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Published August 23, 2008 05:21 pm - It might be a small piece of land along Shoal Creek, but it’s big enough to make a difference. Missouri-American Water Co. has teamed up with World Bird Sanctuary to enhance habitat for birds and other wildlife on property the company owns along Shoal Creek and near St. Louis. World Bird Sanctuary partners with utility to preserve habitat w/ link to learn more about World Bird Sanctuary & photo slide show By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com It might be a small piece of land along Shoal Creek, but it’s big enough to make a difference. Missouri-American Water Co. has teamed up with World Bird Sanctuary to enhance habitat for birds and other wildlife on property the company owns along Shoal Creek and near St. Louis. “This is a community project in which we want to get people involved to promote environmental awareness,” said Christie Barnhart, spokeswoman in Joplin for Missouri-American. “We want to involve groups, like the Boy Scouts, and offer bird programs in the schools this spring.” But first, the company decided it was important to raise awareness among its employees, who will help develop the habitat. To do that, Missouri-American invited Walt Crawford, director of the World Bird Sanctuary, to the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin last week so its Joplin employees could see some of Crawford’s feathered friends up close. The birds included a peregrine falcon, a barn owl and a mature bald eagle named Liberty. “It was amazing being that close to a bald eagle,” said Barnhart. “We want so much for schoolchildren to see these birds.” 800 raptors The partnership between Missouri-American, which provides water to Joplin and many other communities in Missouri, and World Bird Sanctuary is an extension of a program that began in the St. Louis area, where Crawford established the sanctuary in 1977. World Bird Sanctuary is one of North America’s largest conservation sites for birds. Crawford has been recognized many times for his leadership in ornithology. The sanctuary has rehabilitated and returned to the wild more than 800 raptors in the last 20 years, including peregrine falcons and bald eagles. Also in that group is the American common barn owl, one of the most endangered raptors native to Missouri. Crawford said World Bird Sanctuary teamed up several years ago with Missouri-American in St. Louis to promote habitat management on property the company owns along the Missouri River. An artificial bald eagle nest has been constructed on the property and threatened birds have been released at the site. Programs have been launched there to promote public awareness. “One of the biggest resources affecting both birds and man is water,” said Crawford. “All of the birds we have in Missouri rely on water. Its preservation and protection is necessary for their future and ours.” Crawford said his organization is working to convince private companies that they “can manage these properties in such a way that it enhances habitat to encourage these birds to breed and increase their populations.” 
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