Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held in 1970, it was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to promote ecology and raise awareness of the growing problems of air, water, and soil pollution. The day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement, mobilizing millions of people from all walks of life.

It was difficult to choose an image for this particularly special day. 

It could have been the Bald Eagle for its recovery after being reduced to around 400 pairs throughout North America after the devastating side effects of DDT. 

Or it could have been the Prairie Chicken, a bird who, to me, represents one of the most impacted bird species in the state where I live (Iowa).  From literally millions of birds, down to a reintroduced group of several dozen…habitat alteration and over hunting really put the hammer on them.  

Or it could be most any backyard bird, or migrator…a study conducted not too long ago showed that overall, we have lost nearly 3 billion breeding adult birds from a wide range of species in North America since 1970.  

But today,  I chose the Sandhill Cranes on the Platte river in Nebraska.  They represent a species that is still holding to the migration path that they have used for thousands of years.  They could not do this if not for the Platte river.  Now no doubt, the river is altered greatly from what it once was…but the fact that it is still a relatively healthy ecosystem…and the marshes which once fed the cranes are mostly crop fields now…they have been able to adapt and continue to thrive on their migration North.   

So on this Earth Day, I hope it will serve as a reminder of the blessings that our natural world provides for us.  How important it is to have clean air, healthy waters, and well managed lands, that support diverse species as they were meant to do all along.