Barbara Moscato

Accountant and Bird rescue volunteer

Today’s Date: 1/10/2007

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

When I was naive enough to purchase a cockatoo, this lead to all kinds of awakening within me about pet stewardship, wildlife, the environment and the world that we all must share and protect.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Yes, down at the shore in Connecticut, I used to spend hours searching out animals and trying to befriend them. Once my folks were searching and calling for me at the beach but I could not answer because I did not want to startle the duck that I had gotten to sit on my lap. It took a long time to gain his trust so that I could pet him!

Now? I love the Adirondacks in New York. This is the most pristine area I've been to. If you like solitude and nature, this is the place to go.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

I love birds, all kinds of birds . They fascinate me with their beauty and intelligence. My cockatoo will live 80 years or more, longer than me. My greatest challenge is keeping him happy while I go through hoops trying every toy, bell, whistle, ball, whatever to keep him engaged and as happy as possible, while avoiding loosing any fingers. He has taken over my life! But I love all my birds! I have 9 of them, each has their own special personality.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Our greatest environmental challenge is stemming the threat of global warming to our planet. We must act quickly to change our energy usage to some other form that does not continue to pollute our atmosphere with more greenhouse gases. We must stop the deforestation that is occurring all around the globe. This not only is eliminating vital habit at for so many species but we need the trees to keep carbon dioxide in check! As far as the future is concerned, and if we can control global warming, I think our future challenge will be to feed the planet. There are very simply too many of us for the earth to support. Eventually demand will outrun supplies of water and food.

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Love the earth, enjoy its beauty and diversity and leave it better than you found it. Live and let live, do not harm any living creature large or small.