From COszak@aol.com Mon Sep 1 16:48:50 2003 From: COszak@aol.com (COszak@aol.com) Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 11:48:50 EDT Subject: [BCNnet] Winged Migrations Message-ID: <42.3d01ff41.2c84c462@aol.com> --part1_42.3d01ff41.2c84c462_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I don't remember seeing anything about the movie 'Winged Migrations' on the listserv. You all probably won't learn a lot from the movie, but the photography is beautiful. My favorite segment is a space shot of huge flocks of birds migrating over the north Atlantic - AWESOME. It's not showing at a lot of theatres, but it is playing in downtown Glen Ellyn. Chris Oszak --part1_42.3d01ff41.2c84c462_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I don't remember seeing anything about the movie 'Wing= ed Migrations' on the listserv.  You all probably won't learn a lot fro= m the movie, but the photography is beautiful.  My favorite segment is=20= a space shot of huge flocks of birds migrating over the north Atlantic - AWE= SOME.  It's not showing at a lot of theatres, but it is playing in down= town Glen Ellyn.

Chris Oszak
--part1_42.3d01ff41.2c84c462_boundary-- From issuesman50@yahoo.com Wed Sep 3 02:50:58 2003 From: issuesman50@yahoo.com (Joe Suchecki) Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 18:50:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [BCNnet] Two Recent Bird Articles of Interest Message-ID: <20030903015058.1432.qmail@web20512.mail.yahoo.com> --0-420423879-1062553858=:99893 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Thought the listserve readers would be interested in two bird conservation/management articles that appeared in the latest edition of The Auk(Vol 120, No. 3 July 2003), the Journal of the American Ornithologists Union. The first reported on a study of Bobolinks in northern Iowa that examined densities and territories of Bobolinks and their relation to edge habitat. The study by Fletcher and Koford from Iowa State found that Bobolinks were less abundant near edge habitat, but importantly found that Bobolink density was lowest near woodland edges and that Bobolinks also nested farther away from woodland edges compared to either agricultural fields or roadways. They concluded that Bobolinks actively avoided woodland edge habitat. Densities near woodland edges were about half that near agricultural edges. Densities also increased as you got further from edge habitat with virtually no Bobolinks within 25 meters of a woodland edge. This study reinforces and provides good supporting evidence for the need to remove woody vegetation and treelines from grassland bird habitat. Just removing a tree line edge will greatly improve the habitat for Bobolinks and favorably alter the habitat to allow more birds to nest. It is good evidence to cite when justifying the need to remove woody vegetation and trees in areas grassland being managed for birds. The second study looked at Nesting Wood Thrushes in burned and unburned oak woodlands in southern Ohio. This study by Artman and Downhower examined the nesting populations of Wood Thrushes in oak forest plots that had been managed through prescribed burns and similar plots that were not burned. They found no difference in local population levels of Wood Thrushes between burned and unburned plots even though the habitat characteristics of the burned plots changed and there was a reduction in understory vegetation. They also found no difference in nest success between burned and unburned plots, although they noted that nest success was greater for nests placed higher off the ground. They concluded that the Wood Thrush seemed to adapt to losses in lower vegetation by using taler and larger diameter saplings in burned areas. One caveat of the study was that the prescribed burns were fairly low intensity and that varied moisture levels in burned areas maintained some nest sites. The results of the study partially address a concern about the effects of prescribed burning of oak woodlands as a management tool on Wood Thrush populations. Joe Suchecki Naperville --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software --0-420423879-1062553858=:99893 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Thought the listserve readers would be interested in two bird conservation/management articles that appeared in the latest edition of The Auk(Vol 120, No. 3 July 2003), the Journal of the American Ornithologists Union.
 
The first reported on a study of Bobolinks in northern Iowa that examined densities and territories of Bobolinks and their relation to edge habitat.  The study by Fletcher and Koford from Iowa State found that Bobolinks were less abundant near edge habitat, but importantly found that Bobolink density was lowest near woodland edges and that Bobolinks also nested farther away from woodland edges compared to either agricultural fields or roadways.  They concluded that Bobolinks actively avoided woodland edge habitat. Densities near woodland edges were about half that near agricultural edges.  Densities also increased as you got further from edge habitat with virtually no Bobolinks within 25 meters of a woodland edge.
 
This study reinforces and provides good supporting evidence for the need to remove woody vegetation and treelines from grassland bird habitat.  Just removing a tree line edge will greatly improve the habitat for Bobolinks and favorably alter the habitat to allow more birds to nest.  It is good evidence to cite when justifying the need to remove woody vegetation and trees in areas grassland being managed for birds.
 
The second study looked at Nesting Wood Thrushes in burned and unburned oak woodlands in southern Ohio.  This study by Artman and Downhower examined the nesting populations of Wood Thrushes in oak forest plots that had been managed through prescribed burns and similar plots that were not burned.
 
They found no difference in local population levels of Wood Thrushes between burned and unburned plots even though the habitat characteristics of the burned plots changed and there was a reduction in understory vegetation.  They also found no difference in nest success between burned and unburned plots, although they noted that nest success was greater for nests placed higher off the ground.  They concluded that the Wood Thrush seemed to adapt to losses in lower vegetation by using taler and larger diameter saplings in burned areas.  One caveat of the study was that the prescribed burns were fairly low intensity and that varied moisture levels in burned areas maintained some nest sites.
 
The results of the study partially address a concern about the effects of prescribed burning of oak woodlands as a management tool on Wood Thrush populations.
 
 
Joe Suchecki
Naperville


Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software --0-420423879-1062553858=:99893-- From cdicjill@onebox.com Thu Sep 4 01:47:02 2003 From: cdicjill@onebox.com (cdicjill@onebox.com) Date: Wed, 03 Sep 2003 20:47:02 -0400 Subject: [BCNnet] Chicago Area Waterways sytems meetings Message-ID: Hee's an announcement from EPA about meetings on the long term strategies for uses of the Chicago Area Waterway System, including our rivers and Lake Calumet. Note the dates are early next week. If the formatting of the lines makes this hard to read, links to informational websites are www.ChicagoAreaWaterways.org or the IEPA at www.epa.state.il.us Jill Niland Chicago ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mardi Klevs Greater Chicago Urban Initiative Manager Office of Strategic Environmental Analysis U.S. EPA 77 W. Jackson (T-16J) Chicago, IL 60604 312-353-5490 fax: 312-886-2737 klevs.mardi@epa.gov ----- Forwarded by Mardi Klevs/R5/USEPA/US on 09/03/03 09:03 AM ----- Chicago Area Waterways cc: cc: 08/28/03 10:32 AM bcc: Fax to: Subject: Public Meeting Announcement If you have trouble viewing this HTML Email, please visit http://admin.netcomsus.com/common/file.php/pg/dodo/chicago_waterways/binaries/22/il_epa_meeting_092003_web.htm If you would like to unsubscribe to this list, please Reply to this email with "unsubscribe" in the Subject line |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| |(Embedded image moved to file: pic06172.gif) | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Public Meeting Notice | | Please Forward to a Friend! | | | | | | The Future of the Chicago Area Waterway System | | | | | | The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and other federal, | | state and local governmental agencies, will discuss and seek input on a | | multi-year evaluation, called a Use Attainability Analysis, being | | conducted on the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). | | | | | | The evaluation will determine the suitable uses (i.e., commercial usage, | | swimming, fishing, water skiing, boating, etc.) for the CAWS in the | | future. The CAWS consists of Calumet and Chicago River basin water bodies | | as well as Lake Calumet and numerous general use tributaries. | | | | | | IEPA will describe the evaluation process, explain why the evaluation is | | being conducted and detail the impact of the evaluation on the CAWS. | | | | | | What You Can Do: | | Be informed. Attend a public meeting to learn more about the CAWS | | and the evaluation being conducted on it. | | | | Forward to a Friend. Please forward this e-mail message to anyone | | you think would be interested. | | | | | | Other Information: | | | | | | For more information regarding the environmental evaluation or the CAWS, | | please visit www.ChicagoAreaWaterways.org or the IEPA at | | www.epa.state.il.us or call 1-847-294-4000. | | | | | | | | Who Should Attend: | | Individuals doing business| | or recreating in the | | Chicago Area Waterway | | System | | | | | | Meeting Times & Locations:| | (click each for details) | | Sept 08, 7PM, North | | Sept 09, 7PM, South | | Sept 11, 7PM, South Side | | Sept 16, 7PM, Downton | | | | | | Contact Person: | | Rob Sulski | | Bureau of Water | | Illinois Environmental | | Protection Agency | | 9511 West Harrison Street | | Des Plaines, Illinois | | 60018 | | 847-294-4000 | | | | | | | | | | | | North | | Where: | | Evanston City Council | | Chambers | | of the Civic Center | | 2100 Ridge Avenue, 2nd Flr| | Evanston, IL 60201 | | | | | | When: | | September 8, 2003 | | 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | Directions: | | Public Transit: Take the | | "L" The Purple Line runs | | through Evanston. From | | Chicago, you can take the | | Red Line to the Howard | | Stop and transfer to the | | Purple Line. From Skokie, | | you can take the Skokie | | Swift to the Howard Stop | | to the Purple Line. | | | | Driving: From Chicago, | | Take I-90/94 W to the | | Edens Expressway N. Take | | the E Dempster exit to | | Ridge and go north. | | | | | | | | | | | | South | | Where: | | Lake Katherine Nature | | Preserve | | 7402 Lake Katherine Drive | | Palos Heights, IL 60463 | | | | | | When: | | September 9, 2003 | | 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | Directions: (north on 75th| | Avenue from Rt. 83 - 75th | | Avenue joins Rt. 83 three | | blocks west of Harlem | | Avenue), Palos Heights, | | Illinois. | | | | | | | | | | | | South Side | | Where: | | Stefani's at Harborside | | International Golf Course | | 11001 South Doty Avenue | | East (Frontage Road) | | Chicago, IL 60628 | | | | | | When: | | September 11, 2003 | | 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | Directions: | | Driving: From downtown | | Chicago - Take Dan Ryan | | Expressway (I-94) E to | | Bishop Ford Expressway | | south, exit at 111th and | | go east. Entrance is on | | frontage road. 16-minutes | | from Chicago's Loop, | | 40-minutes from O'Hare | | Airport, 25-minutes from | | Midway Airport. | | | | | | | | | | | | Downtown | | Where: | | James R.Thompson Center - | | Assembly Hall Room on | | concourse Level. Entrance | | from LaSalle St. only. | | 100 W. Randolph | | Chicago, IL 60601 | | | | | | When: | | September 16, 2003 | | 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | Directions: | | Public Transit: Located | | off the Thompson Center | | stop on the Blue, Red, | | Orange, Brown, Green, and | | Purple EL trains. | | | | | | | | Driving: Or from the | | Kennedy Expressway (I-94) | | take West Randolph Street | | exit (exit #51B) and turn | | east onto Randolph. Take a| | right on Halsted and the | | next right onto Lake | | Street. Follow to the | | Thompson Center. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| (Embedded image moved to file: pic11243.gif) -- Jill Niland cdicjill@onebox.com - email (773) 880-1307 office (773) 218-4153 cellular From COszak@aol.com Thu Sep 4 12:10:41 2003 From: COszak@aol.com (COszak@aol.com) Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 07:10:41 EDT Subject: [BCNnet] coszak only @aol.com Message-ID: <1e9.f1b0ed8.2c8877b1@aol.com> --part1_1e9.f1b0ed8.2c8877b1_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit FYI, I have occasionally received junk email from a different COSZAK, most recently from @yahoo.com. I only have 2 COSZAK email accounts, this one @aol.com which I use for my personal stuff, and my work address which is at an insurance co and I don't use for personal emails. Chris Oszak --part1_1e9.f1b0ed8.2c8877b1_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable FYI,
I have occasionally received junk email from a different COSZAK, most recent= ly from  @yahoo.com. 
I only have 2 COSZAK email accounts, this one @aol.com which I use for my pe= rsonal stuff, and my work address which is at an insurance co and I don't us= e for personal emails. 

Chris Oszak
--part1_1e9.f1b0ed8.2c8877b1_boundary-- From COszak@aol.com Fri Sep 5 11:52:40 2003 From: COszak@aol.com (COszak@aol.com) Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 06:52:40 EDT Subject: [BCNnet] Re: [vsn-stewards] coszak only @aol.com clarification Message-ID: <1df.f7444d0.2c89c4f8@aol.com> --part1_1df.f7444d0.2c89c4f8_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 9/4/2003 6:16:48 AM Central Standard Time, COszak@aol.com writes: > FYI, > I have occasionally received junk email from a different COSZAK, most > recently from @yahoo.com. > I only have 2 COSZAK email accounts, this one @aol.com which I use for my > personal stuff, and my work address which is at an insurance co and I don't use > for personal emails. > > Chris Oszak Maybe the above email wasn't clear. My email account has always been with AOL. If you have received email from coszak from a different ISP, it was not sent by me. If you have received junk type email from another coszak, I'd like to know. I'm a little concerned about identity theft. Thank you, Christine Oszak Vol. Steward --part1_1df.f7444d0.2c89c4f8_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable In a message dated 9/4/2003 6:16:48 AM Central Standar= d Time, COszak@aol.com writes:

FYI,
I have occasionally received junk email from a different COSZAK, most recent= ly from  @yahoo.com. 
I only have 2 COSZAK email accounts, this one @aol.com which I use for my pe= rsonal stuff, and my work address which is at an insurance co and I don't us= e for personal emails. 

Chris Oszak

Maybe the above email wasn't clear.  My email account has always been w= ith AOL.  If you have received email from coszak from a different ISP,=20= it was not sent by me. 

If you have received junk type email from another coszak, I'd like to know.&= nbsp; I'm a little concerned about identity theft.

Thank you,
Christine Oszak
Vol. Steward
--part1_1df.f7444d0.2c89c4f8_boundary-- From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Tue Sep 9 16:30:01 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 10:30:01 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] forwarded message re: dog park - Thatcher Woods Message-ID: <20030909153956.31E9410DED5@coopers.dsl.net> Forwarded from FPfriends listserve - Attached is a copy of Jill Anderson's letter to Commissioner Peter Silvestri re a proposed dog park in Thatcher Woods off Fullerton Ave. in Elmwood Park. *if you are concerned that dog parks are inconsistent with the mission of the FPD *if you think the financially-strapped FPDCC should not be financing the creation and maintenance of dog parks *if you believe that unleashed dogs in the forest preserves threaten hikers, bikers, bird watchers, the preserves fauna - and the serenity and tranquility of our natural landscapes *if you are concerned that this proposed dog park is simply another means of encroachment on public lands by special interest groups then I encourage you to send your comments, concerns and experiences to Commissioner Peter Silvestri, 6650 Northwest Hwy., Chicago, Il. 60631; 773 774-8554; FAX 773 774-2901 Victor Guarino Hi Victor, Thanks for your suggestions! Here is a copy of my letter to Peter Silvestri. Jill September 5, 2003 Jill Anderson 300 Park Ave River Forest, IL. 60305 Peter Silvestri 6650 N. Northwest Highway Chicago, IL 60631 Dear Mr. Silvestri: I am writing to express three concerns about plans to create a dogrun in Thatcher Woods. I am the Bird Conservation Network bird monitor for Thatcher Woods, and I walk in Thatcher Woods several mornings a month throughout the year, and twice a week during migration season. Dogs are currently run in Thatcher Woods without leashes on a daily basis, in violation of current law. I encounter dogs and their owners year-round, and speak from direct experience. My first concern is for my personal safety and comfort. Thatcher Woods is on a flood plain, and the area is often quite muddy. Dogs love to run in mud and water. I regularly encounter friendly, muddy dogs while doing surveys. I am grateful that I have never encountered a vicious dog, as many dog owners do not have control of their free-running dogs. Dog owners are quick to assure me that their dogs are friendly. Rarely do they apologize when their dog leaps on me and covers me in mud. This past Spring, I was knocked down in the mud by an overly enthusiastic dog and had to prematurely return home to change clothing. My parka had to be dry-cleaned twice this year, due to unfortunate dog encounters. This year was not unusual; these encounters are a regular occurrence. Even when the trails are dry, there is at least one dog that swims in the Des Plaines River and leaps on me when I approach. My first concern, therefore, is that provisions be made for control of unleashed dogs, and that dog-owners be held accountable for their dogs' behavior. My second concern involves use and numbers. I am already concerned by the large numbers of dogs being exercised without leashes now. If a Thatcher Woods dog-run becomes publicized and legal, it is reasonable to expect a large influx of dogs and their owners from across the western suburbs. When the Village of Wilmette designated a dog-friendly area of the lakefront, it was overwhelmed by the number of non-local dog-owners who applied for permit-access to the area. I do not know what the legalities are in terms of restricting access to Public Land, but some means of volume control will be necessary. With greater numbers of dogs in Thatcher, attention would also need to be given to clean-up issues and field maintenance. With the staff budget cuts in Forest Preserve District staff, I am not confident that personnel will be available for this purpose. My third concern involves the use of Cook County Forest Preserve land for the sole use of one group. I have found the majority of Thatcher dog-owners to be friendly people. I believe they would invite me to share their space, in order to do bird surveys. But the reality is that I can't do a bird survey in a dog-run, and I prefer to not be accosted by muddy dogs. I am uncomfortable with the idea of allocating a portion of the Forest Preserve for singular use by one group, especially if it drains resources from other needed services within the Forest Preserve District. I hope to attend the September 9 meeting of the Thatcher Dogs Group. I am willing to listen to the Dog Owners proposal, and I will offer my support for a plan that addresses these concerns. Sincerely, Jill Anderson From donniebird@yahoo.com Wed Sep 10 01:01:26 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 19:01:26 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] FW: Great Lakes Workday 9-20-03, Details Message-ID: <002b01c3772e$aeaed440$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C37704.C5D8CC40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hi Great Lakes Volunteers – Here are the plans for Saturday 9-20-03, 2 weeks from today. Meeting Place and Time We will meet at the southeast corner of the parking lot of the Navy Commissary shopping Center at 8:45 AM for shuttling the short distance to the base. The shopping center is located on Green Bay Road, about ¼ mile north of Rte 137 (Buckley Rd). We will leave Great Lakes no later than 11:45 AM to get everyone back to their cars before noon. If any of you has a pass to the base and are willing to take a few passengers, please let me know. Clothing and Footwear Last year, when water levels were considerably higher, it was necessary to use a boat to take people from the tip of the peninsula to the island where the tern enclosure is. This year water levels are much lower and we have been wading across the shallow section to the island, wearing shorts and beach sandals. The water is typically between the ankles and the knees. However, on the island itself, we will be walking through considerable brush as we cut it, so you will be more comfortable wearing long pants and something more solid on your feet. We recommend you wear a backpack with shoes and pants into which to change. Equipment Loppers and cutting tools will be provided, but if you have them please bring them. Binoculars are also recommended as we could be seeing shorebirds and possibly some rarities. If it’s a cool day a light jacket might be helpful and don’t forget a hat, sunscreen, work gloves, and sunglasses. Part of our effort is participation in Lake Michigan Coastal Cleanup day and plastic garbage bags will be provided. Snacks Water and snacks will be provided. Security and Identification Although security for admittance to the base has eased slightly, the Navy still wants a list of the names and addresses of our volunteers. As I don’ t have this information for many of you please send it as soon as possible. Rain Date. We will work except in the event of a thunderstorm (lightning or driving rain). If in doubt about the weather, please telephone me personally the morning of the 20th – see below for contact information. Once again, a million thanks for all your help. With your work we will be able to improve on the only nesting site in Illinois for the state endangered Common Tern, and the habitat most absent in the state, for shorebirds. Donnie Donald R. Dann 60 Ravinoaks Lane Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222 Cell: 847-997-1011 Email: donniebird@yahoo.com ------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C37704.C5D8CC40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi Great Lakes Volunteers = –

 

Here are the plans for Saturday = 9-20-03, 2 weeks from today.  =

 

Meeting Place and = Time

We will meet at the southeast corner = of the parking lot of the Navy Commissary shopping Center at 8:45 AM for = shuttling the short distance to the base.  = The shopping center is located on Green Bay Road, about =BC mile north of = Rte 137 (Buckley Rd).  We will = leave Great Lakes no later than 11:45 AM to get everyone back to their cars before noon.   If any of you = has a pass to the base and are willing to take a few passengers, please let me = know.

 

Clothing and = Footwear

Last year, when water levels were considerably higher, it was necessary to use a boat to take people from = the tip of the peninsula to the island where the tern enclosure is.  This year water levels are = much lower and we have been wading across the shallow section to the island, = wearing shorts and beach sandals.  = The water is typically between the ankles and the knees.  However, on the island itself, we will be walking = through considerable brush as we cut it, so you will be more comfortable wearing = long pants and something more solid on your feet.  We recommend you wear a backpack with shoes and pants = into which to change.

 

Equipment

Loppers and cutting tools will be = provided, but if you have them please bring them.  Binoculars are also recommended as we could be seeing shorebirds = and possibly some rarities.   = If it’s a cool day a light jacket might be helpful and don’t = forget a hat, sunscreen, work gloves, and sunglasses.   Part of our effort is participation in Lake = Michigan Coastal Cleanup day and plastic garbage bags will be = provided.

 

Snacks

Water and snacks will be = provided.  =

 

Security and = Identification

Although security for admittance to = the base has eased slightly, the Navy still wants a list  of the names and addresses of our volunteers.  As I don’t have this = information for many of you please send it as soon as = possible.

 

Rain = Date.  =

 

We will work except in the = event of a thunderstorm (lightning or driving rain).  If in doubt about the weather, please telephone me personally the morning of the 20th – see below for contact = information.

 

Once again, a million thanks for all = your help.  With your work we = will be able to improve on the only nesting site in Illinois for the state = endangered Common Tern, and the habitat most absent in the state, for = shorebirds.  =

 

Donnie 

 

Donald R. Dann

60 Ravinoaks Lane

Highland Park, IL 60035

Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222

Cell: 847-997-1011

Email:  donniebird@yahoo.com

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_002C_01C37704.C5D8CC40-- From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Wed Sep 10 15:27:44 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 09:27:44 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] picnic invitation Message-ID: <20030910153225.5F0E810DF30@coopers.dsl.net> forwarded from Chciago Wilderness for members of CW organizations (including BCN and other birding organizations) Chicago Wilderness Member Picnic Sunday, September 28 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Humboldt Park at 1400 N. Sacramento, Chicago Wilderness Directions at www.chicagowilderness.org /members/calendar We invite you, your colleagues and family to join Chicago Wilderness partners for a picnic at beautiful Humboldt Park! With it’s newly restored Boathouse and the restoration of Jens Jensens’ ‘prairie river” and attractive location, this park is the perfect place to meet others involved in local conservation. Also, several long-time coalition members will be honored. Food by La Palma in the Park Puerto Rican Restaurant. Please bring blankets or lawnchairs. Tables will be available for any materials you would like to bring from your organization. Special thanks to the Chicago Park District for hosting this event! RSVP by 9/19/03 to Michelle Uting at muting@chicagowilderness.org or (847) 965-9253. Judy Pollock Evanston (Cook) bobolnk@ix.netcom.com From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Wed Sep 10 19:49:50 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 13:49:50 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] FPD dog areas Message-ID: <20030910190446.8818D10DEA9@coopers.dsl.net> More information from Jill Anderson about dog exercise areas in the FPD's... Apparently this is a growing movement. A large area at Beck Lake was officially opened as a Dog Friendly Area on July 14. There is a history of the groups successful efforts, including a chronology of their work with the FP, at their website www.becklakedogs.org Here is a recent post from that website: September 5th, 2002 The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the designation of a fenced in, off-leash, Dog Friendly Area in the Beck Lake Forest Preserve Area at Central and East River Road. The area will be approximately 26 acres, including a large pond and by permit only Judy Pollock Evanston (Cook) bobolnk@ix.netcom.com From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Thu Sep 11 21:17:37 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 15:17:37 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] McCormick Place workday Message-ID: <20030911201112.846AC10DE1D@coopers.dsl.net> You are invited to a stewardship workday at the new McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary this Wednesday evening -September 17th - 6 to 7:45 pm Chicago's newest bird sanctuary is looking for a few new friends. Join us at this peaceful nature oasis along the lakefront. The observation platform, water feature, and shrub border are all in place for the birds and you to enjoy, and the prairie seeds are in the ground, thinking hard about growing! On Wednesday, we will be removing invasive vegetation from a woodland planting, and enjoying the birds using the new landscaping. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Please dress for the weather; bring binoculars if you like. Meet at the north end of the prairie, south of McCormick Place Lakeside Center (the building at the lakefront) . Parking for participants is free - drive to the guard shack and mention that you are attending the Audubon/CPS workday. Any questions? Please call Judy Pollock at (847) 965-1150 or Nathan Schroeder at the Chicago Park District at 312-735-8188 or respond to this message. RSVPing is not necessary, but would be appreciated. Judy Pollock Evanston (Cook) bobolnk@ix.netcom.com From mocassin@sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 16 01:38:30 2003 From: mocassin@sbcglobal.net (Mike Rzepka) Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:38:30 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Fw: [vsn-stewards] (unknown) Message-ID: <000f01c37bea$da45ff50$1426fea9@COMPAQ> Forwarding a message from the vsn-stewards. Sorry to report that I have not seen many crows in my village, Tinley Park. ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 3:04 PM Subject: [vsn-stewards] (unknown) > I live in Downers Grove and I have something to report. The crows are > back! They've begun to make their usual raucous presence for the past > few weeks. > There have been crows in my backyard since I built my house in 1952 and > were probably there when the area was still in farmland. The last two > years they disappeared and the likely culprit was West Nile Virus that > appears to hit the corvids and especially the crows hard. Obviously there > were survivors and they reproduced well. As a biologist I wonder whether > this episode diminished the gene pool in crowdom, but at least the > survivors carry a better armament against this virus. So it appears that > next year my birdbath shall again serve as a food dunking station and > dead nesling abattoir. And that is something to crow about. Welcome back. > Al R. alrouffa@juno.com > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> > Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark > Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 > http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/y4grlB/TM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> > > The Steward's Mailing List is provided as a tool for the Volunteer > Stewardship Network to discuss ideas and techniques for the > management of natural areas. > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > From donniebird@yahoo.com Tue Sep 16 13:34:13 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 07:34:13 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Reminder - Great Lakes Workday (no sightings) Message-ID: <000a01c37c4e$d6c95d40$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C37C24.EDF35540 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hi birding friends: We are still looking for help for habitat improvement at Great Lakes Training Station, this Saturday, September 20th, from 9 until noon and your assistance would be greatly appreciated. There will be something to do for all ages and levels of available energy. As I announced in earlier emails we have an opportunity to create some of the best Common Tern nesting habitat and migrant shorebird habitat in the Midwest. We know this is a great spot for attracting species like Whimbrels, Willets, Avocets, Arctic Terns, a Curlew Sandpiper, and more. Will a Greenshank be next? Please let me know if you can help out on 9-20. We will be meeting at 8:45 AM at a parking lot associated with a large mall known as the Navy Commissary. It is located on the west side of Green Bay Rd (Rt. 131) just .2 miles north of Buckley Rd. (Rt. 137). Water and snacks will be provided. I’ll need your address for security purposes but you don’t have to bring any tools or anything else but yourself! Donald R. Dann 60 Ravinoaks Lane Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222 Cell: 847-997-1011 Email: donniebird@yahoo.com ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C37C24.EDF35540 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi birding = friends:

 

We are still looking for help for = habitat improvement at Great Lakes Training Station, this = Saturday, September 20th, from 9 until noon and your assistance would = be greatly appreciated.  = There will be something to do for all ages and levels of available = energy.

 

As I announced in earlier emails we = have an opportunity to create some of the best Common Tern  nesting habitat and migrant shorebird habitat in the Midwest.  We know this is = a great spot for attracting species like Whimbrels, Willets, Avocets, Arctic = Terns, a Curlew Sandpiper, and more.  = Will a Greenshank be next?

 

Please let me know if you can help = out on 9-20.  We will be meeting = at 8:45 AM at a parking lot associated with a large mall known = as the Navy Commissary.  It is = located on the west side of Green Bay Rd (Rt. 131) just .2 miles north of Buckley = Rd. (Rt. 137).  Water and snacks = will be provided.  I’ll need your address for security purposes but you don’t have to = bring any tools or anything else but = yourself!

 

 

 

Donald R. Dann

60 Ravinoaks Lane

Highland Park, IL 60035

Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222

Cell: 847-997-1011

Email:  donniebird@yahoo.com 

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C37C24.EDF35540-- From Antlitz@aol.com Tue Sep 16 14:21:26 2003 From: Antlitz@aol.com (Antlitz@aol.com) Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 09:21:26 EDT Subject: [BCNnet] Fw: [vsn-stewards] (unknown) Message-ID: <35.3d469ffb.2c986856@aol.com> --part1_35.3d469ffb.2c986856_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The few crows I see around various places of Cook County appear to be larger and more robust than the crows I recall from the past. Debbie Antlitz --part1_35.3d469ffb.2c986856_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The few crows I see around various places of Cook Coun= ty appear to be larger and more robust than the crows I recall from the past= . 

Debbie Antlitz
--part1_35.3d469ffb.2c986856_boundary-- From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Thu Sep 18 22:03:30 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 16:03:30 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] new crow/chickadee survey - can you help? Message-ID: <20030918205616.2D66710DE18@coopers.dsl.net> Dear birders: We are repeating last year's brief crow and chickadee surveys this weekend, and welcome you to join us if you bird in the Chicago area. Despite much research going on around the country, we at the BCN Census have the best picture so far of bird life in the WNV hotspots, thanks to the participation of so many great people which allows us to make a very detailed picture. We are repeating last year's studies in the same way and at the same time of year, so that we can continue to provide good information about the "hot spot" phenomenon. This year, we are collaborating with University of Illinois scientists who are assembling many layers of information about the virus in order to increase our understanding of the way it spreads and its impact on wildlife (and ultimately on people as well). You can help by doing one, two, or three brief surveys sometime during the count period -- this Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday (September 19,20, 21 and 22). #1 is a backyard chickadee survey, #2 is a natural area chickadee survey (45 minutes), and #3 is a crow survey (also 45 minutes). All reports from throughout the 6-county Chicago area are needed. We are especially interested in adding more observers in the human WNV hotspot areas: The northern one (in Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette) is bordered approximately by North - Lake Ave Wilmette South - Main Street Evanston East - Green Bay Rd (follows the RR tracks) West - US Highway 41 (Skokie Blvd) The southern area basically covers Oak Lawn, with a secondary area in Burbank. (One thing we found from our last study is that not many people bird in this area!!) If you know of any birders who might visit those areas, please pass this along to them. If you would like to participate, please respond to this e-mail and I'll send you the details. Thanks much, Judy Judy Pollock Evanston (Cook) bobolnk@ix.netcom.com From casresearch@comcast.net Fri Sep 19 01:44:50 2003 From: casresearch@comcast.net (Alan Anderson) Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 19:44:50 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Fw: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown Message-ID: <009e01c37e47$3c446940$6401a8c0@attbi.com> since a number of birders are familiar with Cap Sauer's Holdings I thought I'd forward this on to BCNnet also. Alan Anderson, casresearch@comcast.net , Des Plaines ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:45 PM Subject: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown > Note, well managed woodlands are burned and more open so this kind of criminal activity is not prevalent. > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > > > > Agents raze pot farm hidden in Palos woods > > > Thursday, September 18, 2003 > > > > > By Jonathan Lipman > Staff writer > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Drug enforcement agents on Wednesday raided and burned a marijuana farm with 6,200 5- and 12-foot-tall plants hidden in a forest preserve in Palos Township. > The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said the plants had a street value of up to $37 million. > > The marijuana farm, split into seven carefully hidden gardens, was found a few miles from the heart of Palos Park in the Cap Sauers Holding Forest Preserve near 123rd Street and Wolf Road. > > "This is a lot of dope that's not going to be on the street," said Pete Probst, special agent in charge of the DEA program spearheading the joint investigation. > > Clad in combat fatigues, leaning on a polished brown cane and gesturing with a freshly lit cigar, the 20-year DEA veteran said the farm was undoubtedly a professional operation. > > "This is a pretty sophisticated field," he said. "These guys pretty much knew what they were doing." > > The high-potency plants were cultivated to have a higher content of THC, the drug that gives marijuana its effect, and would yield between one half and one pound of marijuana each, DEA spokesman Gary Boertlein said. At that yield, each plant was worth between $3,000 and $6,000. > > Overall, authorities estimate the farm held between $18.6 million and $37.2 million in marijuana. Probst said it was one of the largest fields found in his 10 years with the Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program. > > With helicopters from the DEA and the Illinois Army National Guard whirring overhead, Probst explained that local marijuana operations like this are becoming increasingly common. > > "If this was brought up from Mexico, they would lose over half their profits just bringing it up here, plus they'd have to buy the pot down there," Probst said. "This type of situation here? It's pure profit. ... This wasn't going (onto the streets) anywhere but Chicago." > > The DEA, the Illinois State Police, the Cook County sheriff's police and the Army National Guard have been watching the illegal marijuana farm since spring, Boertlein said. The operators probably planned to harvest it within two or three weeks, Probst said. > > It was discovered as part of an ongoing investigation that has so far allowed investigators to destroy 20,000 plants at three different sites in northeastern Illinois. > > Boertlein declined to release the exact location of the other farms but said all were found on public land. Authorities moved to destroy the Palos field Wednesday because it was a public safety hazard. > > "People are trying to use the forest preserve for innocent purposes, be it hiking or bird watching," Boertlein said. > > No arrests have been made, Boertlein said, but authorities are pursuing several leads. > > Cook County Forest Preserve officials said earlier this month that three marijuana fields have been found on forest preserve property in the south suburbs this year so far. But spokesman Steve Mayberry said those discoveries were made solely by forest preserve police and were not part of the ongoing DEA investigation. > > The fields in Cap Sauers Holding were specially cultivated for maximum profit, Boertlein said. Only female plants were grown because they have more THC.Probst estimated that eight to 10 workers entered the forest preserve two or three days a week to care for the plants. Trash found at the site indicates water and fertilizer was carried in by hand. > > The tall rows of plants were closely packed in about two dozen rows per patch, and each had a mound of freshly tilled earth at its base. > > The farm was about a quarter-mile through dense woods from the nearest trail through the forest preserve and was separated into seven gardens, each about 50 yards square. > > Each garden was screened from casual inspection by a thick fence the farmers built up from the branches of trees cut down to make room for the marijuana. The farmers entered through narrow tunnels underneath the thickly woven barriers, Boertlein said. > > "They do a little forestry project, ripping down a bunch of trees, destroying the public land," Boertlein said. "They actually trailblaze in here." > > The fences were so thick in some places that small cubbyholes had been hollowed out underneath them to provide places for the farmers to sleep, Probst said. > > Only by hacking through with machetes were law enforcement officers able to bring in the power tools and diesel fuel needed to burn the plants Wednesday. > > The gardens were hidden well enough that authorities were only able to find them once they started the raid and helicopters could conduct a thorough search by air. > > Much of the marijuana sold in America is grown in Mexico and Colombia, but distributors are turning more to local sources as the Mexican border tightens in a post-Sept. 11 world, Probst said. > > Inside the United States, professional farm operations are more common in the South, Probst said. The longer growing season and sparsely populated areas make it easier and more profitable then it is here. > > Growing drugs on public land is becoming more common in this area, Probst said. > > "They know that if we catch them on their own lands, we can take it away from them," he said. > > "Here they have nothing to lose." > > Jonathan Lipman may be reached at jlipman@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5979. > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> > Buy Remanufactured Ink Cartridges & Refill Kits at MyInks.com for: HP $8-20. Epson $3-9, Canon $5-15, Lexmark $4-17. Free s/h over $50 (US & Canada). > http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=6351 > http://us.click.yahoo.com/0zJuRD/6CvGAA/qnsNAA/LUwplB/TM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > fpfriends-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > From JohnArturoV@aol.com Fri Sep 19 04:24:16 2003 From: JohnArturoV@aol.com (JohnArturoV@aol.com) Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 23:24:16 EDT Subject: [BCNnet] BCNnet] Fw: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown Message-ID: <179.1fc587d8.2c9bd0e0@aol.com> --part1_179.1fc587d8.2c9bd0e0_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subj: [BCNnet] Fw: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown Date: 9/18/03 5:42:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time From: casresearch@comcast.net To: BCNnet@ece.iit.edu Sent from the Internet (Details) since a number of birders are familiar with Cap Sauer's Holdings I thought I'd forward this on to BCNnet also. Let's hope no birdies inhaled. jv johnarturov@aol.com --part1_179.1fc587d8.2c9bd0e0_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Subj: [BCNnet] Fw: [fpfriends] from today's daily= southtown
Date: 9/18/03 5:42:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: casresearch@comcast.net

To:
BCNnet@ece.iit.edu
Sent from the Internet (Details)

since a number of birders are familiar with Cap Sauer's Holdings I thought I'd forward this on to BCNnet also.

Let's hope no birdies inhaled.
jv
johnarturov@aol.com
--part1_179.1fc587d8.2c9bd0e0_boundary-- From csnp@uic.edu Fri Sep 19 15:02:38 2003 From: csnp@uic.edu (Dennis Nyberg) Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:02:38 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Re: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown In-Reply-To: <00cd01c37e42$2c540130$774c0ecf@SBS1753> References: <079ACD12.6786E694.27144600@aol.com> Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.2.20030919083411.023f85f0@mailserv.uic.edu> I can remember a case similar to that described in the article and I have seen micro-marijuana farms at Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve. Sometime in the early 90s there was a police raid at the NW corner of Willow Springs Rd and 123rd St., i.e. within Cap Sauers Holdings. Deb Petro and I and one or two other Palos Restoration Project people went out to look about a week after the raid. We found room size patches within a shrub "jungle" that had been cleared - all woody and herbaceous vegetation cut and carried to the edge of the patch. There was evidence of herbicide use. Within the cleared area the soil had been turned over and mounds had been created. Presumably these mounds held the marijuana plants that the police destroyed. We visited at least a few patches. They were separated from each other by at least 100 feet. They were in an area it was very difficult to move around in. At Cranberry Slough I have discovered marijuana 2 or 3 times. In those cases, a patch about 3 feet on a side would have been dug up and 2 to 4 marijuana plants would be in the disturbed area. One time they dug up Sporobolus heterolepis, which really made me mad. I never found more than a few of these patches at a time, so the scale was much less than a Cap Sauers. After the large 1999 wildfire a couple patches were discovered on a workday. The FPD supervisor left his business card at our discovery. Most of the plantings at CSNP have occurred after fires and I have speculated that local cultivators may be responsible for some of the wildfires. This is not inconsistent with the comment below. Open woods do allow individuals to see better and large operations such as that described for Cap Sauers would be readily detected in a more open woods. Small patches such as those I detected at CSNP are probably not detectable from the air and are detected on foot only when one is right up at the patch. Fire often results in luxuriant growth of annual and biennial species. One final comment -I have never detected bobbie traps (such as one reads about in CA) at the patches I have seen. Dennis Nyberg At 06:17 PM 9/18/2003 -0500, Peter Dring wrote: >The last pot "bust" I remember was near 95th street and turned out to be a >field of tickseed sunflower >----- Original Message ----- >From: >To: >Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:45 PM >Subject: [fpfriends] from today's daily southtown > > > > Note, well managed woodlands are burned and more open so this kind of >criminal activity is not prevalent. > > From donniebird@yahoo.com Sat Sep 20 22:35:25 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 16:35:25 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Great Lakes Workday results Message-ID: <001001c37fbf$1b0688c0$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0011_01C37F95.323080C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit 29 people helped in today’s workday at Great Lakes, and besides doing a great job improving and restoring Common Tern Habitat, many of them saw most or all of these birds: DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT >100 GREAT BLUE HERON 3 BLUE WINGED TEAL 18 VIRGINIA RAIL 2 (Todd Anderson flushed a pair from the loosestrife) AMERICAN COOT 75 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 5 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 1 KILLDEER 6 WILLET 2 RUDDY TURNSTONE 1 SANDERLING 2 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER 1 LEAST SANDPIPER 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1 (A total of 9 species of shorebirds) CASPIAN TERN 1 FORSTER’S TERN 10 Donald R. Dann Highland Park/Lake County ------=_NextPart_000_0011_01C37F95.323080C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

29 people helped in today’s workday at Great Lakes, and = besides doing a great job improving and restoring Common Tern Habitat, many of them saw = most or all of these birds:

 

DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT = >100

GREAT BLUE HERON 3

BLUE WINGED TEAL 18

VIRGINIA RAIL 2 (Todd Anderson flushed a pair from the = loosestrife)

AMERICAN COOT 75

 

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER = 5

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 1

KILLDEER 6

WILLET 2

RUDDY TURNSTONE 1

SANDERLING 2

SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER = 1

LEAST SANDPIPER 1

PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1

(A total of 9 species of = shorebirds)

 

CASPIAN TERN 1

FORSTER’S TERN = 10

 

Donald R. Dann

Highland Park/Lake County 

------=_NextPart_000_0011_01C37F95.323080C0-- From CWoeltje@ballseed.com Mon Sep 22 18:39:34 2003 From: CWoeltje@ballseed.com (Woeltje, Chris) Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 12:39:34 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] FW: NYTimes.com Article: Republicans Set to Spell Out Plan for Oil Drilling in Refuge Message-ID: <5D1C7AE75E7F4344A61F6E2579F78C770276BDB0@wcem002.ballhort.com> Thought everyone out there would find this interesting. Chris Woeltje Naperville, IL cwoeltje@ballseed.com Republicans Set to Spell Out Plan for Oil Drilling in Refuge WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 - Republican authors of the emerging energy bill will formally propose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling as they begin to reveal the more contentious elements of the legislation this week, Congressional officials say. A draft of the measure, to be made public as early as Monday, will incorporate a House-passed plan to let oil and gas companies begin exploration while confining production plants to 2,000 acres on the coastal plain of the 19 million-acre refuge, officials said. The proposal is part of a new set of agreements between Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico and Representative Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, the two Republicans who are leading the energy negotiations. It is being released for review by others involved in the energy talks and for eventual consideration by the conference committee. The two lawmakers have made clear they support drilling in the refuge, but their decision to try to add it to the legislation at this stage of the negotiations is certain to reignite strong resistance to the drilling plan from Senate opponents and conservation groups. Drilling proponents said they hoped to entice a few Democrats and moderate Republicans who oppose the Alaskan exploration by emphasizing other pet projects and programs that will be included in the overall measure. For instance, projects that benefit the coal industry and a plan to increase the use of corn-based ethanol have significant Democratic backing. "Some Democratic senators say if some things are in there, they will vote for this bill no matter what," one Senate aide said. "What we are going to do is really put it to the test." A senior Democratic aide, however, pointed to past Senate votes against the drilling plan. "They have tried to link it to lots of different things," said Robert M. Simon, the top staff member for Democrats on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Domenici has said repeatedly that he will not include the drilling in the final version of the measure if he does not have the 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster. "We're going to have to determine whether the inclusion of ANWR will kill this or not," he said last week after a meeting with President Bush. "If it's going to kill it, it's not going to be in. But if we can pass it with it on there, it's going to be on there. And everybody understands that." Even if Republicans eventually have to drop the drilling plan to pass the final bill, some acknowledge potential benefits in that result: they can then point to the concession on drilling to quiet Democrats unhappy that the bill is being written mainly by Republicans and environmental groups critical of the measure's benefits for the energy industry. Last week's energy negotiations were devoted to less divisive subjects, like energy efficiency and hydrogen fuels. But with Congressional leaders now hoping to deliver a bill to Mr. Bush by mid-October, the talks will enter a more intense phase in the days ahead. Besides the language on the Alaska drilling, the authors of the measure intend to unveil proposals on ethanol, automobile mileage and hydropower - all issues that have been contentious in the past. Those disputes have helped stall the energy measure in Congress for the last two years. But the August blackout provided new momentum for energy policy and made complex legislation governing the nation's electric power industry a central focus of the energy bill debate. Aides said the proposed electricity provisions, which are being heavily lobbied by the utility industry, could be released this week. In anticipation of a new push for arctic drilling, Senate Democrats have been making their sentiments known. Last week, they announced that 43 senators had signed letters urging the negotiators to keep drilling out of the final measure, more than enough to block it if they all supported a filibuster. "If the energy bill contains drilling in ANWR, it's in for a rough ride," said Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois. In votes on the issue this year and in 2002, drilling opponents prevailed both times with more than 50 votes. The position that the energy bill sponsors will advocate was adopted by the House in April after Democrats fell short in their push to kill it. It requires the Department of Interior to create an "environmentally sound" oil and gas leasing program within the refuge. To ease criticism, the area open to production and the accompanying support facilities would be limited to 2,000 acres. Opponents of the proposal said any exploration could spoil the wilderness and harm wildlife there and complained that the 2,000 acres could be scattered along the refuge's 1.5 million-acre coastal plain. Mr. Tauzin said lawmakers should wait until they saw the final proposal on the arctic drilling before making up their minds. "There are 30 different versions of what you might do in ANWR," he said, "from full-blown exploration to all sorts of different iterations, some involving protecting other lands, some involving swapping lands, some involving putting millions of acres of land into special protection." http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/22/politics/22ENER.html?ex=1065250841&ei= 1&en=b42961b49796165c --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Tue Sep 23 19:25:51 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 13:25:51 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Fwd: Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Message-ID: <20030923182341.9C2AF10DEF8@coopers.dsl.net> This is a tiny bit our of our area, but some familiar with the area may want to review the plans and comment... . >Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Illinois River National Wildlife >and Fish Refuge > >USFWS news release, 9/4/03. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking >public input on a draft plan that will help guide management of the Illinois >River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Complex in west central Illinois. >The draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and draft Environmental >Assessment for the Refuge Complex are available for public review, and >comments will be accepted through October 20, 2003. In addition, the Service >will host a series of public open houses in September to further encourage >public involvement in the planning process for the Illinois River Refuge >Complex. Full copies of the plan are available at area libraries and on the >Service's web site for the planning project, which is >http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/ilrivtop.htm >http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases > From bobolnk@ix.netcom.com Tue Sep 23 19:30:55 2003 From: bobolnk@ix.netcom.com (Judy Pollock) Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 13:30:55 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Fwd: FW: USFWS WIND TURBINE GUIDANCE Message-ID: <20030923182342.C9CE410DE73@coopers.dsl.net> Following up on some earlier discussion about wind turbines... >Here is the USFWS voluntary guidance for new wind turbine sitings. >There is a link to the Service's guidelines at the bottom of the article. > >http://news.fws.gov/NewsReleases/R9/F49C2D63-98D7-410E-A4AB8936F256AB00.html ><<7-14-2003~U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RELEASES WIND TURBINE >GUIDANCE.url>> >Or http://www.fws.gov/r9dhcbfa/WindTurbineGuidelines.pdf >Or > >http://www.fws.gov/r9dhcbfa/windenergy.htm > From donniebird@yahoo.com Wed Sep 24 21:02:45 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 15:02:45 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! Message-ID: <001701c382d6$d2a5cf80$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0018_01C382AC.E9CFC780 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear BCN Friends - The huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well documented. Increasingly, states and wildlife agencies are recognizing this and adopting rules prohibiting organized cat colonies as well as discouraging cat owners to abandon their cats. Now the State of Pennsylvania is taking it one step further, and is proposing to prohibit the release of domestic cats. See the following from the American Bird Conservancy, and please send an email response as requested. To emphasize, you don't have to be a Pennsylvania resident to comment. Thanks, Donald R. Dann Highland Park/Lake County Subject: FW: ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! Importance: High ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA'S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! The domestic cat is not native to the United States, yet millions of pet, stray and feral cats roam the country, killing native songbirds and small mammals, and transmitting diseases and parasites such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to wildlife and humans. The state of Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem but is facing opposition from well-meaning but misguided people. Pennsylvania needs your help to push through a proposed rule prohibiting the release of domestic cats into the wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL. Some people feed stray and feral cats in so-called "managed" colonies, mistakenly believing they are helping the cats. Called Trap/Neuter/Release or TNR, the cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at the trap site, often within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue to feed the cats for as long as they stay in the colony, which could be a day, a month, or even years. American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and many other conservation and animal welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for many reasons, including the fact that cats in colonies, even if well-fed, still kill birds and other wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the cat food attracts more cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for unwanted pets. Thus, cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in colonies still face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, getting hit by cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be illegal under wildlife and animal welfare laws. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has proposed a Rule to make the release of domestic dogs or cats into the wild unlawful. The text of the Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found at: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html . Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR advocates. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, please send an email in support of this Proposed Rule to: pgccomments@state.pa.us , or by mail to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October 3. The PGC will hold a public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and you will have 5 minutes to speak. If the PGC adopts this Rule, release of domestic cats and dogs into the wild would be legal. It would also serve as a model for other state wildlife agencies to follow when dealing with the tremendous toll that domestic cats have on wildlife across the country. For more information on the many problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat Colonies button at www.abcbirds.org/cats. Thank you for your support. Linda Winter, Director Cats Indoors! American Bird Conservancy 1834 Jefferson Place, NW Washington, DC 20036 (p) 202-452-1535, ext 201 (f) 202-452-1534 lwinter@abcbirds.org www.abcbirds.org/cats ------=_NextPart_000_0018_01C382AC.E9CFC780 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Dear BCN Friends –

 

The huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well documented.  Increasingly, = states and wildlife agencies are recognizing this and adopting rules = prohibiting organized cat colonies as well as discouraging cat owners to abandon their = cats.  Now the State of Pennsylvania = is taking it one step further, and is proposing to prohibit the release of = domestic cats.  See the following = from the American Bird Conservancy, and please send an email response as = requested.  To emphasize, you don’t = have to be a Pennsylvania resident to comment.

 

Thanks,  =

 

Donald R. Dann

Highland Park/Lake County   

 


Subject: FW: ACTION = ALERT! SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS!
Importance: = High

 

ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA’S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF = DOMESTIC CATS!

 <= /p>

The domestic cat is not native to = the United States, yet millions of pet, stray and feral cats roam the = country, killing native songbirds and small mammals, and transmitting diseases = and parasites such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to = wildlife and humans. The state of Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem = but is facing opposition from well-meaning but misguided = people. Pennsylvania needs your help to push through a proposed rule prohibiting the release = of domestic cats into the wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF = PENNSYLVANIA TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL.<= /p>

 <= /p>

Some people feed stray = and feral cats in so-called "managed" colonies, mistakenly = believing they are helping the cats. Called Trap/Neuter/Release or TNR, the cats = are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at the trap site, = often within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue to feed the cats = for as long as they stay in the colony, which could be a day, a month, or even = years. <= /p>

 <= /p>

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), = and many other conservation and animal welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for = many reasons, including the fact that cats in colonies, even if = well-fed, still kill birds and other wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the = cat food attracts more cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for = unwanted pets. Thus, cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in = colonies still face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, = getting hit by cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be = illegal under wildlife and animal welfare laws. <= /p>

 <= /p>

The Pennsylvania Game Commission = (PGC) has proposed a Rule to make the release of domestic dogs or cats into = the wild unlawful. The text of the Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found = at: http= ://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html . Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR = advocates.<= /p>

 <= /p>

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, = please send an email in support of this Proposed Rule to: pgccomments@state.pa.us, or = by mail to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton = Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October = 3. The PGC will hold a public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at = 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and = you will have 5 minutes to speak. <= /p>

 <= /p>

If the PGC adopts this Rule, = release of domestic cats and dogs into the wild would be legal. It would also serve = as a model for other state wildlife agencies to follow when dealing with the tremendous toll that domestic cats have on wildlife across the country. = For more information on the many problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat Colonies button at www.abcbirds.org/cats. &n= bsp; Thank you for your support.<= /p>

 <= /p>

Linda Winter, Director
Cats Indoors!
American Bird Conservancy
1834 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC  20036
(p) 202-452-1535, ext 201
(f) 202-452-1534
lwinter@abcbirds.org
www.abcbirds.org/cats
<= /p>

------=_NextPart_000_0018_01C382AC.E9CFC780-- From donniebird@yahoo.com Wed Sep 24 23:57:34 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 17:57:34 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! - TYPO Message-ID: <000001c382ef$3e6b4d40$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C382C5.5596CBE0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sorry everyone, but a typo in this message was just pointed out to me. The word 'legal', the last word in the first sentence of the last paragraph, should have read ''illegal'. Thanks for sending your support of this rule. Donald R. Dann Highland Park/Lake County Dear BCN Friends - The huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well documented. Increasingly, states and wildlife agencies are recognizing this and adopting rules prohibiting organized cat colonies as well as discouraging cat owners to abandon their cats. Now the State of Pennsylvania is taking it one step further, and is proposing to prohibit the release of domestic cats. See the following from the American Bird Conservancy, and please send an email response as requested. To emphasize, you don't have to be a Pennsylvania resident to comment. Thanks, Donald R. Dann Highland Park/Lake County Subject: FW: ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! Importance: High ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA'S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! The domestic cat is not native to the United States, yet millions of pet, stray and feral cats roam the country, killing native songbirds and small mammals, and transmitting diseases and parasites such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to wildlife and humans. The state of Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem but is facing opposition from well-meaning but misguided people. Pennsylvania needs your help to push through a proposed rule prohibiting the release of domestic cats into the wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL. Some people feed stray and feral cats in so-called "managed" colonies, mistakenly believing they are helping the cats. Called Trap/Neuter/Release or TNR, the cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at the trap site, often within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue to feed the cats for as long as they stay in the colony, which could be a day, a month, or even years. American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and many other conservation and animal welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for many reasons, including the fact that cats in colonies, even if well-fed, still kill birds and other wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the cat food attracts more cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for unwanted pets. Thus, cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in colonies still face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, getting hit by cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be illegal under wildlife and animal welfare laws. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has proposed a Rule to make the release of domestic dogs or cats into the wild unlawful. The text of the Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found at: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html . Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR advocates. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, please send an email in support of this Proposed Rule to: pgccomments@state.pa.us , or by mail to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October 3. The PGC will hold a public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and you will have 5 minutes to speak. If the PGC adopts this Rule, release of domestic cats and dogs into the wild would be legal. It would also serve as a model for other state wildlife agencies to follow when dealing with the tremendous toll that domestic cats have on wildlife across the country. For more information on the many problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat Colonies button at www.abcbirds.org/cats. Thank you for your support. Linda Winter, Director Cats Indoors! American Bird Conservancy 1834 Jefferson Place, NW Washington, DC 20036 (p) 202-452-1535, ext 201 (f) 202-452-1534 lwinter@abcbirds.org www.abcbirds.org/cats ------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C382C5.5596CBE0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Sorry everyone, but a typo in = this message was just pointed out to me.  The word ‘legal’, the last word in the first sentence = of the last paragraph, should have read ‘’illegal’.  =

 

Thanks for sending your support = of this rule.

 

Donald R. Dann

Highland Park/Lake County  =

 

 

 

Dear BCN Friends = –

 

The huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well documented.  Increasingly, states and wildlife agencies are = recognizing this and adopting rules prohibiting organized cat colonies as well as discouraging cat owners to abandon their cats.  Now the State of Pennsylvania is taking it one step = further, and is proposing to prohibit the release of domestic cats.  See the following from the = American Bird Conservancy, and please send an email response as requested.  To emphasize, you don’t = have to be a Pennsylvania resident to comment.

 

Thanks, 

 

Donald R. = Dann

Highland Park/Lake County   =

 


Subject: FW: ACTION = ALERT! SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS!
Importance: = High
<= /p>

 <= /p>

ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA’S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF = DOMESTIC CATS!

 <= /p>

The domestic cat is not native to = the United States, yet millions of pet, stray and feral cats roam the = country, killing native songbirds and small mammals, and transmitting diseases = and parasites such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to = wildlife and humans. The state of Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem = but is facing opposition from well-meaning but misguided = people. Pennsylvania needs your help to push through a proposed rule prohibiting the release = of domestic cats into the wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF = PENNSYLVANIA TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL.<= /p>

 <= /p>

Some people feed stray = and feral cats in so-called "managed" colonies, mistakenly = believing they are helping the cats. Called Trap/Neuter/Release or TNR, the cats = are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at the trap site, = often within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue to feed the cats = for as long as they stay in the colony, which could be a day, a month, or even = years. <= /p>

 <= /p>

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), = and many other conservation and animal welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for = many reasons, including the fact that cats in colonies, even if = well-fed, still kill birds and other wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the = cat food attracts more cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for = unwanted pets. Thus, cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in = colonies still face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, = getting hit by cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be = illegal under wildlife and animal welfare laws. <= /p>

 <= /p>

The Pennsylvania Game Commission = (PGC) has proposed a Rule to make the release of domestic dogs or cats into = the wild unlawful. The text of the Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found = at: http= ://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html . Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR = advocates.<= /p>

 <= /p>

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, = please send an email in support of this Proposed Rule to: pgccomments@state.pa.us, or = by mail to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton = Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October = 3. The PGC will hold a public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at = 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and = you will have 5 minutes to speak. <= /p>

 <= /p>

If the PGC adopts this Rule, = release of domestic cats and dogs into the wild would be legal. It would also serve = as a model for other state wildlife agencies to follow when dealing with the tremendous toll that domestic cats have on wildlife across the country. = For more information on the many problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat Colonies button at www.abcbirds.org/cats. &n= bsp; Thank you for your support.<= /p>

 <= /p>

Linda Winter, Director
Cats Indoors!
American Bird Conservancy
1834 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC  20036
(p) 202-452-1535, ext 201
(f) 202-452-1534
lwinter@abcbirds.org
www.abcbirds.org/cats
<= /p>

------=_NextPart_000_0001_01C382C5.5596CBE0-- From donniebird@yahoo.com Fri Sep 26 17:11:38 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 11:11:38 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] Help Needed in Opposing TNR Message-ID: <006701c38448$dde3ee40$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0068_01C3841E.F50DE640 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The issues of Free-Roaming Cat Populations and managed Feral Cat Colonies are becoming increasingly controversial. Many cat lovers are impassioned in promoting TNR, or trap, neuter and release as a humane way to care for these animals, whereas American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, and most other conservation groups oppose it because of the widespread loss of native birds and small mammals caused by free-roaming cats. On Friday, November 7th, the American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA, is holding a daylong seminar, Management of Feral and Abandoned Cats. Alley Cat Allies is trying to get as many pro-TNR people there as possible in an attempt to influence AVMA as it re-writes its position statement on TNR. We need as many wildlife people as possible to attend and counter their efforts. People can register for the Forum through the AVMA Web site at: http://www.avma.org/animal_welfare/awf/2003/default.asp. The cost is $140 if you register before Oct 6th. I will be there and it would be great if as many birders and conservationists as possible would attend. The program follows. Donnie Donald R. Dann 60 Ravinoaks Lane Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222 Cell: 847-997-1011 Email: donniebird@yahoo.com PROGRAM 8:00 Introductions 8:10 Understanding Issues and Solutions for Unowned, Free-Roaming Cat Populations Margaret R. Slater DVM, PhD 9:05 Humane Strategies for Controlling Feral Cat Populations Julie K. Levy DVM, PhD, DACVIM 9:55 Break 10:10 Survival Analysis of Managed Feral Cat Colonies Michael K. Stoskopf DVM, PhD, DACZM 11:05 Panel Discussion Noon Animal Welfare Award Presentation and Lunch 1:35 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Dilemmas of TNR Programs Paul L. Barrows DVM, PhD, DACVPM 2:30 TNR Programs-The Reality and the Impacts Linda Winter, The American Bird Conservancy 3:20 Break 3:35 The Welfare of Feral Cats and Wildlife David A. Jessup DVM, MPVM, DACZM 4:30 Panel Discussion 5:15 Reception ------=_NextPart_000_0068_01C3841E.F50DE640 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

The issues of Free-Roaming Cat = Populations and managed Feral Cat Colonies are becoming increasingly = controversial.  Many cat lovers are = impassioned in promoting TNR, or trap, neuter and release as a humane way to care for = these animals, whereas American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, and most other conservation groups oppose it because of the widespread loss of native = birds and small mammals caused by free-roaming cats. =

 

On Friday, November 7th, = the American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA, is holding a daylong = seminar, Management of Feral and Abandoned Cats.  Alley Cat Allies is trying to get as many pro-TNR people there as possible in = an attempt to influence AVMA as it re-writes its position statement on = TNR.  We need as many wildlife people as possible to attend and counter their efforts.  People can register for the Forum through the AVMA Web = site at: http://w= ww.avma.org/animal_welfare/awf/2003/default.asp.  The cost is $140 if you register before Oct 6th.  =

 

I will be there and it would be great if as many birders and = conservationists as possible would attend.  =

 

The program follows.

 

Donnie  =

 

Donald R. Dann

60 Ravinoaks Lane

Highland Park, IL 60035

Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222

Cell: 847-997-1011

Email:  donniebird@yahoo.com

 

PROGRAM=

 

 8:00 Introductions=

 

 8:10 Understanding Issues and Solutions for Unowned, Free-Roaming Cat Populations=

 Margaret R. Slater DVM, PhD=

 

 9:05 Humane Strategies for Controlling Feral Cat = Populations

 Julie K. Levy DVM, PhD, DACVIM

 

 9:55 Break=

 

 10:10 Survival Analysis of Managed Feral Cat = Colonies

 Michael K. Stoskopf DVM, PhD, DACZM

 

 11:05 Panel Discussion=

 

 Noon Animal Welfare Award Presentation and = Lunch

 

 1:35 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Dilemmas of TNR Programs

 Paul L. Barrows DVM, PhD, DACVPM

 

 2:30 TNR Programs-The Reality and the = Impacts

 Linda Winter, The American Bird = Conservancy

 

 3:20 Break=

 

 3:35 The Welfare of Feral Cats and = Wildlife

 David A. Jessup DVM, MPVM, DACZM

 

 4:30 Panel Discussion=

 

 5:15 Reception=

 

 

------=_NextPart_000_0068_01C3841E.F50DE640-- From donniebird@yahoo.com Mon Sep 29 18:47:20 2003 From: donniebird@yahoo.com (Donald R. Dann) Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 12:47:20 -0500 Subject: [BCNnet] A Good News Story on Lost Mounds at Savanna Army Depot Message-ID: <002d01c386b1$c121ff70$b44dcf0c@donnie> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002E_01C38687.D84BF770 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hi BCN – Protecting the thousands of acres of native grasslands and other habitat at the former Savanna Army Depot has been a conservation target for many years. As the following explains we can report, after overcoming a lot of obstacles, that we’ve achieved success. There is still much work to do, but I want thanks must be extended to the many of you who helped by writing letters, making calls, and doing the other grunt work to get this great result. Best regards, Donnie Donald R. Dann 60 Ravinoaks Lane Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222 Cell: 847-997-1011 Email: donniebird@yahoo.com More info on the GOOD NEWS--- Looks like Illinois Conservationists have once again proven their ability to focus on an issue and bring together all the people needed to protect Illinois' vanishing Natural Heritage. SPECIAL THANKS to Randy Nyboer, Ed Britton and all of you and many more for staying the course on this magnificent project--- Fran Harty Subject: Lost Mound Is Found!!!! After 8 year, 2 months, it finally happened, Lost Mound is Founded. At approx 5:30PM on Sept 26, Washington staff in Dept's of Interior and Defense approved the Memorandum of Agreement, which identified 9,404 acres to become Lost Mound Unit of Upper Miss Refuge. We are officially on the books. There were 3,022 clean acres that actually transferred, while the remaining contaminated acreage will be managed as an Overlay Refuge, with transfer to occur as clean up progresses. We will begin posting Refuge boundary signs ASAP and begin intensive public information and education campaign. Thank you everyone for your support throughout this long difficult process, our combined vision was the driving force behind this effort. Let the fun work begin!!!! ------=_NextPart_000_002E_01C38687.D84BF770 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi BCN –

 

Protecting the thousands of acres of native grasslands and other habitat at the = former Savanna Army Depot has been a conservation target for many years.  As the following explains we = can report, after overcoming a lot of obstacles, that we’ve achieved success. = <= /p>

 

There is still much work to do, but I want thanks must be extended to the many = of you who helped by writing letters, making calls, and doing the other grunt = work to get this great result.   

 

Best regards,

 

Donnie  =

 

Donald R. Dann

60 Ravinoaks Lane

Highland Park, IL 60035

Ph/Fax: 847-266-2222

Cell: 847-997-1011

Email:  donniebird@yahoo.com   

 <= /p>

 <= /p>

More info on the GOOD NEWS---

Looks like Illinois Conservationists have once again proven their = ability to focus on an issue and bring together all the people needed to protect = Illinois' vanishing Natural Heritage.  = SPECIAL THANKS to Randy Nyboer, Ed Britton and all of you and many more for = staying the course on this magnificent project---

Fran Harty

Subject: Lost Mound Is Found!!!!


 After 8 year, 2 months, = it finally happened, Lost Mound is Founded.  = At approx 5:30PM on Sept 26, Washington staff in Dept's of Interior and = Defense approved the Memorandum of Agreement, which identified 9,404 acres to = become Lost Mound Unit of Upper Miss Refuge. We are officially on the books. = There were 3,022 clean acres that actually transferred, while the remaining contaminated acreage will be managed as an Overlay Refuge, with transfer = to occur as clean up progresses. We will begin posting Refuge boundary = signs ASAP and begin intensive public information and education campaign.  = Thank you everyone for your support throughout this long
difficult process, our combined vision was the driving force behind this = effort.

 

Let the fun work begin!!!!

 

------=_NextPart_000_002E_01C38687.D84BF770--