Education is the key to bird conservation and this is a warning to all who believe in birds, habitat and the future.
Our Mill Creek MetroParks in Mahoning County has joined Geauga Parks in their attempt to change the focus from nature education and the importance of habitat and natural areas to making money. Recreation and money making ventures are now their focus. They deny this.
Our park director fired our only full time naturalist, award winning naturalist Ray Novonty. Nature education doesn't pay for itself. Our natural areas are underfunded. Invasive species control is nonexistent, and they allow trapping. They recently made the news for trapping a River Otter.
If you think your park is different, please pay attention because the focus can change in a blink of an eye.
We are fighting back in our county and you need to pay close attention to what is happening at your parks.
I did have 3 Rusty Blackbirds in my yard this morning.
Jeff Harvey          Mahoning County

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