MIKE BRAUN Taxes fund bird song CD

How often do you think of just how your tax dollars work?
Likely, it is only when you hear about some evidence of governmental waste or similar circumstance.
However, there is an abundance of evidence around that your tax dollars, especially those you pay in Ohio, do plenty of good.
One such piece of evidence is a new little guidebook and CD -- "Common Birds of Ohio" -- produced by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The guidebooks are fairly basic and would be a good item, for example, for birding clubs looking to attract new members.
The CD part of the production lists songs from 99 of the most common birds in Ohio.
The guides were fairly easy to produce so they are relatively available while the CD's are expensive and are generally not available to the public. However, the DOW sent a copy of the CD to all of Ohio's public libraries so you could peruse the songs that way.
According to a DOW spokesman, the CD's are also available to formal and non-formal educators who are focusing on birding or amateur birding enthusiasts representing museums, colleges and other learning establishments.
Various guidebooks
The birding guide joins several other similar booklets produced by the DOW on fish, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies. The division also hopes to produce a similar guide to Ohio mammals.
The guides were produced with funds from the states Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Incomes Tax Check-off Fund.
"Since its inception, the tax check-off has contributed nearly $10 million for use in conserving endangered species, including the bald eagle," said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. "Ohioans who have contributed to the check-off program can see the results of their donations in the recovery of endangered species like the osprey and peregrine falcon, educational programs like Project WILD in the schools and support of community-based programs such as development of bluebird trails."
Donations to the fund can be made on your 2004 Ohio Income Tax form by checking line 24 of the 1040 form or line 16 of the 1040EZ. You may also directly contribute by sending funds in care of the ODNR Division of Wildlife, 2045 Morse Road, Building G., Columbus, Ohio, 43229-6693.
Those looking to obtain the new birding guidebook or CD should also be aware that they cannot be sold. However, donations will be accepted. For more information on the new guidebook and CD, call the DOW District Three office in Akron at (330) 644-2293 or (800) Wildlife.