[BCNnet] IBET and BCNnet: No bird sightings, South Pond situation, call LP Zoo security for human sightings

[birdchris at aol.com]

Hi, 

Your help is needed to protect Black-crowned Night-herons nesting at South Pond in Lincoln Park in Chicago. If you see someone disturbing the BCNH nesting colony, call the zoo so they can send out security. The phone number is 312 (I think, might be 773) 742-2029 to report disturbance. 

I've copied some of the email exchange between myself and Kevin Bell of the Lincoln Park Zoo, below. Mr. Bell's lack of concern and lack of follow through regarding the disturbance of an Illinois state endangered species on a closed work site, managed by the Lincoln Park Zoo, is irresponsible to say the least. Rather than follow up on an eye witness report, he seems to be suggesting that "activists" might have broken into the site. I don't know any "activists" with hip waders, myself. 

Sorry to rabble rouse, but this kind of indifference to the nesting success of an endangered species is unconsciousable.

Keep your cell phones charged, IBETters and BCNnetters!

Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris at aol.com

Sent May 6 by Kevin Bell: 

Neither the contractor nor any of our staff were on the site on Monday the 4th. I also checked with the design firm and the Chicago Park District with the same response. If you hear of this happening again, contact Lizette (my assistant) and she will send security to check it out. The CPD mentioned that they have had incidents like this recently at some of there construction site by activist groups. In this case, I have no idea who these women were. Lizette9s number is 742-2029. If you want to report incidents via email feel free to contact mjohnson at lpzoo.org (Marybeth) as I will be traveling next week and quite a bit over the next few months and will not always have email capability. 

 




From: Birdchris at aol.com [mailto:Birdchris at aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 9:36 PM
To: Bell, Kevin
Subject: Nesting Black-crowned Night-heron disturbance at South Pond


 



Hi, again, Kevin,



 



I talked to Nancy Borzak. She and her husband Don were at South Pond on Monday, May 4 from about 2:30 to about 3:15 p.m. (approximate time frame). 



 



When the Borzaks approached the island, most of the Black-crowned Night-herons were in the air, clearly agitated. The Borzaks noticed two women, one wearing hip waders, on and around the island, apparently digging and moving around branches and vegetation. The women continued to work on the island and were still working there when the Borzaks left after about 45 minutes of watching. .



 



By contrast, when my husband and I were at South Pond on Sunday at mid day, all of the 72 BCNHs we saw were sitting quietly in the trees, paired up. A lone bird would occasionally move to another tree, but they were not disturbed in any way and were settling into their nests.



 



This is a critical time for these breeding birds. Please find out what your contractors (general, drainage-only or whatever crews are out there) are doing and stop th
e disturbance. I would appreciate it if you would please let me know what you find out about this incident.



 



I'll call Joe Kath or Maggie Cole of IDNR tomorrow to let them know more about the incident once I've heard back from you.



 



Thanks, Christine



 



 



 



 From Mr. Bell on May 5



In a message dated 5/5/2009 1:53:47 P.M. Central Standard Time, KBell at lpzoo.org writes:




I am pleased that you are watching after the birds. We are too. Our goal is to have a lasting habitat for the night herons as well the many other species that we share this urban area with. We also want to create a center for environmental education for all Chicagoans at this site. As you may know many public and private schools have been involved in the South pond project and will be using this area in the future as an outdoor classroom.

 

I checked again and the only people working on the site are those operating the pumps. They would have no reason to go on the islands. The general contractor has not been hired to this point. The island work was done over a month ago before the birds arrived.



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