Every November, as our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving gatherings, hundreds of thousands of birds begin arriving in San Francisco Bay. For thousands of generations, these birds have arrived here for the winter because it has always been a place abundant with food.

San Francisco Bay's wetland ecosystems are so biologically rich that they host one of the largest concentrations of wintering surf scoters and greater scaup in the world - up to 80,000 surf scoters and 100,000 greater scaup. These two species complete a journey of up to 2,000 miles from the boreal forest region, the coniferous forests far to our north, to reach San Francisco Bay. They are exhausted and hungry, but have always found these waters to be nourishing and safe. Sadly, this year, thousands of birds arrived to find their precious winter home an oily death trap.

The bay area is also home to an incredible number of people who love birds. Recent surveys put the number of Americans who feed, watch and enjoy birds as high as 80 million, and growing faster than any other recreational pursuit. Californians, in particular, are famous for their love of birds, with more bird clubs and Audubon chapters than anywhere else in the United States.



The answer is probably not surprising: Most Americans still do not make the connection between the "stuff" we consume and the impact it has on the environment. How many, for example, know that the United States imports more oil and gas from Canada than from any other nation? More even than from Saudi Arabia! How many understand that much of the junk mail and catalogs they receive is printed on paper made from virgin timber from Canada's boreal forest?

That's the same boreal forest that nurtures those surf scoters, greater scaup, and 3 billion more birds. The same boreal forest that is one of the last large remaining wilderness areas on the planet - one of a handful of places left on Earth where it is possible to fly over terrain for hours without seeing roads and cities and industrial complexes. And the same boreal forest, whose thick layers of moss, soil and peat form one of the world's largest terrestrial storehouses of carbon, that offers a protective shield against climate change.

At 1.4 billion acres, Canada's boreal forest is the largest intact forest and wetland ecosystem left on the planet. But Canada's boreal - America's bird nursery - is under siege from oil and gas drilling, mining and logging. Most of these resources are being consumed by those of us here in the United States.

When we see images of oiled birds dying on San Francisco Bay, many of us would like to be able to turn to solutions that offer hope. One groundbreaking conservation opportunity that does offer inspiration is the proposal to protect 750 million acres of the Canadian boreal forest.

How can you help? Add your voice to the conservation groups, the native peoples of Canada and businesses as well as more than 1,500 internationally respected scientists who have urged Canada to permanently set aside more of the Canadian boreal forest as national parks and other protected areas. Buy paper products for your home and business that are made from recycled paper rather than virgin boreal trees. Drive less; make your home more energy efficient.

It's time to share the news: We may love the birds but we need to do more to protect them. Find out where the "stuff" in your life comes from and how it is impacting your birds, your life and the futures of your children and grandchildren.