How much are birds worth?

 This question was asked about trees last year and researchers delivered an answer. However something about this seems categorically wrong. Despite how well intentioned this might be, is this the world we want to live in where we now have to quantify all of nature to justify treating it with care? And if Americans value birds the way Seattle (population 650,000) at $120 million, does that mean birds are worth $58 billion to all Americans when you adjust for population? And what price tag do you put on the nearly 1 billion birds killed every year by buildings? Or the 3.7-20 billion birds killed by cats?

What does this mean to our urban landscape, particularly green roofs? Should we install more green roofs to protect "our investment"? Or can we just say birds are priceless and we should do whatever we can to ensure their survival.

Arbor Day Songs

Arbor Day is upon us again, go out and celebrate your trees. And after you've done that, listen to a few good tunes...

Johann Strauss II - Tales from the Vienna Woods Waltz
Gene McDaniels - Tall Oak Tree
Count Basie - Tree Frog
Joan Baez - The Trees They Do Grow High
Elvis Presley -  Singing Tree

If you'd like more tree themed songs, check out previous years' selection!

Arbor Day tribute

Today is Arbor Day across North America!!!! Did you know it's a State Holiday in Nebraska?

On this day, of all days, we should share why trees matter, pay attention to lessons of the past and not replicate those unbelievably sad tragedies. For those who want only the tree related material, fast forward to around the 14:40 mark.

Let's end on a happy note. Since everyone should get in on Arbor Day fun, here are some tunes for us all:

-Peter Gabriel & Youssou N'Dour - Shaking the Tree
-Joni Mitchell - Cactus Tree
-The Andrews Sisters - Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
-The Beach Boys - Day in the Life of a Tree
-The Toadies - Away
-They Might be Giants - Arbor Day