Opinion: One for the birds

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Feathers are flying over proposed redevelopment of a resort in Laguna Beach’s Aliso Canyon, including the developer’s touting of the renovated 9-hole golf course as having ‘Audubon International Certification Program Intention.’

Turns out that Audubon International Certification isn’t exactly the same thing as having the bird-loving environmentalists conjured by the title give their blessing.

Or to quote from the statement that the National Audubon Society hands out:

‘Since its inception in 1991, Audubon International, funded in part by the United States Golf Association, has been certifying golf courses that pay an annual membership as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. Similar fee-based certifications are available from Audubon International to developers of cemeteries, municipal parks, marinas, residential communities and preparatory schools.

‘Audubon is not associated with Audubon International in any way. Audubon does not certify golf courses, or any other development, as being environmentally sound.’

Wildlife artist John James Audubon, who died in 1851, could never have imagined how popular his name would be in the development world. It was also used for a tract in south Orange County named Laguna Audubon, which was marketed with giant pictures of shorebirds with a vaguely oceanlike background. The houses are a few miles from the ocean--but the streets are named for the birds.