OUR COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION
Sound ecological systems require conservation of resources in our world of growing human population pressures. The cascading degradation of unhealthy ecosystems eventually reaches all organisms in those systems, including humans. We like showing you healthy ecosystems, but in order for these places to persist sustainably, we need to ensure they are conserved.
Conservation of bird habitats around the world is a gargantuan task, and our small company can only hope to have a small impact on the health of the global ecology. Below you will find descriptions of the conservation partners who receive—or have received—financial contributions from Paradise Birding.
Steve Shunk presents a donation at the Borneo Bird Festival
The endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker
SPECIAL FOCUS:
International Woodpecker Conservation Tours
Steve’s knowledge and experience with woodpeckers has founded a global conservation initiative. In 2015, we began developing a new series of tours that would focus on the conservation of more than 30 species of threatened woodpeckers around the world. These tours will visit 5 continents and will contribute financially to local conservation efforts.
SF Bay Area Science and Conservation
In 2019, we contributed $400 from our tour revenues to the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. Steve got his first volunteer field job with SFBBO monitoring colonial waterbirds on the SF bayshore.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Conservation
In 2018, Paradise Birding contributed $700 from our tour revenues to the Texas A&M Forest Service for their work with the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and especially the ‘Safe Harbor’ program.
Borneo Hornbill Project
In 2017, Paradise Birding contributed $400 from our Borneo tour revenues to the Kinabatangan Hornbill Research Program, supporting the construction, installation, and monitoring of hornbill nest boxes.
ABC Honduran Emerald Project
In 2016, Paradise Birding contributed $1,600 of our Honduras tour revenues to support conservation efforts for the endangered Honduran Emerald hummingbird, the country’s only endemic bird.
Caribbean Bird Conservation
In 2015, Paradise Birding contributed $200 from our Caribbean scouting tour to support research and education at BirdsCaribbean. We will continue to support them through future tours to the region.
Bonelli’s Eagle Nest Monitoring
In 2014, Paradise Birding contributed $500 from our Sicily tour revenues to the Committee Against Bird Slaughter and Gruppo di Tutela Rapaci to prevent poaching at Bonelli’s Eagle nests in Sicily.
Italian League for Bird Protection
In 2014, we visited Isola di San Pietro off the coast of Sardegna. After observing an abundance of Eleonora's Falcons, we contributed to LIPU’s long-term monitoring efforts for this charismatic raptor.
IBP Research & Monitoring
Steve worked as a field biologist 2011-2013 monitoring Black-backed Woodpecker populations in northern California, and we continue to maintain a strong cooperative relationship with IBP.
LONG LIVE MONO LAKE!
Steve first supported the conservation of Mono Lake in 1990 & 1991, when he participated in the Mono Lake Bike-a-Thon. Today we are proud members of the Mono Lake Committee and Steve participates annually in Mono Basin Field Seminars & the Bird Chautauqua.
East Cascades Bird Conservation
Steve co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy, which has since evolved to become the East Cascades Audubon Society. We are loyal members, and we donate to their annual fundraising auction.
Cavity & Snag Conservation
From its onset, Steve worked directly with the Cavity Conservation Initiative, and he has since donated many hours in-kind to support their education and policy projects advocating for snag conservation.