MOU is an active partner in the Important Bird Areas program that = identifies and works to improve bird habitat as noted below. We welcome = any and all birders to work with us on preserving and expanding bird = habitat in the state.
I agree that birders need to keep finding ways to step up and preserve = bird habitat. But lets not overlook the positive impacts that over = $1,000,000 in annual donations to the Non Game program, donations to TNC = and other habitat protection groups, recovery efforts for many = non-hunted species and local projects by Audubon chapters and other = around the state have had. None of these were hunter driven and arguably = came primarily from the segment of the population that would be = self-describe bird watchers. So buy a duck stamp, but do not overlook the value of your contributions = to the other organizations you belong to. Merry Christmas and a happy Christmas bird count. Mark Martell Director of Bird Conservation Audubon Minnesota 2357 Ventura Drive #106 St. Paul, MN 55125 651-739-9332 651-731-1330 (FAX) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of Kelly Larson Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 8:39 PM To: Brad Bolduan Cc: mou-...@cbs. Umn. Edu Subject: Re: [mou] Ivory-billed Woodpecker articles and personal mental wonderings about the birding community and habitat conservation Brad, most excellent wonderings! I think a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp would make a = great stocking stuffer! I also like the idea of posting a calendar of = volunteer opportunities on the MOU web site. I know that MOU has recently leased = land in the interest of quality birding. How does it feel about becoming a = landowner and steward? Kelly Larson Bemidji, MN Brad Bolduan wrote: > Although I was burned out on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker hype for a = while, I > thought I should pass along the following link which I saw posted on = the > Iowa List Serve. > > = http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/12/13/ivorybilled.woodpecker.reut/in= dex > .html > > The article discusses the contributions hunters have made in habitat > protection and monitoring with regard to the recent rediscovery of the > Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. I personally believe that this is an = important > message and I believe the article is well written - it may be worth a = look. > The person posting to the Iowa list emphasized that birders, as well, = can > buy migratory waterfowl stamps (duck stamps) and that 98% of the = revenue > raised through these purchases goes toward habitat acquisition. > > The most recent issue of North American Birds also has a section = dedicated > to Ivory-Billed Woodpecker monitoring and potential for rediscovery in = the > Southeastern US which I found interesting. It, also, may be worth = reading > if you can find a copy. > > Thinking about birders (MOU specifically) and habitat = conservation....and > just thinking off the top of my head... I know some birders say they = are > reluctant to buy waterfowl stamps, but we all seem to believe = conservation > is important... Has the MOU ever considered the possibility = fund-raising > for targeted habitat "acquisitions" (in conjunction with TNC, DNR, or > USFWS)? With the exception of Hawk Ridge I have never heard the = possibility > discussed, although the need for birders to be involved in = conservation has > often been discussed on this list. I am thinking of an initative = similiar > to the fund raising attempts for Bolviar Flats a few years ago. > > Perhaps if TNC, USFWS, or DNR has a willing landowner near Felton = Prairie, > Red Rock Prairie, Salt Lake or near selected areas through-out the = state... > there could be an organized structure for raising money from the = birding > community (after all 36% of the state's population has been labeled as = "Bird > Watchers"). Perhaps the birding community would be more willing to > contribute if they knew where their habitat dollars would be spent. = Just a > thought.... > > If anyone is still reading, perhaps the MOU could take an active role = in > finding volunteers for monitoring or habitat improvement projects such = as > buckthorn removal. Williams Nature Park (home of the often watched = Kentucky > Warblers) is one spot that is becoming overgrown with exotic species > (buckthorn). Perhaps the MOU could provide a method of organizing = "habitat > crews" for such projects (assuming that the landowner has a similiar > interest in preserving the habitat). TNC does something similiar for > habitat improvement projects on their preserves. Perhaps it could be = as > simple as a volunteer opportunity posting to this list, a listing of > upcoming habitat projects on the MOU website, or an annual supplement = to the > newsletter similiar to the ABA's "Volunteer Opportunities". I wonder = how > much interest there might be for such a initative. (I also wonder if = the > buckthorn at Williams could ever be eliminated by physical or chemical > means) > > These activities may well be beyond the current abilities or interests = of > the MOU, but the article got me thinking about the issues, = possibilities, > and ... > > Thank you for your patience, > > Brad Bolduan > Windom, MN > > _______________________________________________ > mou-net mailing list > [email protected] > http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net -- We moved. We changed our name. Come visit us in Bemidji, Minnesota. (only 92 miles from Canada!) Northern Flights 208 3rd Street NW Bemidji MN 56601 Phone: 218-444-3022 We have a new web page... http://www.northern-flights.com _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected] http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
