By Glynn Wilson –
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. – The annual spring bird migration is in full swing along the Alabama Gulf Coast, as well as the spring mating season for North American raptors like this osprey [Pandion haliaetus], unique for its diet of live fish and ability to dive into water to catch them.
These large, rangy hawks do well around humans and have rebounded in numbers following the ban on the pesticide DDT in the early 1970s after President Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the online bird guide at Cornell University, but now face risks from climate change due to the mismanagement of the agency by Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier appointed by President Donald Trump.
“Hunting Ospreys are a picture of concentration, diving with feet outstretched and yellow eyes sighting straight along their talons,” the Cornell bird guide says. “Ospreys are common sights soaring over shorelines, patrolling waterways, and standing on their huge stick nests, white heads gleaming.”
Before you continue, I’d like to ask if you could support our independent journalism as we head into one of the most critical news periods of our time in 2024.
The New American Journal is deeply dedicated to uncovering the escalating threats to our democracy and holding those in power accountable. With a turbulent presidential race and the possibility of an even more extreme Trump presidency on the horizon, the need for independent, credible journalism that emphasizes the importance of the upcoming election for our nation and planet has never been greater.
However, a small group of billionaire owners control a significant portion of the information that reaches the public. We are different. We don’t have a billionaire owner or shareholders. Our journalism is created to serve the public interest, not to generate profit. Unlike much of the U.S. media, which often falls into the trap of false equivalence in the name of neutrality, we strive to highlight the lies of powerful individuals and institutions, showing how misinformation and demagoguery can harm democracy.
Our journalists provide context, investigate, and bring to light the critical stories of our time, from election integrity threats to the worsening climate crisis and complex international conflicts. As a news organization with a strong voice, we offer a unique, outsider perspective that is often missing in American media.
Thanks to our unique reader-supported model, you can access the New American journal without encountering a paywall. This is possible because of readers like you. Your support keeps us independent, free from external influences, and accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for news.
Please help if you can.
American journalists need your help more than ever as forces amass against the free press and democracy itself. We must not let the crypto-fascists and the AI bots take over.
See the latest GoFundMe campaign here or click on this image.
Don't forget to listen to the new song and video.
Just because we are not featured on cable TV news talk shows, or TikTok videos, does not mean we are not getting out there in search engines and social media sites. We consistently get over a million hits a month.
Click to Advertise Here