World Migratory Bird Day 2020

Recent news reports have indicated that bird-watching has become a popular hobby during the coronavirus pandemic. As more people are emerging from quarantines and are venturing out as stay-at-home orders are being lifted or rolled back, they are flocking to the great outdoors and finding a new appreciation for our feathered friends, perhaps even the ubiquitous pigeon and house sparrow. Avid birdwatchers have long known the physical and mental health benefits associated with their hobby. Bird watching can not only improve one’s cardiovascular health but it can also lift one’s spirit. Imagine the excitement of observing a species you have never seen before. Bird watching also gets people into the fresh air and helps them become more contemplative and meditative as they watch the trees or the marshes for the appearance of that long-expected bird.

Now is an even more exciting time than ever to turn our eyes to the skies. Spring and fall typically mark the peak bird migration periods here in the United States and elsewhere. Fittingly, tomorrow, May 9, 2020, is World Migratory Bird Day in the Americas (WMBD) , a program aimed at educating the public about migratory birds and the ways to protect them. This year’s theme, Birds Connect Our World, focuses on the tracking technology used to examine the routes followed by these migratory species and how it can be used to support conservation efforts. This year’s featured species includes: American Kestrel, Arctic Tern, Baird’s Sparrow, Barn Owl, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Calliope Hummingbird, Canada Warbler, Fork-Tailed Flycatcher, Northern Pintail, Purple Martin, Western Sandpiper, and Yellow-Breasted Chat. Of these species, about 8 of them can be found in or migrating through the Houston area or Gulf Coast region. We’re not telling you which ones, though. You’ll have to go to online to find out for yourself.

First created in 1993 by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center as International Migratory Bird Day, WMBD has expanded its focus to include the major migratory bird flyways: the African-Eurasian, the East Asian-Australasian, and the Americas. Each year throughout North America, on the second Saturday of May, Environment for the Americas coordinates a bird festival featuring events, programs, and activities. This year’s Bird Day LIVE events, however, will be going virtual. The festival will feature kid-friendly sessions, such as story times and movies, interactive quizzes, and speakers as well as sessions in Spanish. There are also plenty of resources on the WMBD website, including activity sheets and coloring pages. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is also having a digital celebration of WMBD. It is hosting a “flash flock” to promote Bird Friendly® coffee farms and featuring fun activities on Facebook and Twitter. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has a lot of good educational resources on its website, not only for WMBD but also about birding in general. You can also read about the Urban Bird Treaty Program, of which Houston is a part. Speaking of Houston, the Houston Audubon Society is hosting an online WMBD event with presentations, workshops, art contests, and more.

Throughout the years, the federal government has recognized the importance of migratory birds and has enacted legislation protecting birds and their habitats. Key legislation includes: Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The United States is also a party to two international treaties: Ramsar Convention and the Antarctic Treaty.

If all of this has inspired to you to take flight and head outdoors, there are plenty of resources to help you with bird identification skills:

FREE CLE and Training Opportunities

MCLE Deadlines Extended

The State Bar of Texas MCLE Department will grant an automatic 60-day extension to attorneys reaching their compliance deadlines in March, April, or May. Attorneys who missed compliance deadlines in January or February will receive an automatic 60-day extension to prevent the assessment of further fees. Attorneys now subject to suspension for failing to comply with MCLE requirements in November or December will have an additional one-month extension.

Earning Credit

Texas allows all licensed members of the State Bar of Texas to complete their CLE requirements by attending online courses, but finding coursework may be difficult during this uncertain time. To help, we at the Harris County Law Library have collected information and registration links for all FREE CLE courses being presented by organizations such as the Houston Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the American Bar Association. Look for the Training Opportunities Calendar on our website, where you will find a chronological listing of all events, or view the calendar itself for an “at a glance” look at all that’s being offered. Several of the courses are on-demand webinars or previously recorded events made available for viewing at your convenience.

If you learn of a free CLE opportunity that we’ve overlooked, please drop us a line, and we’ll add to the calendar. Happy learning!

Don’t forget: You can also view our Learn On-Demand courses online via the Law Library’s Legal Tech Institute web pages at http://www.harriscountylawlibrary.org/lti-on-demand-learning

What About Books?

In mid-April, a French court ordered shipping giant Amazon to restrict its sales and deliveries to “essential items.” The order stated that Amazon could only fulfill orders for food, hygiene, and medical items. The court further gave Amazon 24 hours to cease delivery of nonessential items or face steep fines, as much as one million euros per day per infraction. The order was the result of an action filed by a trade union, alleging that Amazon had violated the Labor Code by failing to protect the health and safety of its employees by allowing them to work in crowded, enclosed spaces. As a result of the court order, Amazon shut down its facilities for five days to clean and assess the working environment. Amazon also appealed the order, citing ambiguity in the definition of what constitutes essential as one of the bases of the appeal.

On April 24, the Court of Appeals of Versailles affirmed the lower tribunal’s order. The appellate court also defined specific categories of essential items: hi-tech and information technology; office supplies; pet supplies; health, nutrition, and personal care product; groceries; drinks; and maintenance.

While we applaud the French courts for focusing on the health and safety of workers, we at the Harris County Law Library can’t help but wonder why books were not included among those items deemed essential. Yes, we know that books are not “absolutely necessary,” but they are still extremely important, not in an earth-shattering way, but critical nonetheless. Crucial, too, to a segment of the population that has been overlooked by the digital divide and who have no access to digital versions of print materials. Before the pandemic, print books outsold eBooks. Even in Paris, it seemed as if more commuters were reading print books while commuting on the Paris Metro. Of course, life is much different now. Social distancing and disinfecting have become the norm. Still, we can’t help but feel that books should be considered essential, especially now when physical libraries are closed to the public. Moreover, the French ruling overlooks the obvious health and mental benefits that come from reading books. Reading sharpens the brain and prevents cognitive decline, reduces stress, helps sleep, eases depression, educates and boosts vocabulary, and can even help people live longer. These benefits are extremely important, especially now, when so many people are isolated from their loved ones and friends.

We urge you today (and everyday) to pick up a book, whether a print one or an eBook, and reap the benefits that come from reading the written word. Then, you, too, can see how essential books are.