|
Funds Help Preserve Birds |
|
|
|
Monday, 30 March 2009 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
WAPAKONETA — Members of a local conservation group gathered to raise both awareness and proceeds to preserve local habitats.
The Auglaize County Chapter of Pheasants Forever held their 18th Annual Banquet Saturday evening at the Junior Fair Building at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds in Wapakoneta.
 Staff photo/Mary Bargdill: Craig and Amy George, of Dayton, look over items up for auction during the annual Pheasants Forever banquet Saturday night in Wapakoneta.
Guests helped raise funds for the conservation group by participating in a live auction, silent auction or purchasing raffle tickets.
Nearly 300 people attended the banquet — which grossed approximately $35,000 for Pheasants Forever.
Chapter President David Jaros said the annual banquet supports the group’s efforts to raise awareness for the need to preserve wildlife habitats.
“I just hope they understand what we’re trying to do, get the pheasant population going,” Jaros said, noting habitat was also important for the deer, turkey and quail populations as well. “Conservation, we want to provide habitat for these animals so they don’t go away.”
Saturday’s banquet will also promote conservation efforts and education for students in Auglaize County by funding a book scholarship.
“We want to eventually put on a youth pheasant hunt,” Jaros said. “We put on a youth deer hunt.”
St. Marys native Amy George drove up from Dayton with her husband, Craig. She has attended the annual banquet for several years.
“I think it’s really cool to come and support it, to preserve the habitat,” George said.
Her father, Ed Fortman of St. Marys, plants pheasant plots of corn throughout Auglaize County, which provides wildlife with food. The plots of land may range anywhere from half an acre to 50 acres and are often provided by farmers.
Fortman said the habitat is vital to local wildlife.
“(They are) a place for the pheasants to hide and nest in the winter so they can survive,” Fortman said. “We’ve lost so much habitat.”
Fortman also plants oak and acorn trees to provide nesting sites for wildlife.
“Deer, wood ducks and squirrels eat acorns,” he said. “(It’s) just to help all wildlife.” |
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 April 2009 )
|
