Editor,

Thank you, South Whidbey Record and Whidbey News-Times, for the front page story in your Nov. 1 edition about the “bird man” and his mission of preserving Deer Lagoon as a bird refuge. In doing so, Carlos Andersen seeks to preserve a refuge not only for birds and other wildlife but a refuge for people respectfully seeking their own quiet connection to a resplendent nature right here in our own Whidbey Island backyard.

Amid all the grim news about our strife-torn world, about dreadful crimes even right here on our island and, of course, about incessant political haggling, one man’s quest to preserve one small spot on earth for birds to be able to live their lives as nature intended is such welcome and happy news.

I encourage all of us to get behind him and do whatever we can to ensure his success. Back in the 1990s, I was involved in the grassroots effort that resulted in today’s existence of Saratoga Woods Preserve rather than a sprawling resort or a flattened clear cut. The support we on the front lines got from the Whidbey community was crucial as we dealt with the nitty-gritty of land use issues.

Carlos Andersen is the one now dealing with nitty-gritty land use issues and how Deer Lagoon will be responsibly and protectively managed into the future. His quest embodies the values we share about the importance of preserving the natural rural beauty of Whidbey Island.

Let’s get behind him in any way we can. Our local and state governments need to know we support his vision. Working together as a community, we can make good things happen in protecting special places here on Whidbey Island. Been there, seen that! Now it’s Deer Lagoon’s time.

Betty Azar

Freeland