[BCNnet] Swainson's Hawk Update
Judy Pollock
bobolnk@ix.netcom.com
Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:20:42 -0600
Thank you all for the outpouring of letters in response to the last
alert. The Hampshire village planning meeting was packed with unhappy
residents who spoke eloquently about the problems with the proposed
comprehensive plan. The meeting had to be continued because so many showed
up. Letters from individuals and organizations are still timely. ***If you
haven't already, please fax the village board to tell them how important
this decision is.*** (See the front page story in last Sunday's Tribune for
information about the development plans, the hawk and another state-listed
species at risk there, the Franklin's ground squirrel.) Here's the alert
again with updated dates and the correct fax number.
SAVE ILLINOIS' ENDANGERED SWAINSON'S HAWKS
Please fax a letter by December 17
***One small area of the state of Illinois holds the only known population
of Swainson's Hawks east of the Mississippi - and they are gravely
threatened by proposed development. The population is in northern Kane and
a bit of southern McHenry counties - centering on the village of
Hampshire. The village is planning developments over much of the foraging
range of these hawks. And village officials are rewriting their village
comprehensive plan to support the development. A group of Hampshire
citizens has mobilized to fight the development, to protect their way of
life and the hawks - and they need the help of the conservation
community. Please encourage any organizations that you are affiliated with
to send a letter to Hampshire village officials opposing this development
by Tuesday. Letters from individuals are also encouraged.
***Ask the village board to support the decision of the village zoning
board of appeals and vote down the proposed Crown East development, and to
revise its comprehensive plan to provide foraging and nesting habitat for
these hawks.
Here are some more facts:
Approximately 6 pairs of Swainson's Hawks have nested along the western
Kane -McHenry border for at least 30 years. The Swainson's Hawk is
endangered in Illinois and in trouble throughout its range - it is one of
only 5 raptors nationwide on Audubon's watchlist. Pesticide poisoning on
its wintering grounds is a threat that is being addressed, but its biggest
threat is loss of habitat through development and modern farming practices
on its breeding grounds - and that threat has rolled up to the door of the
Illinois population.
The village of Hampshire is the Swainson's Hawk population center - and it
is in the middle of a breakneck development binge. The rolling oak
savannas of the town now host horse farms, dairy farms, hayfields, pasture,
fallow fields and the like - good foraging habitat for the hawk. The
morainal character has made this area unattractive to big agriculture,
which is likely what has allowed them to maintain a foothold here. The key
to management for this savanna species is providing open grasslands that
contain patches of trees for nesting and perching and that are near
cultivated areas. Six new developments are in various stages of planning,
and will obliterate much of the foraging range of the hawk.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the Crown
East/Oakstead development will compromise the foraging habitat of one pair
of endangered Swainson's Hawks that nest in trees in a wetland near the
site. (The development would also fill in a peat bog, which would be
protected under the proposed state Isolated Wetlands Act.) In a finding
dated September 26, 2003, the IDNR stated, "It is the Department's
biological opinion that the proposed project is likely to adversely impact
the forage habitat needed by the hawks. The cumulative effects of this
project, along with the surrounding area continuing to be developed, will
reduce the level of foraging habitat needed by the Swainson's Hawk. Crown
Community Development's proposal to maintain open space for the hawk will
be beneficial; however, the cumulative effects of future development in the
area will fragment the land available for foraging."
One pair is directly threatened by the proposed Crown East
development; two other pairs are foraging in overlapping territory. New
developments are proposed throughout the area. While Crown has set aside
some open space for the hawk, any development of the property will
profoundly impact this endangered bird's foraging ability. Citizens
Advocating Responsible Expansion (C.A.R.E.), the local citizens' group, is
hoping Crown Community Development and the Village of Hampshire heed the
advice of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources when planning this
project and make a concerted effort to protect this valuable Illinois
asset. This group has enthusiastically taken up the cause of the hawk -
they now wear t-shirts with its picture on them.
The village of Hampshire has determined to ignore the Kane County land use
plan that sets aside the western part of the county for agriculture and
open space. The presence of the hawk has only recently entered into the
discussion. Residents in the unincorporated areas, and many village
residents as well, are opposed to this drastic change in the town's
character. Audubon (both Illinois and national), the Bird Conservation
Network, and other conservation groups are working to help citizens to
stall the current development plans, and to find some long-term protection
mechanisms for the land. The zoning board recently voted down the
annexation of the area for the Crown development, which is a great victory
for the group. But there are many difficult battles ahead. Please write a
letter to let the village board know that the regional conservation
community is closely watching them because they have been entrusted with a
great asset.
The Planning Commission will continue their open hearing on the 2003
Comprehensive Plan on December 17 at 6 pm. ***If you know anyone who
lives in Hampshire, please encourage them to attend the meeting and
speak. For more information about C.A.R.E., Contact: Kim Krug, 847-683-4209
Frances St.George, 847-683-4598
Barbara Burton, 847-683-3752
Two good web links for info about this species are:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/fpswha/fpswha.htm
http://audubon2.org/webapp/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=199
*** Please fax your letters to 847-683-4915 and address them to
William Schmidt, President of the Village Board
482 Prairie Street
Hampshire, IL 60140
***And send a copy to the village trustees at:
Village of Hampshire
Linda Vasquez, Village Clerk
234 S. State Street
P. O. Box 457
Hampshire, IL 60140
***And to the Chair of the planning commission:
Mr. Jack Gray, Chairman
45W171 Kelley Road
Hampshire, IL 60140
***please also send me a copy at jpollock@audubon.org or fax 847 965-9282,
and I will make sure that CARE gets them before the meeting.
Judy Pollock, Audubon Chicago Region
phone 847 965-1150 fax 847 965-9282
jpollock@audubon.org