Hi all I'll just add most of what we have lost in terms of bird populations are anthropogenic (human) in nature primarily habitat loss and degradation. Refresher stories about 3 billion birds lost:
- https://abcbirds.org/3-billion-birds/ - https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bird-Decline-paper_Science-formatted_final.pdf - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/ - https://www.audubon.org/news/north-america-has-lost-more-1-4-birds-last-50-years-new-study-says Thanks, Gary Lefko, Nunn http://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/ https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland On Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 5:22:09 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: > As a member of The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, plus a volunteer for > them at their Barr Lake State Park banding station, I have just one thing > to say: > > BIRDS ARE *NOT* MORE ADAPTABLE THAN SOME PEOPLE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. > > Billions of birds have been lost because they are NOT adapting. > > Susan Rosine > Brighton, Adams County > > On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 4:40 PM SeEttaM <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Wow, I had to reread what I wrote but I cannot fathom how it was >> misconstrued to include recommended that "...we harass the process of >> bringing in a greater supply of electricity...." and effectively costing >> taxpayers more money! Really, this is I what I asked, "..I hope many >> will take a look and intervene as needed to try to protect the birds we >> still have. " >> >> >> While I don't know what to think about that I do disagree with Mr. >> Reeser's statement, "Birds are more adaptable than some people give them >> credit for." I'm not sure how many Colorado birders are aware of the very >> real of extinction of Lesser Prairie Chickens from southeast Colorado which >> has been identified as in part due to gas and oil activity: "The lesser >> prairie-chicken population, which once numbered in the hundreds of >> thousands, has dwindled across its historical range by an estimated 90%, >> “due largely to habitat loss and fragmentation,” USFWS said, with oil and >> gas activity contributing to the decline". >> Some of the issues with gas and oil activity that have caused the decline >> of these Lesser Prairie Chickens are similar to what expansion of electric >> utility lines would bring. I don't consider the risk of expiration of this >> species to be a "small price to pay." >> >> I certainly hope that more level headed consideration be given to this >> issue. I am a strong supporter of accountability and that I believe that >> utilizing companies need to be held accountable for their actions that >> might cause serious damage to vital bird habitat. And that will only happen >> when those of us who are serious about bird conservation intervene (fyi, >> before I get misconstrued again that does not imply that this project has >> to be stopped or that the company should be harassed.) >> >> Just an addition piece of info, other interests such as the cultural >> advocates are intervening to avoid this project being harmful to their >> interests in Eastern Colorado. >> >> SeEtta Moss >> Canon City >> >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 9:09 AM Rick Reeser <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Cobirders: In response to the post about Xcel expanding their power >>> network, I have several responses: >>> >>> 1. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. You can’t be a >>> consumer of significantly more electricity (in contrast to using fossil >>> fuels for cars, furnace, etc.) without supporting the electrical supply >>> chain. The electrical supply chain comes with some sacrifices, just like >>> oil drilling comes with some negatives. >>> >>> 2. If we harass the process of bringing in a greater supply of >>> electricity, it comes with adding a significant cost to the end product. >>> Remember, Xcel has to pass onto us the economic costs of this $2 billion >>> project. Do we want it more than that? >>> >>> 3. Birds are far more adaptable than some people give them credit >>> for. It’s like when I fill my feeders. The birds leave for a short time, >>> but they will be back where food can be found. Yes, construction is a >>> short-term annoyance, but the long-term benefit makes it worth it. And, the >>> actual loss of habitat is likely to be quite small. >>> >>> 4. The addition of more power lines in remote areas that are not >>> known for their tourism potential seems like a small sacrifice to pay for >>> getting the electricity we need. California has had numerous fires and >>> power outages due to demanding too high of electrical consumption before >>> having the infrastructure to support it. Some of their fires were started >>> by aging electrical systems and their power outages- that were almost daily >>> when I was there this past year- were quite disruptive. We need the >>> electrical infrastructure to move forward to prevent these types of things >>> from happening. >>> >>> 5. Will these power stations and lines actually kill lots of birds >>> or make them move permanently far away. I doubt it. Our cars kill lots of >>> birds, but we don’t propose eliminating cars because of that- we drive with >>> greater caution instead. >>> >>> >>> >>> We need to work with Xcel on this project to minimize the harm to the >>> habitat, not work against them. Offering to work with someone is far more >>> effective than working against them. >>> >>> Rick Reeser >>> >>> Milliken >>> >>> On Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 11:00:55 AM UTC-7 SeEtta wrote: >>> >>>> I just found mapping by Excel of their 'Colorado Power Pathway' of new >>>> substations and giant transmission lines that are proposed to cut through >>>> eastern Colorado including in or near some very important bird habitat >>>> including Chico Basin. Are any conservation groups or birding groups that >>>> concern themselves with protecting vital bird habitat monitoring this? As >>>> the conservation chair for Arkansas Valley Audubon Society I am now going >>>> to try to send comments on their incursions into areas that we service buy >>>> there is a lot of Eastern Colorado that will is north of our area that >>>> will >>>> be impacted by that this major expansion by Excel. Given all the negative >>>> impacts on the birds we all love to watch I hope many will take a look and >>>> intervene as needed to try to protect the birds we still have. Here is >>>> the maps and basic info I have found: >>>> https://www.coloradospowerpathway.com/project-description/ >>>> >>>> SeEtta Moss >>>> Canon City >>>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en >>> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >>> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate >>> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/f5ca2054-ead5-4d22-8e0c-ed6b9aeb0ddbn%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/f5ca2054-ead5-4d22-8e0c-ed6b9aeb0ddbn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en >> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. >> Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate >> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAUvckpRdOQqTvfJ3v9b%2B0k58x6rqhqcxcZkELccFWPD%3DM13XA%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAUvckpRdOQqTvfJ3v9b%2B0k58x6rqhqcxcZkELccFWPD%3DM13XA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/83202198-47d6-49d4-bf64-011174cf323en%40googlegroups.com.
