Regarding the statement: "I'm not aware of anything that birdwatchers "harvest" that requires maintenance or support..."
If you want to know what species require the maintenance and support of the birding public start with the endangered species list, then add species on the assorted watch lists compiled by various non-government organizations, add the "Species in Greatest Conservation Need" list compiled by our state, and any other native bird species whose numbers are declining due to anthrogenic causes. As for the "harvest". Birdwatchers, as well as almost all americans, contribute to declining bird populations. Their harvest is not as direct as if they were shooting a chickadee off their porch, but it certainly exists. Birdwatchers use paper which has implications recently highlighted by the Sax-Zim discussion. Birdwatchers contribute to urban sprawl. Birdwatchers like to have a home on the lake, which is having consequences also discussed in the media lately. Birdwatchers drive, use electricity, eat, generate waste, etc. If you are reading this the electricity generated to run your computer may be contributing to higher mercury levels in our lakes and thermal pollution of our rivers. What once stood where your home is now? The spot where I live was formerly tall grass prairie - and we know those birds are not doing well. The question is simply are birdwatchers willing to step up to a greater extent, in whatever capacity, to reduce or mitigate our impacts on the environment? Brad Bolduan Windom -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 10:05 To: Craig; [email protected]; Jim Williams Subject: Re: [mou] paying to use state wildlife land The fees paid for duck stamps and other licenses to hunt are intended to be used for the support and maintenance of the birds and animals harvested, and as a regulatory mechanism. Furthermore, the stamps and licenses constitute the permission granted by government to hunt. I'm not aware of anything that birdwatchers "harvest" that requires maintenance or support, and I'm not sure either how you would determine who would pay for watching, or where you couldn't watch if you didn't have a "Birdwatching Stamp". As others have already pointed out, most of us who are birdwatchers are members of other organizations ( Audubon, Nature Conservancy, National resources Defense Council, Wilderness Society, American Rivers,etc., etc.) which provide support and funding and protection for land acquisition and habitat protection just as do Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. -- Bernard P. Friel -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Craig" <[email protected]> > How are state and public lands being paid for already?? Last time I > checked I still pay taxes plus I'm an avid bowhunter, snowmobiler and my > wife and I do a lot of camping in the state parks so I think I pay more than > my fair share in fees to use such areas. I thought this was a free country? > There aren't many things that you can do for free anymore but, birdwatching > is one of them and that's what I love about birdwatching. It's getting to > the point where we won't even be able to look through our binoculars without > having a permit first. Ridiculous. > Just because you feel guilty for not paying or feel that you need to > contribute more doesn't mean the rest of have to too. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jim Williams" <[email protected]> > To: "MOU net" <[email protected]>; "Paul J.Baicich" > <[email protected]> > Cc: "WisBirdNet Network" <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:18 PM > Subject: [mou] paying to use state wildlife land > > > Hooray for Colorado. Other states should follow suit. Everyone, > including birders, who uses state wildlife land should contribute > directly to its purchase and maintenance. > Jim Williams > Wayzata, Minnesota > > Begin forwarded message: > > From: [email protected] > Date: March 23, 2006 8:47:57 AM CST > To: [email protected], [email protected] > Subject: [sd-birds] Colorado New Wildlife Habitat Stamp > > South Dakota birders, > > For those who may be going to Colorado this year I thought I'd give a > heads-up. I am leading a trip April 7-14 for Lesser Prairie Chicken > Gunnison Sage > Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan (more of course, but these are the > targets) and > got a kind post from a birder Re: the new Habitat Stamp required on > Colorado > State Wildlife Areas. I had heard of it, but was not too worried. > > I then got a post forwarded by Bill Schmoker from COBIRDS that detailed > the > requirements for the new Wildlife Stamp. And the wardens are checking. > > So I waited a lot on CO state telephone lines (no 800 numbers there) and > heard recordings about how much killing birds and bears cost > innumerable times, > but did finally get someone who could answer a few simple questions > (she was > great). > > YES. Each *person* needs a license--not just each car. > > At first I had been told the licenses had to be purchased in CO at Div. > Of > Wildlife Offices or places like Wal-mart where hunting licenses are > sold. > > BUTÂ… they are available on line. I just purchased mine for $10.25. Go > on > line to the following address and follow the easy steps (MasterCard or > Visa in > hand) to get a license. > > <<<www.wildlife.state.co.us>>> is the official site. > > You can see if <<<https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/co/>>> works > directly. > That is the page where licenses are sold. > > BTW, I heartily approve. We should pay too. I have bought Duck Stamps > for > years (as have many of us) but our contribution (admittedly probably > tiny--but > NOT ZERO) shows up counted towards hunters' funding. This controversy > Re: buying > duck stamps can be easily altered by this simple approach. Bravo, > Colorado! > > Doug Chapman > Sioux Falls, SD > > _______________________________________________ > mou-net mailing list > [email protected] > http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net > > _______________________________________________ > mou-net mailing list > [email protected] > http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected] http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
