Sounds like there is a lot of momentum behind this and it might be easier to deflect than to stop unless the weather is like today. Celebrating the 100th probably is a huge deal for the agency, which certainly have manages a lot of great habitat for birds. And they people behind this particular event have put time, money, and effort into planning and executing it and probably will be reluctant to abandon it.
Is there a way this could be done and disturbance minimized? What if they lit up the falls from right below so the gorge itself wasn't illuminated, and instead of hiking up the gorge they centered the celebration on the overlook rather than hiking the gorge hike? Maybe there's a local bird-loving food truck or caterer who would be willing to offer food at a discount to the parks for the three nights up at the visitor center by the overlook? Is there someone on the list with contacts at the Regional State Park office or at the Chamber who could sound them out on whether they are open to alternatives? Does the bird club have any programming it runs in partnership with any of the local state parks? We could try to shut this down but there's a good chance that would fail and, whether or not it did, trying to shut it down entirely will piss off a lot people which might not be good for birds (or even birders) in the long run. Note the Chamber of Commerce seems to be running the hikes so anyone on the list who is a member might want to gently explain the issue to Jennifer Tavares, who seems like a decent person. Not sure if Fred Bonn is still the Regional Director of State Parks but he has been flexible in the past when approached given actual evidence and alternatives - but whoever approaches him should be prepared with published evidence or personal reports by someone (maybe Tim G) who is an acknowledged expert on peregrines and can show that the light show is going to disturb the peregrines. Keep in mind that these folks know peregrines nest on urban bridges and buildings that are lit at night so they will need to know why this is different. On 4/14/2024 12:06 PM, Geo Kloppel wrote: > Below is the press release for the evening light shows at the great > falls in Taughannock Falls State Park later this week, which have > potential to disturb the Peregrine Falcons and Ravens that are > currently on nests there). > > Note that the event is jointly hosted by NYS Parks, Visit Ithaca, and > also the Tompkins Chamber, which is handling online registration for > after-dark hikes up the gorge trail to the lighted falls. > > new-york-state-parks-recreation-and-historic-preservation-1.jpg > Go for a hike and view the lights to celebrate 100 years of NYS Parks > at Taughannock Falls > <https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/regional-news/go-for-a-hike-and-view-the-lights-to-celebrate-100-years-of-nys-parks-at-taughannock-falls/> > mytwintiers.com > <https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/regional-news/go-for-a-hike-and-view-the-lights-to-celebrate-100-years-of-nys-parks-at-taughannock-falls/> > > <https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/regional-news/go-for-a-hike-and-view-the-lights-to-celebrate-100-years-of-nys-parks-at-taughannock-falls/> > > >> On Apr 14, 2024, at 10:16 AM, Tim Gallagher <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I heard some disturbing news last night. Apparently Taughannock >> Falls will be brightly illuminated from 8:30 to 10:00 this coming >> Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night (April 18, 19, and 20). I guess >> it’s some kind of PR stunt to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the >> New York State Park Service, but it couldn’t possibly come at a worse >> time, with the eggs just about to hatch in the Peregrine Falcon eyrie >> and a pair of Ravens nesting right beside the falls—not mention all >> the other wildlife in the park. There certainly should be other, less >> potentially harmful, ways to celebrate the Park Service. You can >> contact the Taughannock Park office at (607) 387-7041. (Photo by >> Arthur A. Allen) >> > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME.htm> > Rules and Information > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES.htm> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > ABA <https://www.aba.org/birding-news/> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
