[audubon-news] Audubon Newswire: Tuesday, July 20, 2004
- From: "BIANCHI, John" <JBIANCHI@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
- Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 17:17:09 -0400
Audubon Newswire
Volume 2, Number 14
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
In this issue:
-- Audubon Blasts Bush Administration Move to Eliminate Roadless Conservation
Rule
-- Audubon Urges Lawmakers to Make Restoration Priority in Mississippi
Improvement
-- House Announces Introduction of New Bill to Protect the Long Island Sound
-- Roseate Terns Nesting on Maine Island for First Time in Nearly a Century
-- Wisconsin's Noel Cutright Spends Entire Month of June Birding
-- Audubon Advocates Charge the Hill
-- St. Petersburg Chapter Volunteers Help Protect Roof-dwelling Tern Chicks
-- Audubon New York Releases Position on Wind Power Development
-- Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to North Pole Offered
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Audubon Blasts Bush Administration's Move to Eliminate Roadless Area
Conservation Rule: Calls on Americans to Voice Their Concern
Washington, DC, Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - In a move condemned by
conservationists, sportsmen's associations, and outdoor recreation groups, the
Bush Administration took steps earlier this week to eliminate the Clinton-era
Roadless Area Conservation Rule that limits logging and development in 58.5
million acres of national forest.
"The implementation of the Roadless Rule had more Americans commenting on it
and supporting it than any other federal rule in U.S. history. Yet, the
administration has sent a clear message to the American people; 'Your voice
does not matter where a healthy environment is concerned,'" said Bob
Perciasepe, Audubon's chief operating officer. "We ask Americans who care
about the fate of our nation's forests to once again let the government know
how you feel during this public comment period."
"I urge Audubon members and our friends to fight this 'shoot-all-the-buffalo'
mentality," Perciasepe concluded. "We must not allow this opportunistic
weakening of our nation's environmental laws, but should work together to
protect our wild places for birds, wildlife, and all Americans."
Concerned citizens should send written comments to: Content Analysis Team,
Attn: Roadless State Petitions, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake
City, UT 84122; by facsimile to (801) 517-1014; or by e-mail at
statepetitionroadless@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:statepetitionroadless@xxxxxxxxx>. For
more information, please visit
<http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Roadless_Proposal.html> .
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Audubon Calls on Lawmakers to Make Restoration a Priority in Any Mississippi
River Improvement Bill
Washington, DC, Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - In comments submitted today to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Audubon and its one million supporters, and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are urging lawmakers to support the
initiative to include a strong science-based, ecosystem restoration plan in any
Mississippi River Improvement Bill. Audubon activists and supporters are
calling for a full 50-year, $8.4 billion restoration program to protect and
restore as much as one million acres of internationally-significant wildlife
habitat that is also home to thousands of people.
"Since 1998, we have traveled all 1,366 miles of the Upper Mississippi River
from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the confluence with the Ohio River
at Cairo, Illinois. We will be on the River for years to come so we have a very
real interest in this resource as both an environmental and economic asset,"
said Dan McGuiness, Director of Audubon's Upper Mississippi River Campaign. "We
can and must improve the ecological health of the River, in conjunction with
improving and maintaining navigation to ensure that the Upper Mississippi
Region flourishes." McGuiness addressed the Mississippi River Caucus in
Washington, DC last week.
Visit <http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/MRI_Bill.html> for more
information.
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House Announces New Bill to Protect the Long Island Sound: The Long Island
Sound Stewardship Act of 2004
Washington, DC, Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - Today, the National Audubon Society
applauds the bi-state, bi-cameral and bi-partisan efforts of the New York and
Connecticut Congressional members for taking the next steps to protect the Long
Island Sound, a nationally significant estuary. The Long Island Sound
Stewardship Act of 2004 establishes a stewardship initiative, which will
identify, protect, and enhance significant open space, and recreational and
ecological sites along the Sound.
The bill authorizes $40 million annually on a 75% - 25% federal to local share
for the acquisition of land and conservation easements, and the improvement of
exemplary natural areas. The bill also establishes public access to the Sound
as a major goal.
"The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act recognizes that 10% of the United States
population lives within 50 miles of the Sound and that it contributes more than
$5 billion annually to the regional economy," said, Bob Perciasepe, Audubon's
Chief Operating Officer. "The Sound was one of the first estuaries recognized
under the National Estuary program in 1985, and is not only a critical
ecosystem for marine life throughout the east coast, but provides essential
migratory and breeding bird habitats, and is home to 125 species of birds,
including the endangered piping plover."
Visit <http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/index.html> for more
information.
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Roseate Terns Nesting on Maine's Outer Green Island for First Time in Nearly a
Century
Outer Green Island, ME, Tuesday, July 20, 2004 - For the first time in more
than 90 years, endangered Roseate Terns are nesting here on Outer Green Island
in outer Casco Bay, it was announced by the National Audubon Society.
Project Director Steven Kress reports an encouraging 11 nesting pairs of
Roseate Terns this year, as well as 695 nesting pairs of Common Terns. He
credits the island's growing population of Common Terns as a likely factor in
attracting their rarer cousins. "I wouldn't be surprised if there's more
before the summer's up," says Kress. "This summer's breeding success has
already gone well beyond our expectations."
Visit <http://www.audubon.org/bird/puffin/island_news.html> to learn more about
the Seabird Restoration Program and Roseate Terns. To view terns, puffins and
other Maine seabirds on Audubon's live streaming seabird cam, visit
www.projectpuffin.org <http://www.projectpuffin.org> .
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Wisconsin Man Spends Entire Month of June Birding
West Bend, WI, Thursday, July 15, 2004 -- This June, Wisconsin birder Noel
Cutright boldly went where no birder has gone before. Cutright spent the entire
30 days of June birding, attempting to conduct 30 North American Breeding Bird
Surveys (BBS) in celebration of his more than 30 years of participating in the
BBS - with a goal of personally raising $30,000 to help bird conservation.
Cutright succeeded in this endeavor, christened the "Quad 30 Campaign," raising
more than $36,000 to-date.
The Important Bird Areas Program is directed in the U. S. by the National
Audubon Society and is coordinated internationally in more than 120 countries
by BirdLife International. There are more than 1,600 IBAs identified throughout
the U.S. To read about Cutright's unique experience please visit
<http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Noel_Cutright.html>
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Audubon Advocates Charge The Hill
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - Thirty Audubon advocates from across
the country met with nearly 70 Senators, Representatives, and staff today to
discuss why bird conservation programs are vital for biodiversity and our
economy. Audubon activists in conjunction with Public Policy staff, advised
lawmakers on how they can help restore and protect our nation's great natural
heritage, and highlighted the connection between global population growth and
environmental impact.
Participants included representatives from Audubon Maryland/DC, Audubon New
York, Audubon Oregon, Audubon South Carolina, Tucson Audubon Society of
Arizona, Golden Eagle Audubon Society of Idaho, Big Bluestem and Upper Iowa
Audubon Societies of Iowa, Jayhawk and Northern Flint Hills Audubon Societies
of Kansas, Baton Rouge Audubon Society of Louisiana, Chesapeake Audubon Society
of Maryland, New York City Audubon Society, Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Center
in New York, Firelands Audubon Society of Ohio, Bucks County Audubon Society of
Pennsylvania, Dallas and Houston Audubon Societies of Texas, and California and
Florida.
For more information on future efforts to personally meet with and inform
lawmakers on issues impacting birds and habitat, please contact Audubon's
Grassroots Department at audubonaction@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audubonaction@xxxxxxxxxxx>
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Resourceful St. Petersburg Audubon Chapter Volunteers Protect Roof-dwelling
Tern Chicks
Clearwater, FL, Monday, July 19, 2004 - Driven from their preferred nesting
grounds on the beach by development and other factors, Least Terns in Florida
have made their homes on at least 27 gravel roofs in Pinellas, Florida this
year. While these lofty breeding grounds offer refuge from many earthbound
dangers, they also pose a new risk - falling. Many young chicks, after
tumbling off the roofs, find themselves stuck on the ground below, unable to
return to their nest. If they happen to have fallen into a driveway or parking
lot, they also risk being run over by vehicles.
Fortunately for the fifty or so pairs of Least Terns nesting at Autoway Pontiac
GMC in Clearwater, volunteers from St. Petersburg Audubon Society have
engineered a rescue solution. Called the "chick-a-boom", the ingenious device
consists of a cardboard orange juice carton cut to provide a flap, duct tape, a
paint stirring stick, and a long piece of metal pipe. The dealership's
employees are put into service, catching the chicks and placing them in the
orange juice carton. The flap comes down, the chicks are lifted to the roof,
and they are tipped out of the carton, safely home. This is clearly one time
when business is for the birds!
Read more about the terns and their rescuers at
<http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/07/05/Northpinellas/Dealership_employees_.shtml>
.
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Fort Worth Audubon Chapter Pioneers Celebrate Nature Center's Four Decades
Fort Worth, TX, Sunday, July 18, 2004 - The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge
is having its 40th Anniversary as one of the City Parks Department's most
celebrated attractions. However, Forth Worth Audubon Chapter volunteer
Margaret Parker says it wasn't so long ago that this wasn't the case. She
recalls when she and a few other women had to twist political arms to save this
spot, creating a refuge within the city.
The 94-year-old Parker and other members of the Fort Worth Audubon Society
birded here in undeveloped parkland for decades, but in 1963, the City
announced plans to cut trees - and bird habitat. That brought an onslaught by
a group of women that did not fit the sterotypical '60's environmentalist mode,
and local politicians were taken off guard.
"We just wanted an area where they wouldn't be cutting trees and would be
leaving it in its natural state," she said. "It's turned out to be more than I
ever expected. It has wonderful programs." Go to
<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/9186267.htm> for the full story.
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Audubon New York Releases Position on Wind Power Development
Albany, NY, Friday, July 16, 2004 - Audubon New York this month came out in
support of the development of renewable sources of energy, including wind
power.
"Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy with few negative
environmental impacts. However, wind power facilities have the potential to
negatively affect birds and other wildlife through direct mortality from
collisions and through habitat degradation from turbine construction and
maintenance," said Audubon New York. "We support efforts to minimize potential
negative impacts of wind power through proper site assessments, avoiding the
placement of wind energy developments in high risk areas, and through thorough
evaluation of avian mortality at existing and new wind turbine facilities."
"Audubon New York calls for comprehensive avian surveys at proposed wind
turbine sites prior to site development. Assessing avian use of a site prior
to wind turbine development is a crucial first step in preventing wind farm
placement in high-risk areas."
Visit <http://ny.audubon.org/wind_power.htm> to view Audubon New York's full
wind power policy.
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Onc-in-a-Lifetime Journey to North Pole Offered
Anchorage, AK, Friday,July 16, 2004 - Audubon has planned a 19-day excursion
(August 17 - Sept. 4) to one of the most unexplored regions on earth, the North
Pole. Participants will fly from Anchorage, Alaska to Pevek, Siberia, where
they will board the 100-passenger icebreaker Yamal. Audubon's voyagers will
plow through ice floes nearly 15 ft. think as they make their way to the North
Pole through the East Siberian Sea, and then continue South across the Arctic
Ocean near Russia' s North Coast - stopping at various places along the way.
Travelers are advised to have their cameras ready as Arctic birds, polar bears,
walrus, and marine mammals may be spotted at any time as the Yamal makes it's
way to it's final destination in Murmansk, Russia. Points of interest include
the trip to the geographic North Pole, as well as Russia's Taymyr Peninsula and
Franz Josef Land.
Audubon wildlife biologist Roger Harris will lead "Bridge to the North Pole".
Visit <http://www.audubon.org/market/no/trips/northpole/index.html> for more
information on information on this rare opportunity, or contact Beth Ryan at
800 967-7425.
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