Battling Plastic Waste on the Upper Texas Coast

Kelly Martin grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, passionate about oceans and marine life. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in marine affairs, a melding of science, policy, and economics aimed at forging environmental solutions. Today, Kelly heads a program called SPLASh, short for: Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines. SPLASh, a joint effort of American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and Black Cat GIS, targets plastics and trash pollution in the most densely populated stretch of the Upper Texas Coast, in the Houston-Galveston area. This is Kelly’s story, in her own words:

Bringing people on board with this effort is really exciting. Everyone is aware of and feels strongly about the issue of plastics and trash pollution: Nobody wants to see plastics in their parks, on their beaches, on their streets. Pretty much everyone can agree that we need solutions to this problem. Each month, we lead trash cleanups along coastal and bay shorelines, bayous, and in parks throughout the region. We also do community outreach events and teach in K-12 classrooms and lead field trips to clean up trash and collect data with students.

American Oystercatcher entangled in plastic waste.

Throughout all of this, we count and sort trash. Our data is put into a statewide database to get a better picture of what’s going on so that we can address the root of the problem, rather than just cleaning up on the back end.

We really try to engage everyone, regardless of how close they live to water.

Pretty much wherever you live, your trash can end up in the environment where it may harm wildlife.

This is one of our most important messages: No matter how far apart we are, we’re all connected.

Kelly Martin

We urge people to support big-picture initiatives like local or state efforts to reduce single-use plastics, or the proposed federal Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act, but it all starts with simple changes in daily life. Activism can have a “trickle-up” effect: You may start with a reusable bottle, and before you know it, you’re advocating for a plastic-bag ban in your hometown.

It all makes a difference!

Shore Up a Fine Future for Birds

“American Bird Conservancy is included in our estate plans because ABC addresses ‘big issues’ critical to birds, such as wind towers; through the Bird Conservation Alliance, ABC brings together diverse environmental groups to work as partners for the benefit of birds; and finally, we have had the opportunity to meet and to bird with many of the ABC staff. They have invariably impressed us with the passion and work ethic they bring to their efforts. ABC is a nimble, results-oriented group which has earned our respect and our financial support.” — Kathy Burger and Glen Gerada

If you are interested in more information on leaving your own legacy of bird conservation, or if you have already remembered ABC in your will, or as a beneficiary of a trust, IRA, or insurance plan, please contact Jack Morrison, ABC Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at jmorrison@abcbirds.org or 540-253-5780.

P.O. Box 249 The Plains, VA 20198 abcbirds.org 540-253-5780 • 888-247-3624

Critically Endangered Cherry-throated Tanagers have a new reserve in Brazil (see p. 6). Photo by Gustavo Magnago.