Conservatively
Speaking
by
Bill & Donna Lenhart
February
2002
Rules change could
spell birds' demise... Proposed changes
to Federal rules concerning rehabilitating migratory
birds has raised the ire of some at the Hudson
Valley Raptor Center. A change in the permit process
would define policies that have been evolving since the
1970's concerning caring for migratory birds, according
to David Dobias, chief of the permits branch of the USFWS
in the Northeast U.S. However, Dona Tracy, director of
the Hudson Valley Raptor Center, believes that the new
permit would be too specific, making it impossible to
care for birds with certain conditions or injuries. According
to her, this would force the killing of many birds that
could live comfortably in captivity. Many of these birds
have been used for outreach and education purposes. The
USFWS is taking comments on the changes to the permit
process until March 6. For info call (703) 358 - 1714.
(From The Poughkeepsie Journal, 01/17/02)
Big Cypress Drill
Approved… The Bush Administration
has given preliminary approval for "seismic operations" and "exploratory
drilling" in a 41-square-mile section of Big Cypress
National Preserve, according to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Environmentalists
were furious at the prospect of a major industrial project
on land inhabited by many endangered species" such
as Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bald Eagle and Florida Panther.
The drilling is "just one of 26 exploration projects
proposed for the 729,000 acre preserve."
(From GREENLines, 01/24/02)
Welcome back, welcome
back! ... "Forty years after DDT
wiped out Brown Pelicans in the Pelican State, the species
has made a strong comeback and may soon be removed from
the Endangered list" in Louisiana, says The Baton
Rouge Advocate, AP 1/22. Attributing ESA habitat protection,
over "16,000 pairs are expected to nest on Louisiana's
barrier islands," descendants of the "1,276
fledglings" reintroduced from Florida. (From GREENLines 02/06/02)
Crowd rumbles on behalf
of Mute Swans! ... Seven DNR officers
proved futile resistance to an angry crowd that attended
a public hearing on a new "management" program
to remove Mute Swans from Wisconsin lakes. The meeting
was opened up by Bob Langmesser, a vocal opponent to
the plan, who was able to rally several THOUSAND citizens
from a five town area. According to him, "The people
of Waterford will not accept the proposed action, ever." He
submitted a thick folder of written materials and documents
suggesting the DNR was overreaching its authority and
threatened a cease and desist order. Langmesser has been
the most prominent spokesman on behalf of the swans,
saying there is no reason to remove them for the purpose
of replacing them with Trumpeter Swans. (From Environmental
News Network 12/11/01)
The Governors' green
adding machine marches on... A new
long-range goal of Gov. Pataki to preserve more than
one million new acres of forest and farmland over the
next decade had environmentalists smiling recently. Pataki,
who has invested more than $300 million in the past seven
years to spare 300,000 acres of land from development,
announced the 1-million-acre goal during his annual State-of-the-State
address. Open space advocates are now waiting anxiously
to see if he follows up with the financial wherewithal
to make it happen.
Wings
Over Dutchess, February
2002
