[BCNnet] FW: Baltimore Sun ABC Op-ED Published on MBTA Reform-Mute Swans

Tue, 30 Nov 2004 12:04:06 -0600

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This self -explanatory piece from Gerald Winegrad gives an update of some
key legislation relative to non-native species working its way through
Congress notwithstanding the fierce opposition of certain 'animal rights'
groups.

Donnie  

Donald R. Dann

Highland Park/Lake County  

Below is an Op-ED piece published today in The Baltimore Sun.  I first wrote

the article back on September 6 to respond to an article published in The

Sun written by The Fund for Animals.  This is the group that sued over

lethal controls of the Mute Swan.  The editorial page editor delayed

publication while I answered many inquiries he had and, then, he requested

edits and re-edits of the article.

The MBTA reform language that would remove Mute Swans and other non-native

species from MBTA protection has been tacked onto the Omnibus spending bill.

The language to re-authorize and expand the Neotropical Migratory Bird

Conservation Act was not.

The Omnibus spending bill has not formally cleared Congress because of an

"error" on Committee access to tax forms. Congress was forced to pass a

continuing resolution before Thanksgiving funding the federal government at

FY '04 levels through Dec. 8. The House is expected to return for a brief

session Dec. 6 to strike the "error" from the omnibus, thereby sending it to

the President.

David Fischer and I are meeting with Rep. Gilchrest's staffers to discuss

moving the NMBCA re-authorization quickly through the Congressmen's

Committee in 2005 and that seems to be the plan, as the language cleared the

House and Senate Committees with the MBTA reform language.

 --------------------

 Protecting swans harms native life

 --------------------

 By Gerald Winegrad

 November 30, 2004

 THE UNITED STATES became a signatory to the International Migratory Bird

Treaty Act in 1918 to stem the unrestricted slaughter of native, migratory

birds. That's as it should be.

 But it was changed in 2001, when a federal court ruled that the MBTA also

covered and protected the non-native, non-migratory mute swan, blocking

efforts by Maryland and other states to control that bird. Despite the

swan's destructive habits, animal rights groups sued to prevent killing

them. These groups argue that all birds, including exotics introduced by

humans, deserve the same protections under law.

 Conservationists are concerned that such protection might be extended to

other exotic, destructive non-native avian species. Republican Rep. Wayne T.

Gilchrest of Maryland has introduced legislation to amend the MBTA to

exclude these exotic species and restore the MBTA to its traditional

application to protect only native birds. The treaty does not distinguish

between native and non-native species.

 The legislation, which is tacked onto the omnibus spending bill that

Congress is to consider when it returns next week, has wide support in the

bird conservation and environmental community, with 60 national and regional

groups signed onto a letter urging its passage. They include the Nature

Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club,

American Birding Association, Maryland Ornithological Society, Delmarva

Ornithological Society and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

 Animal rights activists argue that the mute swan and 94 other species of

non-native birds could face "extermination" if the legislation passes. They

further contend that it is unclear as to which species are non-native. Both

points are grossly inaccurate.

 At least 80 percent of non-native avian species in the United States are

pet or zoo escapees and have been sighted only once or twice in the country.

Many more species have not had, and likely will not have, any population

controls. Even the mute swan would not be exterminated as Maryland and other

states have never sought to remove all mute swans from the wild. Maryland's

plan is to bring the population down to 1985 levels, when there were an

estimated 500 of them.

 The Chesapeake Bay population of mute swans has grown exponentially, from

five released birds in 1962 to more than 3,600 today. Mute swans originally

were brought to the United States from Europe in the 1800s as an ornamental

bird, and the five released in 1962 came from a pond in Talbot County.

Contrary to the contentions of opponents of the legislation, these large,

aggressive birds are causing significant problems.

 Mute swans have extirpated breeding colonies of state-listed least terns

and black skimmers and common terns from the bay. Mute swans also are

believed to pose a threat to the Chesapeake Bay tundra swan population,

which has declined about 30 percent in Maryland in the last 25 years. There

is a growing concern that mute swans may be adversely affecting native

waterfowl, including the declining black duck. In Maryland, mute swans have

killed mallard ducklings and Canada geese goslings.

 The large mute swans consume about 8 pounds of bay grasses a day. Four

thousand mute swans could consume up to 12 million pounds of bay grasses

annually, representing about 12 percent of all bay grasses. These grasses

are critical to avian species, fisheries (including blue crabs) and water

quality. Under growth rates seen from 1986 to 1999, the bay population of

mute swans could reach 38,500 by 2010. This would further impede bay grass

restoration and cause escalating problems for native birds.

 Mr. Gilchrest and other members of Congress are to be commended for

passing the legislation out of House and Senate committees. Far from gutting

the MBTA, the legislation would simply restore the law to apply only to

native migratory species.

 The legislation also would expand the Neotropical Migratory Bird

Conservation Act, which is scheduled to expire next year, and would increase

funding for migratory bird conservation from $5 million to $15 million.

 Animal rights groups may next seek to fully protect other exotic species,

such as snakehead fish and nutria. Indeed, the Fund for Animals sued

unsuccessfully to block the eradication of black rats from a U.S. Park

Service island where the introduced rats were killing off a

California-listed threatened seabird. The zeal of these groups jeopardizes

our native birds.

 Gerald Winegrad is vice president for policy of the American Bird

Conservancy and a former state senator.

 Link to the article:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.swans30nov30,1,3991077.
story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>This self =
&#8211;explanatory
piece from Gerald Winegrad gives an update of some key legislation =
relative to
non-native species working its way through Congress notwithstanding the =
fierce
opposition of certain &#8216;animal rights&#8217; =
groups.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Donnie&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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

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

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Below is an Op-ED piece published today in The Baltimore =
Sun.&nbsp; I
first wrote<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>the article back on September 6 to respond to an article =
published in
The<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Sun written by The Fund for Animals.&nbsp; This is the group =
that sued
over<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>lethal controls of the Mute Swan.&nbsp; The editorial page =
editor
delayed<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>publication while I answered many inquiries he had and, then, he
requested<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>edits and re-edits of the article.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The MBTA reform language that would remove Mute Swans and other
non-native<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>species from MBTA protection has been tacked onto the Omnibus =
spending
bill.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The language to re-authorize and expand the Neotropical =
Migratory Bird<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Conservation Act was not.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The Omnibus spending bill has not formally cleared Congress =
because of
an<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

&quot;error&quot; on Committee access to tax forms. Congress was =
forced
to pass a<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>continuing resolution before Thanksgiving funding the federal
government at<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

FY '04 levels through Dec. 8. The House is expected to return =
for a
brief<o:p></o:p>

session Dec. 6 to strike the &quot;error&quot; from the omnibus,
thereby sending it to<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>the President.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

David Fischer and I are meeting with Rep. Gilchrest's staffers =
to
discuss<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>moving the NMBCA re-authorization quickly through the =
Congressmen's<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Committee in 2005 and that seems to be the plan, as the language
cleared the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>House and Senate Committees with the MBTA reform =
language.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;--------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Protecting swans harms native =
life<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;--------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;By Gerald Winegrad<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;November 30, 2004<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;THE UNITED STATES became a signatory to the International
Migratory Bird<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Treaty Act in 1918 to stem the unrestricted slaughter of native,
migratory<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>birds. That's as it should be.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;But it was changed in 2001, when a federal court ruled =
that the
MBTA also<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>covered and protected the non-native, non-migratory mute swan, =
blocking<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

efforts by <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>
and other states to control that bird. Despite =
the<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>swan's destructive habits, animal rights groups sued to prevent =
killing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

them. These groups argue that all birds, including exotics =
introduced
by<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>humans, deserve the same protections under =
law.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Conservationists are concerned that such protection might =
be
extended to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

other exotic, destructive non-native avian species. Republican =
Rep.
Wayne T.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Gilchrest of Maryland has introduced legislation to amend the =
MBTA to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>exclude these exotic species and restore the MBTA to its =
traditional<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

application to protect only native birds. The treaty does not
distinguish<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>between native and non-native =
species.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;The legislation, which is tacked onto the omnibus spending =
bill
that<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Congress is to consider when it returns next week, has wide =
support in
the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>bird conservation and environmental community, with 60 national =
and
regional<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

groups signed onto a letter urging its passage. They include the =
Nature<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, =
Sierra
Club,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>American Birding Association, <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>
Ornithological Society, Delmarva<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Ornithological Society and Cornell Laboratory of =
Ornithology.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Animal rights activists argue that the mute swan and 94 =
other
species of<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

non-native birds could face &quot;extermination&quot; if the
legislation passes. They<o:p></o:p>

further contend that it is unclear as to which species are =
non-native.
Both<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>points are grossly inaccurate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;At least 80 percent of non-native avian species in the =
<st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">United =
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
are<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>pet or zoo escapees and have been sighted only once or twice in =
the
country.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Many more species have not had, and likely will not have, any
population<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

controls. Even the mute swan would not be exterminated as =
<st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State> and =
other<o:p></o:p>

states have never sought to remove all mute swans from the wild. =
<st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>'s<o:p></o:p></=
p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>plan is to bring the population down to 1985 levels, when there =
were an<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>estimated 500 of them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;The <st1:place w:st=3D"on">Chesapeake Bay</st1:place> =
population of
mute swans has grown exponentially, from<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

five released birds in 1962 to more than 3,600 today. Mute swans
originally<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>were brought to the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">United =
States</st1:country-region>
from <st1:place w:st=3D"on">Europe</st1:place> in the 1800s as an =
ornamental<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>bird, and the five released in 1962 came from a pond in =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Talbot</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Contrary to the contentions of opponents of the legislation, =
these
large,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>aggressive birds are causing significant =
problems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Mute swans have extirpated breeding colonies of =
state-listed
least terns<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

and black skimmers and common terns from the bay. Mute swans =
also are<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>believed to pose a threat to the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Chesapeake Bay</st1:place>
tundra swan population,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

which has declined about 30 percent in <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
 w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State> in the last 25 years. =
There<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>is a growing concern that mute swans may be adversely affecting =
native<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

waterfowl, including the declining black duck. In <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
 w:st=3D"on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>, mute swans =
have<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>killed mallard ducklings and <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
 w:st=3D"on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> geese =
goslings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&nbsp;The large mute swans consume about 8 pounds of bay grasses =
a day.
Four<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>thousand mute swans could consume up to 12 million pounds of bay
grasses<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

annually, representing about 12 percent of all bay grasses. =
These
grasses<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>are critical to avian species, fisheries (including blue crabs) =
and
water<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

quality. Under growth rates seen from 1986 to 1999, the bay =
population
of<o:p></o:p>

mute swans could reach 38,500 by 2010. This would further impede =
bay
grass<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>restoration and cause escalating problems for native =
birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&nbsp;Mr. Gilchrest and other members of Congress are to be =
commended
for<o:p></o:p>

passing the legislation out of House and Senate committees. Far =
from
gutting<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>the MBTA, the legislation would simply restore the law to apply =
only to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>native migratory species.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;The legislation also would expand the Neotropical =
Migratory Bird<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Conservation Act, which is scheduled to expire next year, and =
would
increase<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>funding for migratory bird conservation from $5 million to $15 =
million.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Animal rights groups may next seek to fully protect other =
exotic
species,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

such as snakehead fish and nutria. Indeed, the Fund for Animals =
sued<o:p></o:p>

unsuccessfully to block the eradication of black rats from a =
U.S. Park<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Service island where the introduced rats were killing off =
a<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

California-listed threatened seabird. The zeal of these groups
jeopardizes<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>our native birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Gerald Winegrad is vice president for policy of the =
American Bird<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Conservancy and a former state =
senator.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&nbsp;Link to the article:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.swans30nov30=
,1,3991077.story?coll=3Dbal-oped-headlines<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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