[BCNnet] Kane's Swainson's Hawks Need Help Now

[bobolnk@ix.netcom.com]

ACTION ALERT
November 27, 2003


SAVE KANE COUNTY'S ENDANGERED SWAINSON’S HAWKS
Please write a letter by December 2

***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 this 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.  (See below for addresses.) 

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, the Bird Conservation Network, and other conservation groups are working to help this group to stall the current development plans, and to find some long-term protection mechanisms for the land.    The zoning board of appeals recently voted down the annexation of the area for the Crown development, which is a 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 have their open hearing on the 2003 Comprehensive Plan on December 3, 7:00 P.M.  They may actually vote on the Comprehensive Plan on Dec. 4.   ***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 Swainson's hawk are:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/grasbird/fpswha/fpswha.htm
http://audubon2.org/webapp/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=199


 ***Please address your letters 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 a copy to the Chair of the planning commission:
Mr. Jack Gray, Chairman
45W171 Kelley Road
Hampshire, IL 60140

***Please also e-mail or fax a copy of your letter to me, and I will get them to CARE in time for the meeting:
jpollock@audubon.org; fax 847 965-9282. 

Here is info on the individual members, in case you are able to send each a postcard:
Mr. Tom Brown, Trustee
380 Park Avenue
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Chuck Anderson, Trustee
151 Grove Avenue
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Orris Ruth, Trustee
200 N. Rowell
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. William Swallwell, Trustee
1245 Pheasant Court
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Ed Szydlowski, Trustee
170 Panama
Hampshire, IL 60140
  
HAMPSHIRE PLANNING COMMISSION
 
Mr. Jeff Giertz
193 Terwilliger Avenue
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Mark Drendel
48W450 Lenschow
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Ken Swanson
17N179 Marney Drive
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Don Benchley
46W421 Route 72
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. James Letheby
371 Washington
P. O. Box 493
Hampshire, IL 60140
 
Mr. Martin Ebert
112 Timber Lane
Hampshire, IL 60140


----------------------------
Judy Pollock
bobolnk@ix.netcom.com