Eric: Or people could buy Federal Duck Stamps http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Info/Stamps/stampinfo.htm#benefit , according to which " Since 1934, the sales of Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $750 million, which has been used to help purchase or lease over 5.3 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the U.S. These lands are now protected in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services National Wildlife Refuge System.
Waterfowl are not the only wildlife to benefit from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. Numerous other bird, mammal, fish, reptile, and amphibian species that rely on wetland habitats have prospered. Further, an estimated one-third of the Nation's endangered and threatened species find food or shelter in refuges established using Federal Duck Stamp funds. People, too, have benefited from the Federal Duck Stamp Program. Hunters have places to enjoy their hunting heritage and other outdoor enthusiasts have places to hike, watch birds, and visit. Moreover, the protected wetlands help purify water supplies, store flood water, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, and provide spawning areas for fish important to sport and commercial fishermen. ", "Ninety-eight) cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Understandably, the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve Americas natural resources" and more. Down here in Texas the wild flock of Whooping Cranes winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, south of McAllen TX, has hosted innumerable birds that have caused people to buy airline tickets in order to see them. The reason hunters and fishers get what they want is because they fork out money for licenses and pay taxes on many of the items they use to try to harvest their particular type of wild game. As illustrated above, every once in a while their money benefits us. Onward! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eric Harrold Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 11:14 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [mou-net] More wasted birder energy focused on a hunting issue (SHCR) Folks, Do yourselves and more importantly bird conservation a lot of good by finding something more biologically meaningful to focus on rather than whether 5 or 10 Sandhill Cranes are going to be killed by hunters in Minnesota during a crane season. This is the kind of thing that makes folks like myself (and believe me we are many) who have a wildlife biology/management background sneer at birders. Its wasted useless energy! Pick a habitat issue, any habitat issue, and immerse yourself. Heck even join hands with the blood-thirsty hunters and contribute to funds that set aside acres for wetland conservation or prairie preservation. God knows southwest Minnesota could stand some of that as I briefly lived there. Pheasants Foreever has done marvelous work down there to the extent that they can. Join such an effort, and truly help birds for a change. Don't bite the hand that has so productively fed you! Hunting dollars have done more good per acre (and that's what counts) than any other source of conservation revenue. Many non-game species have places to call home thanks to these funds. There is no logical reason for the antagonism that many birders have toward hunting. Eric Harrold Urbana, IL ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
