[birdky] Songbird Conservation Award
- From: "Jeanne Hibberd" <Jeanne_Hibberd@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bird KY (E-mail)" <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 10:15:20 -0400
Environmental News Service (ENS)
Senator McConnell Honored for Songbird Conservation=20
BENTON, Kentucky, October 22, 2002 (ENS) - Senator Mitch McConnell was =
honored Monday for his leadership in migratory bird conservation.=20
The Kentucky Republican was given the first "Kentucky Warbler Migratory =
Songbird Conservation Award" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service =
(USFWS) and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources =
(DFWR) at a special ceremony to dedicate the new headquarters of the =
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Benton, Kentucky.=20
McConnell was recognized for his assistance in establishing the Clarks =
River National Wildlife Refuge, which forms a vital link in the =
migration route of many imperiled neotropical migratory birds and =
provides resting, nesting and nursery grounds for many of those species. =
"Senator McConnell has been instrumental in the protection of habitat =
for migratory songbirds through his longstanding support and involvement =
with the establishment of the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge," =
said Sam Hamilton, Southeast regional director of the USFWS. "We =
appreciate his continued support and commitment to our National Wildlife =
Refuge System and the efforts of the Service to protect fish and =
wildlife resources."=20
The "Kentucky Warbler Migratory Songbird Conservation Award" is the =
first by the USFWS and the State of Kentucky to honor a state =
conservation leader. The agencies plan to give this award every year to =
a Kentucky conservationist.=20
"The legislation Senator McConnell sponsored protects wildlife in the =
refuge area and protects the interests of farmers and adjacent =
landowners," said Tom Bennett, commissioner for the Kentucky DFWR.=20
"More than 70 conservation groups wrote letters to support our first =
National Wildlife Refuge which provides critical habitat for all kinds =
of wildlife. It's a great asset to Kentucky," Bennett added.=20
The Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge was created by legislation, =
which was introduced on March 13, 1996 by Senator McConnell. McConnell =
shepherded the legislation through Congress and was instrumental in =
getting it passed.=20
In addition, the Senator has worked to get initial funding to acquire =
land within the refuge acquisition boundaries. To date, Senator =
McConnell has helped to secure $8 million from the Land and Water =
Conservation Fund for land acquisition.=20
The Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge is the only refuge solely =
within the boundaries of the state of Kentucky. A small portion of =
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge is in the Southwestern tip of =
Kentucky, but the majority is in Tennessee.=20
The first track of land for the Clarks River refuge was purchased on =
August 19, 1998. To date, 45 tracks encompassing 7,000 acres have been =
added to the refuge to protect 225 different species of migratory birds. =
When complete the refuge will consist of about 18,000 acres.=20
* * *
Jeanne Hibberd
Foundations & Capital Projects
Berea College
859.985.3004
www.Berea.edu
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