding Week," according to a news release.

Birding is a pastime that generates billions in economic benefits annually, but migratory bird populations face many threats to their survival, the release said.

Annual birding events such as the "Biggest Week in American Birding," sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, leverage government, nonprofit and private resources to promote conservation of migratory bird populations and economic development through a multifaceted approach that combines research, education and outreach, the release said.

"There is a reason Northwest Ohio is dubbed the 'Warbler Capital of the World'; we are fortunate to have the habitat that supports migratory bird populations, like the warbler, and many other species from across North and South America," Latta said in the release. "Thanks to the hard work of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, our state is able to host the 'Biggest Week in American Birding' drawing in 90,000 people from all walks of life to view and enjoy our migratory bird populations.

"It's important we recognize and pass on this rich tradition to future generations — which will help bolster important bird conservation work in Ohio — and it's why I'm proud to help mark this week as National American Birding Week with the introduction of this resolution."

"This resolution calls attention to the array of natural and human-caused threats to migratory bird populations, emphasizes the contribution birders make to local economies during the migration seasons, and applauds the cooperation among governments, conservation organizations and businesses," Kaptur said in the release. "I am hopeful that my fellow Ohioans will join me in supporting the designation of National American Birding Week as we celebrate an important event that brings avid birders from around the world to our region of Northwest Ohio every year.

"I encourage birders and people from across our nation to attend events such as the 'Biggest Week in American Birding' to learn about bird migration and to support efforts to preserve migratory bird populations."

Approximately 3,500,000,000 songbirds, raptors, shore birds, and waterfowl representing over 350 species migrate north through the United States to breeding grounds every spring from wintering grounds in the southern United States, Mexico and the tropics.