[BCNnet] Policy Council Meeting

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 18:11:12 -0600

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Dear BCN friends

I recently attended the American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Policy Council
meeting in Washington where many issues of national importance were
discussed.  A brief summary follows.  Please contact me for any further
information on any of these topics.

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

There were 2 prominent luncheon speakers.  Steve Williams, the new Director
of the Fish and Wildlife Service, a former Pennsylvania game manager,
discussed the need to develop accord with hunters.  He also insisted that
good science would drive F&W decisions.  He also touched on the new
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Wetlands Conservation Act, and Secretary
Norton’s Cooperative Conservation Initiative.

Also addressing the Council was Arthur (Bud) Rock, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Environmental Affairs.  He spoke of the upcoming
World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, 10 years
after the initial one in Rio.  He emphasized that to achieve economic and
environmental progress, social progress must also occur.

Gerald Winegrad of ABC gave a very powerful presentation on how longline
fishing is nothing short of a catastrophe for seabirds.  16 of 21 Albatross
species are threatened with extinction and as increasing numbers of ships
fish the world’s oceans the killing is accelerating.  It is a problem that
is below the radar screen of other conservation organizations and unknown to
individuals.  The irony is that it is possible to fish safely and
productively using “Tori” lines that are 100% effective in protecting
seabirds, and US Fish and Wildlife will pay the cost.

Scientists from the University of Minnesota were engaged by Fish and
Wildlife to analyze the justification of the possible predation orders on
Double Crested Cormorants.  Preliminary findings are that large-scale
control efforts are unwarranted, but small-scale efforts, especially in
areas of aquaculture farms, may be allowed.

Paul Baicich of the American Birding Association reported that although CARA
(Conservation and Reinvestment Act), has made little progress since emerging
from a house committee, S.990, the American Wildlife Enhancement Act would
authorize $350 million, similar to Title III of CARA, and has reasonable
prospect for passage in the House (has already passed the Senate).

Fish and Wildlife’s Jon Andrew commented on a number of areas of interest to
birders.  He described inter-agency cooperation regarding the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, 2003 Federal Budget regarding birds, Mute Swan and
Double-crested Cormorant management, the recently enacted Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and other issues.  When pressed about the
apparent slow pace of much of F&W’s work, he described their high overall
workload vs. their relatively meager available resources.  But then he
immediately added “but I support the President’s budget”.

Lloyd Kiff of the Peregrine Fund gave an update on the success of 2
reintroduction programs: California Condor and Aplomado Falcon.

Mike Parr of ABC reviewed the campaign to stop the use of the pesticide
Fenthion, a known bird killer, when used in amounts as little as 2/3 ounce
per acre.  Florida is currently the only state that permits its use – and
that is only in a few counties.

It was reported that the FCC and the FAA were unwilling to even allow for
scientific research on the best solution to bird deaths from communication
towers; litigation may be required.

The Policy Council’s next meeting is September 24 in New Orleans, and will
be held in conjunction with the meeting of the American Ornithologists Union
(AOU).  I believe it will be very worthwhile for anyone interested in birds
and bird conservation.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Dear BCN friends<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>I recently attended the American Bird Conservancy&#8217;s (ABC) =
Policy
Council meeting in Washington where many issues of national importance =
were
discussed.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>A brief =
summary follows.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Please contact me for any =
further
information on any of these =
topics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

Donald R. Dann<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Highland Park/Lake County<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

There were 2 prominent luncheon speakers.&nbsp; Steve Williams, the new Director of the Fish and =
Wildlife
Service, a former Pennsylvania game manager, discussed the need to =
develop
accord with hunters.&nbsp; He =
also
insisted that good science would drive F&amp;W decisions. &nbsp;He also touched on the new =
Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, the Wetlands Conservation Act, and Secretary =
Norton&#8217;s
Cooperative Conservation Initiative.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Also addressing the Council was Arthur (Bud) Rock, Deputy =
Assistant
Secretary of State for Environmental Affairs.<span =
style=3D"mso-spacerun:
yes">&nbsp; </span>He spoke of the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable
Development to be held in Johannesburg, 10 years after the initial one =
in
Rio.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He emphasized that =
to achieve
economic and environmental progress, social progress must also =
occur.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Gerald Winegrad of ABC gave a very powerful presentation on how
longline fishing is nothing short of a catastrophe for seabirds.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>16 of 21 Albatross species are
threatened with extinction and as increasing numbers of ships fish the =
world&#8217;s
oceans the killing is accelerating.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span>It is a problem that is below the radar screen of other =
conservation organizations
and unknown to individuals.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span>The
irony is that it is possible to fish safely and productively using =
&#8220;Tori&#8221; lines
that are 100% effective in protecting seabirds, and US Fish and Wildlife =
will
pay the cost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Scientists from the University of Minnesota were engaged by Fish =
and
Wildlife to analyze the justification of the possible predation orders =
on Double
Crested Cormorants.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span>Preliminary
findings are that large-scale control efforts are unwarranted, but =
small-scale
efforts, especially in areas of aquaculture farms, may be allowed.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Paul Baicich of the American Birding Association reported that =
although
CARA (Conservation and Reinvestment Act), has made little progress since
emerging from a house committee, S.990, the American Wildlife =
Enhancement Act
would authorize $350 million, similar to Title III of CARA, and has =
reasonable
prospect for passage in the House (has already passed the Senate).<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

Fish and Wildlife&#8217;s Jon Andrew commented on a number of =
areas of
interest to birders.&nbsp; He =
described
inter-agency cooperation regarding the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 2003 =
Federal
Budget regarding birds, Mute Swan and Double-crested Cormorant =
management, the recently
enacted Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and other =
issues.&nbsp; When pressed about the =
apparent slow
pace of much of F&amp;W&#8217;s work, he described their high overall =
workload vs. their
relatively meager available resources.&nbsp;
But then he immediately added &#8220;but I support the =
President&#8217;s =
budget&#8221;.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Lloyd Kiff of the Peregrine Fund gave an update on the success =
of 2
reintroduction programs: California Condor and Aplomado Falcon.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>Mike Parr of ABC reviewed the campaign to stop the use of the =
pesticide
Fenthion, a known bird killer, when used in amounts as little as 2/3 =
ounce per
acre.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Florida is =
currently the
only state that permits its use &#8211; and that is only in a few =
counties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>It was reported that the FCC and the FAA were unwilling to even =
allow
for scientific research on the best solution to bird deaths from =
communication
towers; litigation may be required.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span><span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><span =
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:
10.0pt'>The Policy Council&#8217;s next meeting is September 24 in New =
Orleans, and
will be held in conjunction with the meeting of the American =
Ornithologists
Union (AOU).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I believe it =
will be
very worthwhile for anyone interested in birds and bird =
conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><u><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></u></span><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle15><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>

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