How pro-birds activism began

From the Netherlands about 1900, a Little Tern used in millinery, photo BirdLife in the Netherlands

BirdLife’s History in 20 Objects: #1 “Birds of a Feather”

Tue, July 31, 2012

BirdLife in 20 Objects, #1: The Feather

William Hudson, a representative of the Society for the Protection of Birds (SPB), recoiled in horror as he witnessed the sale of 80,000 Parrot and 1,700 Bird of Paradise skins in London, 1897:

“Spread out in Trafalgar Square they would have covered a large proportion of that space with a grass-green carpet, flecked with vivid purple, rose and scarlet.”

United by expertise, common-sense and outrage, by 1922 a group of people from different countries had seen enough. They concluded that the only effective answer to the growing trade of wild bird feathers had to be through co-ordinated international action.

These pioneers of modern conservation recognised the importance of birds in the “balance of nature”. They advocated their value to mankind and their need for effective protection: the intrinsic value of birds in their natural ecosystems far exceeding their fleeting value as fashion adornments.

This year, BirdLife International celebrates its 90th Anniversary and reflects on the foresight these people had to form the world’s first truly global conservation organisation, the International Committee for Bird Preservation (ICBP), from which became BirdLife in 1993.

The ICBP got straight to work in cultivating throughout the world an appreciation of the value of birds and after just two years already had 18 national sections- which would go on to become BirdLife Partners.

ICBP members were wise and sensible and they used their scientific expertise to provide clarity in their proposals- taking into account the diverse legislation and customs of different countries. Amongst lobbying against the traffic of wild bird feathers, by 1928 they had passed resolutions for: the creation of bird sanctuaries; preventing the collection of large numbers of rare eggs; an international convention on oil pollution and a “closed season” on hunting during the spring migration.

The Chairman, Dr Pearson stated in 1922:

“We believe that in organising a world-wide Committee we can be of much aid to each other in our several countries by the interchange of literature bearing on bird study and bird protection.”

90 years later – now with Partners in 116 countries – BirdLife International uses similar words:

“By united action we should be able to accomplish more than organisations working individually in combating dangers to bird-life.”

Taking the title phrase quite literally, a group of experts united by their passion for birds grew into a powerful flock of international NGOs that are furthering their work today.

A feather in a woman’s hair, or on a hat, might not turn heads today. But a whole dead bird pinned to somebody’s head probably would. Not so 150 years ago, when wearable taxidermy was fashionable. In fact, birds on hats were so popular that they contributed to the decline of several species like the snowy egret and the common tern. It wasn’t until one particularly driven group of women took a stand that all this changed: here.

Birds-of-Paradise Evolved in Lost Worlds: here.