[BCNnet] FWS asking for comments on Cerulean Warbler ESA listing

[Douglas Chien]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2002

Georgia Parham 812-334-4261 x 203
Amy Salveter 573-876-1911 x 113
Tom Mackenzie 404/679-7291

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Finding on Petition
to List the Cerulean Warbler; Begins Species Status Review

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will expand its
review of the status of the cerulean warbler, a small woodland bird, after
reviewing a petition to list the warbler as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act. The Service found the petition contained information
indicating there may be a need to list the species.

The Service's finding initiates a further evaluation of the status of the
cerulean warbler, a species which inhabits woodlands from the East Coast to
the Mississippi River. During the evaluation, the Service will open a
90-day public comment period to allow the agency to receive information
about the cerulean warbler from state, tribal, and other federal agencies,
universities, scientists, and the general public. After reviewing
available information, the Service will make a decision whether to propose
the cerulean warbler as a threatened species.

The Service received the petition to list the cerulean warbler on October
31, 2000. The petition was signed by 28 organizations and was submitted to
the Service through the Southern Environmental Law Center. The petition to
list the cerulean warbler cited the species' declining populations
primarily due to loss of woodland habitat. Under the Endangered Species
Act, anyone may petition the Service to list a species as endangered or
threatened and provide data supporting that recommendation. When a
petition is received, the Service must make an initial finding on the
substantiality of the petition; if this finding is positive, further review
of the species' status begins. At the end of the review period, the
Service must determine whether listing is warranted, not warranted, or
warranted but precluded by listing actions for species with a higher
priority for listing.

The cerulean warbler is a small woodland songbird that ranges across
eastern North America from the eastern Great Plains, north to Minnesota,
east to Massachusetts, and south to Louisiana. Named for the male's blue
plumage, the cerulean warbler breeds primarily in the Ohio and Mississippi
River basins and spends winter months in South America.

The Service has been reviewing the status of the cerulean warbler because,
like many songbirds that migrate to neotropical areas, there is concern
that its numbers are declining. A status assessment for the cerulean
warbler was contracted by the Service and completed in April 2000; a
follow-up effort further reviewed the threats to its habitat on public
forest lands. This assessment and the subsequent threats review indicated
that cerulean warbler populations are declining, but did not recommend
elevating the species to candidate status for listing. With the review of
the petition and this initial finding that the petitioned action may be
warranted, the Service will expand its review of the species' status, this
time also asking for information from the public to update the 2000
assessment.

The Service is seeking additional information from the public on the
cerulean warbler and threats to its habitat. Information and comments may
be submitted to Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 608 East Cherry Street, Room 200, Columbia,
Missouri 65201. They may also be faxed to that office at 573-876-1914. To
ensure their consideration, all comments and other information must be
received by the close of the comment period on January 21, 2003.
Information on the petition to list the cerulean warbler and the Service's
2000 status assessment is available on the Service's website at

http://midwest.fws.gov/endangered/

-- 
_________________________________
Douglas S.K. Chien
Conservation Field Representative   tel:  312-251-1680
Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter       fax:  312-251-1780
200 North Michigan Ave., Suite 505  web:  illinois.sierraclub.org
Chicago, IL 60601                   net:  doug.chien@sierraclub.org
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 --></style><title>FWS asking for comments on Cerulean Warbler ESA
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<div><br></div>
<div>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</div>
<div>October 23, 2002</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Georgia Parham 812-334-4261 x 203</div>
<div>Amy Salveter 573-876-1911 x 113</div>
<div>Tom Mackenzie 404/679-7291</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Finding on
Petition</div>
<div>to List the Cerulean Warbler; Begins Species Status Review</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it will expand
its</div>
<div>review of the status of the cerulean warbler, a small woodland
bird, after</div>
<div>reviewing a petition to list the warbler as threatened under the
Endangered</div>
<div>Species Act. The Service found the petition contained
information</div>
<div>indicating there may be a need to list the species.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The Service's finding initiates a further evaluation of the
status of the</div>
<div>cerulean warbler, a species which inhabits woodlands from the
East Coast to</div>
<div>the Mississippi River. During the evaluation, the Service will
open a</div>
<div>90-day public comment period to allow the agency to receive
information</div>
<div>about the cerulean warbler from state, tribal, and other federal
agencies,</div>
<div>universities, scientists, and the general public. After
reviewing</div>
<div>available information, the Service will make a decision whether
to propose</div>
<div>the cerulean warbler as a threatened species.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The Service received the petition to list the cerulean warbler on
October</div>
<div>31, 2000. The petition was signed by 28 organizations and was
submitted to</div>
<div>the Service through the Southern Environmental Law Center. The
petition to</div>
<div>list the cerulean warbler cited the species' declining
populations</div>
<div>primarily due to loss of woodland habitat. Under the Endangered
Species</div>
<div>Act, anyone may petition the Service to list a species as
endangered or</div>
<div>threatened and provide data supporting that recommendation. When
a</div>
<div>petition is received, the Service must make an initial finding on
the</div>
<div>substantiality of the petition; if this finding is positive,
further review</div>
<div>of the species' status begins. At the end of the review period,
the</div>
<div>Service must determine whether listing is warranted, not
warranted, or</div>
<div>warranted but precluded by listing actions for species with a
higher</div>
<div>priority for listing.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The cerulean warbler is a small woodland songbird that ranges
across</div>
<div>eastern North America from the eastern Great Plains, north to
Minnesota,</div>
<div>east to Massachusetts, and south to Louisiana. Named for the
male's blue</div>
<div>plumage, the cerulean warbler breeds primarily in the Ohio and
Mississippi</div>
<div>River basins and spends winter months in South America.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The Service has been reviewing the status of the cerulean warbler
because,</div>
<div>like many songbirds that migrate to neotropical areas, there is
concern</div>
<div>that its numbers are declining. A status assessment for the
cerulean</div>
<div>warbler was contracted by the Service and completed in April
2000; a</div>
<div>follow-up effort further reviewed the threats to its habitat on
public</div>
<div>forest lands. This assessment and the subsequent threats review
indicated</div>
<div>that cerulean warbler populations are declining, but did not
recommend</div>
<div>elevating the species to candidate status for listing. With the
review of</div>
<div>the petition and this initial finding that the petitioned action
may be</div>
<div>warranted, the Service will expand its review of the species'
status, this</div>
<div>time also asking for information from the public to update the
2000</div>
<div>assessment.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The Service is seeking additional information from the public on
the</div>
<div>cerulean warbler and threats to its habitat. Information and
comments may</div>
<div>be submitted to Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field
Office, U.S.</div>
<div>Fish and Wildlife Service, 608 East Cherry Street, Room 200,
Columbia,</div>
<div>Missouri 65201. They may also be faxed to that office at
573-876-1914. To</div>
<div>ensure their consideration, all comments and other information
must be</div>
<div>received by the close of the comment period on January 21,
2003.</div>
<div>Information on the petition to list the cerulean warbler and the
Service's</div>
<div>2000 status assessment is available on the Service's website at
</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><font
color="#0000FF">http://midwest.fws.gov/endangered/</font></div>
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