Megan Jankowski

Before I ever became active with GGBA I worked as a nest searcher for five summers in Arizona as an employee of the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. (The photo above is me in 2008 with a Steller's Jay nestling in my hand). Co-op units are a federal-state partnership. I was a state employee, but my boss was a federal USGS scientist, and we operated with federal funding, such as NSF grants. The work I contributed to furthered understanding of biology, of climate interactions, and for me personally was a formative experience. I worked in a beautiful National Forest living out of a tent for three months at a time, experiencing the Ponderosa Pine forest in ways that few truly do; waking up to bird song or squirrel chatter through a thin canvas wall, hiking 9 hours a days finding birds' nests and measuring their eggs and young, not showering for a week at a time, living through monsoon hailstorms. It was hard work, I was not paid enough, and I loved it.

I am deeply concerned with the current wholesale purge of scientists and public lands workers from the federal government. This directly affects people I know, great scientists who worked alongside me, as well as many dozens who worked and trained at that field site over 20 years. It will reduce our knowledge of the natural world, lead to declines in species and mismanagement that will lead to more destructive fires. Federal funding touches many people, and the work that federal employees does is a bedrock that impacts us all.

I believe if our government is good for anything, it should be to keep its citizens prosperous and safe, and a large scale purge of federal workers is the antithesis of a functioning, healthy society. I have a passion for birds and wildlife but I understand that not everyone does. To some people, money towards wildlife research might be seen as frivolous, government waste. I would counter that most of that money spent goes to salaries which keep people employed, housed, and sends money right back into the economy. There is so much important work in our world that doesn't turn a profit or increase shareholder value but is invaluable to some, and financially supportive to many. Who else but the government will fund such a thing?

I do not believe there is an easy way out of our current situation, it will take work. I also believe that we are not a fundamentally different country than perhaps that of fifteen years ago. There are still many people who care about science, about caring for community (whether that be people or nature). I believe that we are stronger together. I also believe that "No one way works. It will take all of us shoving at the thing from all sides to bring it down" -- or to build it up. Please believe that you have agency and what you do matters, whatever it is.

If one of those things is donating to Golden Gate Bird Alliance, here's my pitch: Golden Gate Bird Alliance is a great Bay Area community and resource and I'm very proud to be a volunteer. Since 2018 I've led free bird walks for GGBA. I'm a Master Birder graduate (class of 2018) and I've also benefited greatly from the classes on gulls, winter shorebirds, evolution and birding by ear. Donating to GGBA supports the talented staff who facilitate not only the field trips and adult education classes, but also conservation efforts, eco-ed classes for children, the monthly speaker series and the annual Christmas Bird Counts.

If you believe everything political is personal, that everything personal is local, then throw some $$$ to your local bird group if you can. If my bird walks have inspired at least one person to advocate for birds, I'd consider it a success. If you can't donate at this time, or want to focus on national issues please join us on a bird field trip!

This year I've been committed to doing one eBird checklist a day for the entire year. It's been a great way to make sure I'm doing one grounded activity per day and spending time paying attention to the world around me.

You can pledge a flat amount at any time or pledge per species (yes, it allows pledges less than a dollar per species!) and your credit card will be charged when the campaign ends. Thank you!