Agree - comments targeting political views/persons/groups aren’t helpful. I’ll
also email to urge them to withdraw the bill/vote against it and cite sources
debunking his claims. As uninformed and irritating as his proposed bill is, I
plan to try a respectful approach and cite sources that show why his
understanding of the problem is misguided. He may ignore them but hopefully
others will not. His responses are . . . . . I guess he expects to be taken
seriously (=/
Great birding to everyone and many joys in 2024,
Renee Yetter
Williamsburg, KY (Whitley Co.)
Happy moments, praise God, Difficult moments, seek God, Quiet moments, worship
God, Painful moments, trust God, Every moment, thank God.
From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
tom durbin
Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 10:11 AM
To: d Feige <dfeige@xxxxxxxx>; BirdKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
thefarsidefarm@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [birdky] Re: Please withdraw SB 59
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content
is safe.
Let us all kindly leave politics out of this conversation. This is not MSNBC or
Fox News.
Tom Durbin
Bowling Green, KY
On Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 08:54:49 AM CST, Ce Ci
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
So apparently state senator Boswell believed at some point it was all right to
kill hawks? That sounds like a big part of the problem all over since perhaps
others have also been misinformed by some common source that they were not
protected any longer - probably under the last president.
Ceci & friends at
The Far Side Farm
On Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:53:53 PM EST, d Feige
<dfeige@xxxxxxxx<mailto:dfeige@xxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Response I received from Mr. Boswell. Doesn’t make sense to me at all.
Get the facts before you act. Check my Facebook page later this weekend. Hawks
are killing all our songbirds. Did you support medical mj? That was also a
violation of federal law. What we have is Biden’s law which overturned
previous laws which he shouldn’t have the power to do. Thx
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
________________________________
From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> on behalf of
Judy Adams <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 3:38:59 PM
To: thefarsidefarm@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:thefarsidefarm@xxxxxxxxx>
<thefarsidefarm@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:thefarsidefarm@xxxxxxxxx>>; Ce Ci
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>; Samantha
Engstrom <skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx>>
Cc: Birdky <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: [birdky] Re: Please withdraw SB 59
Has anyone contacted FIsh and Wildlife directly on this?
Sent from Yahoo Mail on
Android<https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 2:29 PM, Ce Ci
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
You ROCK, Samantha!
Ceci & friends at
The Far Side Farm
On Friday, January 5, 2024 at 03:24:08 PM EST, Samantha Engstrom
<skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I emailed the following to all of the members of the Senate Natural Resources &
Energy Committee. If he found my email to him annoying he will really hate what
I sent to his colleagues.
My name is Samantha Engstrom and it has come to my attention that a bill has
been proposed that would violate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA
was signed into federal law in 1918. This bill is to be discussed by the
Natural Resources & Energy Committee.
On January 3, 2024 Senator Gary Boswell proposed a bill to allow the “taking of
Cooper’s hawks or Red-tailed hawks” without fines or penalties.
He has received many emails from members of the birding community and his
responses have lacked understanding of the law and haven’t given a specific
reason for the bill. He just lists off anecdotes about a friend’s chickens and
a mysterious “they” that blames “bad bird feed” for the loss of non-predatory
birds.
Our state has a variety of hawks that includes Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned,
Cooper’s, Northern Goshawks, Red-shouldered, Rough-legged, Broad-winged, and
Northern Harriers. According to the senator the “problem’ lies with the
Red-tailed and Cooper’s but I defy him to identify these hawks in a lineup.
There is a historic term for some of these birds and that is chickenhawk. That
term is a misnomer. Coops and Sharpies do predate on birds but rarely on
chickens and Red-tailed hawks rarely eat birds at all, preferring mammals.
Furthermore, the issue he is trying to correct is natural predation. The issue
with any decline in the songbird population has more to do with humans than
with these raptors. They collide with buildings due to the glass. The U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service estimated that we lose half a billion birds to window
collisions a year. Will he next propose a change in building regulations to
keep the songbirds he cares so much about safe? I doubt it. Most bird loss is
man-made as seen on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service site under Threats to
Birds (https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/threats-birds).
The single biggest threat to songbirds is cats. I don’t want to assume the
senator is pro-cat shooting but since cats aren’t protected by a federal law
maybe he is. Then again, the federal law doesn’t seem to matter to him anyway.
People still seem to be the root cause of the issues for songbirds. Perhaps he
could instead propose penalties for people who let their cats outside?
The senator has said that these hawks are also preying on chickens. There are
options to protect chickens that don’t involve breaking a law and killing
federally protected birds. He claims to “have a picture showing six hawks
attacking baby turkeys” which is strange because hawks don’t hunt in packs.
This sounds more like vultures. Vultures look very different from hawks but I
wouldn’t expect non-birders to be able to tell the difference between all of
the hawks/vultures/falcons/eagles that are found in KY. I would, however,
expect someone who is proposing a bill like KY SB59 to know what he is talking
about but alas.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Samantha
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 3:19 PM mikesindahouse
<mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Here’s some ammunition: COHA and RTHA population trends since 2012.
[image0.png][image1.png]
Thanks,
Mike Callan
Louisville, KY
On Jan 5, 2024, at 3:13 PM, Jeffery Rose
<rosej12515@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:rosej12515@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I asked home to identify all hawks in the state, I asked for the links to the
sites that shows hawks being listed to the endangered species list. I also told
home we lose more birds to window strikes than anything else.
Jeffery Rose
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 13:57 mikesindahouse
<mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I think he’s probably using a “voice to text” feature. That said I don't think
he know’s one iota about birds.
I think he’s trying to say that hawks are overpopulated and that’s leading to a
decline in songbirds. He’s almost right - only it’s human overpopulation and
habitat loss/climate change that Humans (not hawks) are responsible for that
has caused the songbird decline. I’m sure it hasn’t helped that nobody’s been
guarding the hen house when it comes to enforcing the MBTA.
Can we as individuals not sue people for illegally killing birds under the MBTA
the way Texas allows people to sue when people help people get abortions?
Thanks,
Mike Callan
Louisville, KY
On Jan 5, 2024, at 2:45 PM, Samantha Engstrom
<skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
The response I got from the senator. The second sentence is...special. It
sounds like he thinks I was accusing him of actually misspelling something.
Part of my email read, "I hear that you are trying to deal with the threat to
the songbird population but I'm afraid you made a small spelling mistake in
your proposal. You spelled it hawk when I'm sure what you meant to type was
climate change, loss of habitat or disease."
Boswell, Gary (State Sen.) (LRC)
<gary.boswell@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gary.boswell@xxxxxxxxxx>>
Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 2:35 PM
To: Samantha Engstrom <skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:skengstrom@xxxxxxxxx>>
I would say you need to put your books down and spend some time in the real
outdoor world. I can should you what OVERPOPULATION RESULTS IN. Most
legislators don’t reply at all I do try and I do make spelling errors when I
take time out of my incredibly busy schedule to respond
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 12:19 PM Canterbury Ronald
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
All,
I hate to bring up a similar issue in KY, but years ago, and I can't remember
when, I think it was 2015, it was pointed out to me about someone killing
(shooting) songbirds and other species and posting about his kills on some
social media (again, I can't remember which and I don't use social media, but
think it was Instagram). He showed many birds lying dead, robins, woodcocks,
etc.
I can send pictures for anyone interested, then please email me (but, may take
months before I can reply, as I am that busy). I reported this to US FWS, and
was told they would investigate and to date nothing was done! I assume the
individual is still killing birds. The US FWS told me to be quiet about it and
I did, that they would handle it.
I also know of two others who use guns to illegally kill birds in KY/WV. One
of those is now dead, but he shot hundreds of Cooper's, Red-shouldered,
Red-tailed hawks, etc. And, I had to stop my research in Ashland, KY years ago
because one guy has 27 cats. I know those cats kill birds.
Ron Canterbury
Cincinnati, OH
Editor, The Ohio Cardinal
________________________________
From:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> on behalf of
Wes Prebeck <wes.prebeck@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:wes.prebeck@xxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 12:04 PM
To: routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Cc: andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:estiles74@xxxxxxxxx>>;
Birdky <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Subject: [birdky] Re: Please withdraw SB 59
External Email: Use Caution
Cindy,
I won't presume to speak for KDFWR (I know their staff are participants here,
so they're aware), but it would be my guess that they won't support the
bill...however, the department generally seems to try and stay out of the
political arena for the most part, and likely won't say much one way or another
on the topic.
That being said, I once played lobbyist for my labor union during six sessions
of the General Assembly in another life/career. Most of you would be appalled
at seeing how the sausage is made, to use an older turn of phrase. The best
that I can say about the entire process is that it's like a popularity contest
in high school, with idiotic personality conflicts driving a substantial
percentage of the activity in Frankfort. I passed two bills over those six
sessions and one required changing sponsors between the House and Senate,
simply due to personal dislikes between legislators.
I have nothing good to say about any politician, truth be told. I've
experienced being brushed off by my own elected state representative - who knew
me personally, had two of my kids as his pages, and claimed to support law
enforcement (I'm retired now) - yet when he was elected to House leadership, he
refused to even take my calls regarding my opposition to a particular
stance...because he wanted the personal power of his leadership position, no
matter his personal views on the topic.
Moving back to this topic - I seriously doubt the bill will move. Contacting
the chair of the committee to which it's assigned, along with any other members
- especially if one is a direct constituent, should suffice on killing the
bill. Should it get placed on the committee calendar for a hearing, make sure
that someone signs up to speak against it - preferably someone with an academic
background in ornithology and significant field experience.
I'd personally love to debate the esteemed bill sponsor, but as I no longer
reside in KY (I'm just west of you, Cindy, and do a lot of work with Clayton at
the refuge), that's not really something that would help.
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024, 10:22 Cyndi Routledge
<routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:routledges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Perhaps sending this Senator a copy of
this...https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2016/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SoNAB-ENGLISH-web.pdf?
Might begin his ‘education? His response is anything but ‘educatied’ and
seems to stem entirely from his friend’s chicken’s being killed and the
misnomer that being able to shot hawks will take care of the problem.
Ridiculous!!
Keep the pressure on this individual. Spread the word about this ridiculous
bill/notion of ‘shooting hawks to protect birds/chickens’! Contact falconers,
rehabbers, Southern Environmental Law group, Cornell. What does KY Fish and
Wildlife have to say?? And when does this ‘fool’ go up for re-election?? If
soon, contact his opponent and educate them.
Cheers!
Cyndi Routledge
TN resident
On Jan 5, 2024, at 6:00 AM, andrew melnykovych
<estiles74@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:estiles74@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
This is what I received in response. Seems he has a limited knowledge of both
federal law and avian ecology.
Andrew Melnykovych
Louisville KY
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Boswell, Gary (State Sen.) (LRC)
<gary.boswell@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gary.boswell@xxxxxxxxxx>>
Date: Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 11:44 PM
Subject: Re: Please withdraw SB 59
To: andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:estiles74@xxxxxxxxx>>
Sir. What has happened to all our songbirds. You should know this. Don’t buy
“bad bird feed.” It’s the HAWKS! I could go on for hours with facts. Biden put
them back on protected list. I’m not proposing a season on hawks, just
control. Just one story. Hawks killed all of my friends 15 chickens in a 30 day
period and he can’t shoot the hawk to protect them. That’s absurd. Federal law?
Ky just violated with medical mj. Help me protect our songbirds Thx
________________________________
From: andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:estiles74@xxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 2:21:50 PM
To: Boswell, Gary (State Sen.) (LRC)
Subject: Please withdraw SB 59
Dear Senator Boswell-
I am writing to urge you to withdraw Senate Bill 59, which addresses the
illegal killing of Cooper's Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks.
Both these species are protected under a federal law, The Migratory Bird Treaty
Act, which is enforced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Removing
enforcement of the state prohibition on the killing of these species would move
all enforcement to the USFWS and expose violators to the federal penalties of
as much as $250,000 in fines and two years imprisonment per violation.
I understand that both these species of raptors occasionally take poultry.
However, any such damage is far offset by their predation on nuisance species
ranging from mice and starlings to groundhogs. Furthermore, a farmer who is
experiencing ongoing losses to these hawks has the option to apply for
depredation permit which could allow the taking of the problem bird.
Removing the state enforcement of protections for these species will serve as a
signal that it is open season on all hawks, when in fact nothing of the sort
would be the case. It might save a few chickens, but the overall effect would
be to remove predators that help keep in check the populations of undesirable
species.
I can assure you that the many thousands of birders and other bird enthusiasts
in Kentucky will be firmly opposed to this legislation. I can also assure you
that they make up a far larger share of your constituents than those who might
reap the highly questionable benefits of this legislation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Andrew Melnykovych
Immediate Past President
Beckham Bird Club
Louisville KY