[BCNnet] Bird Conservation Across the Country

Mon, 14 Jul 2003 17:22:50 -0500

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Hi BCN friends:

Last Friday I attended the Board meeting of the American Bird Conservancy
(ABC) in Washington.  The following is an update on some of the key national
issues in which ABC is involved.

Much of this material is also available on “BirdWire”, on online link from
ABC’s website, which you can find at www.abcbirds.org
<http://www.abcbirds.org/> . If you’re not already subscribers, it’s a
great way to keep current on these important issues.

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

ABC GAINS VICTORY IN CAMPAIGN TO BAN FENTHION
ABC's action campaign to remove the hazardous pesticide fenthion from use in
Florida, where it is sprayed to kill mosquitoes, has resulted in an
important victory. Bayer Corporation, the manufacturer of fenthion, has
agreed to withdraw the pesticide from the market. Under the cancellation
agreement between Bayer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
fenthion use will not be permitted after November 2004. At ABC's
insistence - and as part of settlement negotiations in a law suit brought by
ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Florida Wildlife Federation in the
deaths of several birds in Collier County due to fenthion poisoning - label
restrictions will be tightened for all applications between now and the
cancellation date, to further protect birds. ABC would like to thank the
more than 15,000 people who sent emails to the EPA and other officials
requesting a ban on fenthion. The pressure this placed on regulators, the
state of Florida, and Bayer made a big difference to the outcome of the
campaign.

Bayer has said that it would be willing to transfer the license for fenthion
over to the Florida Mosquito control districts, which could open the door to
fenthion being brought back in the future. In settlement negotiations, ABC
and its partners are advocating restrictions that would create significant
obstacles to fenthion ever being licensed again.

LANDMARK FERAL CAT POLICY PASSED
On May 30, 2003, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
unanimously passed a policy, . . . " to protect native wildlife from
predation, disease, and other impacts presented by feral and free-ranging
cats." ABC had spearheaded support for the policy and garnered more than
2,500 emails from BirdWire subscribers. Other conservation groups, federal
and state agencies, and wildlife rehabilitators supporting the proposal
included: American Birding Association, Defenders of Wildlife, National
Audubon Society, Ornithological Council, Florida Audubon Society, Florida
Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society and their Florida Chapter, Natural
Areas Coalition of South Florida, Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital, Wildlife
Rehab & Refuge Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Animal
Control Association, Florida Department of Health, USDA. Wildlife Services,
and others.

In passing the policy, the Commissioners took a courageous and important
step in protecting migratory songbirds and shorebirds, as well as rare
native mammals from stray and feral cats, and set an example for other state
wildlife agencies to follow. The commissioners pledged that cats would be
removed from state lands in the most humane way possible, and expressed a
willingness to work with all stakeholders in this issue. The new policy can
be found at www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm
<http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm> .

ABC CONTINUES FIGHT TO PROTECT DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
Thanks to your response to our request on BirdWire, more than 4,200 comments
were sent in to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in opposition to
their proposal to allow 24 states to start killing unlimited numbers of
Double-crested Cormorants because the birds eat fish. The proposed
regulation would also permit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to
kill unlimited numbers of Cormorants at winter roosts in 12 states with
major fish farm operations. In total, more than 10,000 comments were sent in
to FWS, over 90% of which opposed the planned regulation. This included a
formal letter of comment led by ABC, and co-signed by 21 national and
regional organizations. ABC has supported a reasonable, science-based
approach to the Cormorant issue, and is continuing a dialogue with key FWS
officials as they prepare the final regulation.

ALBATROSS ACTION CAMPAIGN ACCELERATES
Thanks to your comments sent in to U.S. fishery and wildlife officials
through BirdWire, efforts to protect albatrosses and other seabirds from
death on longline hooks have accelerated. Speaking at an International
Fisheries Forum in Hawaii, the Director of the U.S. National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), told representatives from 28 states and 18
countries that his e-mail had been flooded by more messages from concerned
citizens on this than on any other issue. ABC continues to press NMFS and
the regional fishery councils to require better avoidance measures in the
Alaskan and Hawaiian longline fisheries, and to close the California
loophole allowing longline vessels to land catches there without having
implemented seabird avoidance measures.

ABC has also accelerated its international efforts to prevent the extinction
of albatrosses world-wide. ABC has partnered with Pacific Environment and a
Chinese conservation group to have the ABC Report on Seabird/longlining (
http://www.abcbirds.org/policy/seabird_report.pdf) translated into Chinese
for distribution to key Chinese fishery, wildlife, and planning officials,
and to conservationists and academics. China has one of the world's largest
longline fleets. The issue of seabird bycatch was raised before a recent
Congressional hearing, and cables were sent to all U.S. embassies in
longlining nations, urging action to prevent seabird mortality.
Despite these advances, your continued support is necessary. Between 1993
and 2001, more than 138,000 seabirds were known to have been killed in the
Alaskan longline groundfishery alone, including thousands of albatrosses. If
you have yet to take part in ABC's campaign, please do so now at
www.albatrossaction.org <http://www.albatrossaction.org> .

EPA AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
EPA is currently reviewing thousands of comments sent in through BirdWire
and other conservation action alerts opposing proposed changes to the
Endangered Species Act. To protect birds and other wildlife, EPA is
currently required to consult with wildlife experts at FWS and NMFS during
the pesticide registration process, in cases where the pesticide may affect
animals protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This consultation
process assures that our rarest species are adequately protected from
hazardous chemicals. In December 2002, a proposed rule change was announced
that would exempt the EPA from completing these consultations. Such a change
would cut at the heart of the ESA, and set a dangerous precedent for other
government agencies such as USDA and Department of Defense to similarly
ignore endangered species concerns. ABC and its partners in the National
Pesticide Coalition met with representatives from the EPA, the Department of
Interior and the USDA to voice their strong objections to these changes, and
during the public comment period, ABC and its partners submitted a letter of
opposition to EPA signed by 19 environmental groups.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Hi
BCN friends:<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Last
Friday I attended the Board meeting of the American Bird Conservancy =
(ABC) in
Washington.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The following =
is an
update on some of the key national issues in which ABC is =
involved.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

Much
of this material is also available on &#8220;BirdWire&#8221;, on online =
link from ABC&#8217;s website,
which you can find at <a =
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/">www.abcbirds.org</a>. &nbsp;If you&#8217;re not already =
subscribers, it&#8217;s
a great way to keep current on these important =
issues.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Donald
R. Dann<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle19><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Highland
Park/Lake County<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
<br>
<strong><b>ABC GAINS VICTORY IN CAMPAIGN TO BAN =
FENTHION</b></strong></span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

ABC's action campaign to remove =
the
hazardous pesticide fenthion from use in Florida, where it is sprayed to =
kill
mosquitoes, has resulted in an important victory. Bayer Corporation, the
manufacturer of fenthion, has agreed to withdraw the pesticide from the =
market.
Under the cancellation agreement between Bayer and the U.S. =
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), fenthion use will not be permitted after =
November
2004. At ABC's insistence - and as part of settlement negotiations in a =
law
suit brought by ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Florida Wildlife =
Federation
in the deaths of several birds in Collier County due to fenthion =
poisoning -
label restrictions will be tightened for all applications between now =
and the
cancellation date, to further protect birds. ABC would like to thank the =
more
than 15,000 people who sent emails to the EPA and other officials =
requesting a
ban on fenthion. The pressure this placed on regulators, the state of =
Florida,
and Bayer made a big difference to the outcome of the =
campaign.<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

Bayer has said that it would be willing to transfer the license for =
fenthion
over to the Florida Mosquito control districts, which could open the =
door to
fenthion being brought back in the future. In settlement negotiations, =
ABC and
its partners are advocating restrictions that would create significant
obstacles to fenthion ever being licensed again.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>LANDMARK FERAL =
CAT
POLICY PASSED</span></font></b></strong><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:win=
dowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

On May 30, 2003, the Florida Fish =
&amp;
Wildlife Conservation Commission unanimously passed a policy, . . . =
&quot; to
protect native wildlife from predation, disease, and other impacts =
presented by
feral and free-ranging cats.&quot; ABC had spearheaded support for the =
policy
and garnered more than 2,500 emails from BirdWire subscribers. Other
conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and wildlife =
rehabilitators
supporting the proposal included: American Birding Association, =
Defenders of
Wildlife, National Audubon Society, Ornithological Council, Florida =
Audubon
Society, Florida Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society and their =
Florida Chapter,
Natural Areas Coalition of South Florida, Treasure Coast Wildlife =
Hospital,
Wildlife Rehab &amp; Refuge Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, =
Florida
Animal Control Association, Florida Department of Health, USDA. Wildlife
Services, and others.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
In passing the policy, the Commissioners took a courageous and important =
step
in protecting migratory songbirds and shorebirds, as well as rare native
mammals from stray and feral cats, and set an example for other state =
wildlife
agencies to follow. The commissioners pledged that cats would be removed =
from
state lands in the most humane way possible, and expressed a willingness =
to
work with all stakeholders in this issue. The new policy can be found at =
<a
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm">www.abcbi=
rds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm</a>
.</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

ABC CONTINUES =
FIGHT TO
PROTECT DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS 
Thanks to your response to our request on BirdWire, more than 4,200 =
comments
were sent in to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in opposition =
to their
proposal to allow 24 states to start killing unlimited numbers of
Double-crested Cormorants because the birds eat fish. The proposed =
regulation
would also permit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to kill =
unlimited
numbers of Cormorants at winter roosts in 12 states with major fish farm
operations. In total, more than 10,000 comments were sent in to FWS, =
over 90%
of which opposed the planned regulation. This included a formal letter =
of
comment led by ABC, and co-signed by 21 national and regional =
organizations.
ABC has supported a reasonable, science-based approach to the Cormorant =
issue,
and is continuing a dialogue with key FWS officials as they prepare the =
final
regulation.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><br>
&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p=
></span></font></p>

ALBATROSS =
ACTION
CAMPAIGN ACCELERATES 
Thanks to your comments sent in to U.S. fishery and wildlife officials =
through
BirdWire, efforts to protect albatrosses and other seabirds from death =
on
longline hooks have accelerated. Speaking at an International Fisheries =
Forum
in Hawaii, the Director of the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service =
(NMFS),
told representatives from 28 states and 18 countries that his e-mail had =
been
flooded by more messages from concerned citizens on this than on any =
other
issue. ABC continues to press NMFS and the regional fishery councils to =
require
better avoidance measures in the Alaskan and Hawaiian longline =
fisheries, and
to close the California loophole allowing longline vessels to land =
catches
there without having implemented seabird avoidance =
measures.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

ABC has also accelerated its
international efforts to prevent the extinction of albatrosses =
world-wide. ABC
has partnered with Pacific Environment and a Chinese conservation group =
to have
the ABC Report on Seabird/longlining (<a
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/policy/seabird_report.pdf">http://www.abc=
birds.org/policy/seabird_report.pdf</a>)
translated into Chinese for distribution to key Chinese fishery, =
wildlife, and
planning officials, and to conservationists and academics. China has one =
of the
world's largest longline fleets. The issue of seabird bycatch was raised =
before
a recent Congressional hearing, and cables were sent to all U.S. =
embassies in
longlining nations, urging action to prevent seabird mortality. 
Despite these advances, your continued support is necessary. Between =
1993 and
2001, more than 138,000 seabirds were known to have been killed in the =
Alaskan
longline groundfishery alone, including thousands of albatrosses. If you =
have
yet to take part in ABC's campaign, please do so now at <a
href=3D"http://www.albatrossaction.org">www.albatrossaction.org</a>.</spa=
n><o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>EPA AND THE =
ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT</span></font></b></strong><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'=
><br>
</span></font></b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>EPA is currently reviewing =
thousands of
comments sent in through BirdWire and other conservation action alerts =
opposing
proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. To protect birds and =
other
wildlife, EPA is currently required to consult with wildlife experts at =
FWS and
NMFS during the pesticide registration process, in cases where the =
pesticide
may affect animals protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). =
This consultation
process assures that our rarest species are adequately protected from =
hazardous
chemicals. In December 2002, a proposed rule change was announced that =
would
exempt the EPA from completing these consultations. Such a change would =
cut at
the heart of the ESA, and set a dangerous precedent for other government
agencies such as USDA and Department of Defense to similarly ignore =
endangered
species concerns. ABC and its partners in the National Pesticide =
Coalition met
with representatives from the EPA, the Department of Interior and the =
USDA to
voice their strong objections to these changes, and during the public =
comment
period, ABC and its partners submitted a letter of opposition to EPA =
signed by
19 environmental groups.</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:win=
dowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]></span></font><font
color=3Dblack><span =
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