{"id":14807,"date":"2014-04-22T06:52:09","date_gmt":"2014-04-22T12:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=14807"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:48:55","slug":"earth-day-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/22\/earth-day-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth Day 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LandingLanding American White Pelican – Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday while I was out photographing at Bear River I saw and photographed some amazing behavior between American White Pelicans fighting over a huge carp and\u00a0though I would have liked to post some of those images today but all day yesterday I thought about the significance of what\u00a0today<\/em><\/span> means to me.<\/p>\n

I will share just this\u00a0one image of an American White Pelican I photographed yesterday.<\/p>\n

It is Earth Day<\/span><\/a> and I wanted to write about it this morning.<\/p>\n

I remember Earth Day 1970 and how I hoped that people would realize that our Earth was being polluted, torn apart and\u00a0how all wildlife was suffering.<\/p>\n

We have come a long way since then, rivers have been cleaned up, the Endangered Species Act was born and people became aware of how pesticides were killing more life than we knew.<\/p>\n

People from all walks of life came together and on April 22 twenty million\u00a0Americans protested the\u00a0deterioration of our environment, our Earth.<\/p>\n

The Earth Day movement became global in 1990. A LOT of good has come from everyone’s involvement\u00a0in Earth Day but there is still\u00a0so much\u00a0to be done<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"CoyoteCoyote hunting in the snow – Antelope Island State Park, Utah<\/span><\/p>\n

I know I get overwhelmed by articles that I read, documentaries I see and by my own<\/span> experiences in the field as a bird and nature photographer.<\/p>\n

Birds and animals that are endangered and near extinction. Apex predators being killed even though science says we need them for natural balance.<\/p>\n

Sea life is dying because of the pollution we have put into our oceans. Poisons are leaching into our soil and our water supplies. Air quality is suffering. Habitat is being destroyed. Forests are still being felled at an alarming rate.<\/p>\n

Yes, some things have gotten better since 1970 but many things have rapidly gotten worse.<\/p>\n

I worry what the climate will be like for my grandchildren’s children. As a bird photographer I wonder if they will only know some of the beautiful birds we have today through images their great-grandmother and others have taken?<\/p>\n

\"LayersLayers of Time – Capitol Reef National Park, Utah<\/span><\/p>\n

Earth Day is an important day but truthfully every day is or should be.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We can all make a difference individually and as a global community every day of our lives. One action multiplied by millions can and does make a change.<\/p>\n

There are many organizations we can volunteer for, donate to, join or support that have made positive changes through education, action and awareness. I am going to list a few here and hope that my readers will also feel free to add others in their comments and perhaps why they feel the organization is important or the organization’s mission.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

My list in no particular order:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earth Day Network<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>– All about Earth Day, its history and goals.<\/p>\n

Project Coyote<\/strong><\/a><\/span> – Promoting coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science and advocacy.<\/p>\n

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span> – NRDC works to safeguard the earth \u2014 its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.<\/p>\n

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span> – The mission of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans.<\/p>\n

American Birding Association (ABA)<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span> – The American Birding Association inspires all people to enjoy and protect wild birds.<\/p>\n

WildEarth Guardians<\/a> <\/strong><\/span><\/span>– WildEarth Guardians works to protect and restore wildlife, wild places and wild rivers in the American West.<\/p>\n

The Nature Conservancy<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span> – The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.<\/p>\n

HawkWatch International<\/strong><\/a><\/span> – The mission of HawkWatch International is to conserve the environment through education, long-term monitoring, and scientific research on raptors as indicators of ecosystem health.<\/p>\n

National\u00a0Wildlife\u00a0Refuge\u00a0Association<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> – The National Wildlife Refuge Association\u2019s mission is to conserve America\u2019s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is Earth Day and I wanted to write about it this morning. A LOT of good has come from everyone’s involvement in Earth Day but there is still so much to be done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,511,124,27,1427,100,26],"tags":[3966,4021,733,988,4002,2518,4312,4035,4154,2517,102,4032],"class_list":["post-14807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-white-pelicans","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-capitol-reef-national-park-utah","category-coyotes","category-utah","tag-american-white-pelican","tag-bird-photography","tag-canis-latrans","tag-conservation","tag-coyote","tag-earth-day","tag-environment","tag-nature-photography","tag-pelecanus-erythrorhynchos","tag-preservation","tag-wildlife","tag-wildlife-photography"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-landing-mia-mcpherson-6595.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3QP","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14331,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/13\/caution-spring-birds-ahead\/","url_meta":{"origin":14807,"position":0},"title":"Caution: Spring Birds Ahead","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It won't be long before the American White Pelicans are back at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge which is where I photographed the pelican in the image above last spring.","rel":"","context":"In "American Avocets"","block_context":{"text":"American Avocets","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/shorebirds\/american-avocets\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Avocets and the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/american-avocet-mia-mcpherson-8543.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nonbreeding plumage American White Pelican in flight over Bear River MBR, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-flight-mia-mcpherson-6197.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-flight-mia-mcpherson-6197.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-flight-mia-mcpherson-6197.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-flight-mia-mcpherson-6197.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/american-white-pelican-adult-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-0496.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/american-white-pelican-adult-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-0496.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/american-white-pelican-adult-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-0496.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/american-white-pelican-adult-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-0496.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48286,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/08\/28\/juvenile-american-white-pelican-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":14807,"position":3},"title":"Juvenile American White Pelican at Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"When the young American White Pelicans are old enough to leave the island they fly to areas like Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to learn how to catch fish on their own before they migrate in the fall.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile American White Pelican close up with a horse fly, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, 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Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This American White Pelican image was taken in July near the auto tour loop at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and I like how it shows the pelican fishing for food.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fishing American White Pelican, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-feeding-mia-mcpherson-7119.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/american-white-pelican-feeding-mia-mcpherson-7119.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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