I'm new to Kentucky (just moved here in August) and new to this list, and I
haven't been keeping up on all the emails because I've been busy settling
in. But I would very much like to get more involved, especially with this
issue. I'm a visiting law professor at UK -- with plans to write a book on
"bird law" -- so I'm interested in SB 59 for obvious reasons. Let me know
how I can help, and if there are any other law-related issues I should know
about.
Jason
On Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 8:26 AM Joyce Fry <joycefry1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Since when have our KY legislators cared about being looked upon
negatively by other states?
“When nature is your reality and your home, every offense to nature feels
personal.” Joanne Price
On Jan 9, 2024, at 7:25 PM, klburt73 <klburt73@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks for this, Jeremy.
It may not be necessary, or perhaps it’s already in the works, but do you
or anyone on the board feel it would help get get national organizations
involved? Perhaps the AOS or National Audubon Society, etc. Not sure
if they would get involved in state matters, but I wondered if wider
attention might give pause to those in committees in our state legislature
to not act in a way that brings negativity on KY.
Sincerely,
Kevin Burt
Bowling Green
On Jan 9, 2024, at 6:11 PM, Jeremy Teague <archilochus79@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Someone asked for a copy of the letter, so here’s the text, for those who
may be interested:
January 9, 2024
Dear Members of the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee,
On behalf of the Kentucky Ornithological Society, a respected one
hundred-year-old bird conservation organization with hundreds of members,
we urge you to oppose SB59, which targets Cooper’s hawks and Red-tailed
hawks, and would prohibit state enforcement of the Kentucky law that
currently offers state protection for both species.
These species, and all other raptors, are protected under a federal law,
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, enforced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS). Removing the state’s ability to enforce the killing of these
species would shift enforcement to the federal level, which would expose
violators to the federal penalties of as much as $250,000 in fines and up
to two years imprisonment for each violation.
Both these species of raptors have been known to occasionally take
poultry, but they are fierce predators of nuisance species, including
rodents such as mice and voles, as well as the invasive European starling.
Their benefits to the balance of nature and controlling undesirable species
far exceed any purported loss to poultry farmers.
There are existing options available to farmers who are experiencing
recurring losses. They can apply for a depredation permit which would allow
the taking of the problem bird, or they can build safer enclosures to keep
hawks and other predators from taking the poultry. Raptors are notoriously
difficult to identify to species, and removing the state enforcement of
protection for these two species will create an open season on all raptors.
Our organization, and others like it, represent thousands of bird
enthusiasts in Kentucky. Please be assured that this legislation will be
strongly opposed and contested by a large share of your constituents. The
basis of this legislation is poorly informed, and there seems much to be
lost and little to be gained.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter of opposition and to
consider your stance on this bill.
Sincerely,
Kentucky Ornithological Society Board of Directors
On Tue, Jan 9, 2024 at 5:55 PM Jeremy Teague <archilochus79@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
The KOS board of directors has submitted a formal letter of opposition to
the members of the Natural Resources and Energy committee regarding this
bill, citing many of the points that have been discussed here and elsewhere.
Please consider contacting the committee members to reinforce the
opposition, if you are inclined to do so.
Thanks to Donna for writing this up and sending it to the senators, and
thanks to Andrew and Meg for drafting/sharing the original language for BBC
that we used as a starting point (good that we had some consistency between
points raised from BBC and KOS).
Jeremy Teague
KOS President
Calvert City, KY
