For your consideration. A very tidy summary.

Jim Rosso
Issaquah
206-392-8440
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Birders' Resolutions
Date: 96-01-03 11:51:08 EST
From: Kendric
To: JLRosso
To: aucgate!Les_Chibana at uunet.uu.net
To: halevi at jessica.stanford.edu

=========================================
>^< BIRDERS RESOLVED >^<
=========================================
by NHarrierpw
(Ed. note: A repeat of a resounding favorite, updated and
reprinted from the January 1995 BEAKLY NEWS)

The new year has arrived and I thought I would offer up these
Five Birder Resolutions for contemplation as we head inexorably
closer to the new millennium.

FIVE BIRDER RESOLUTIONS FOR 1996
(And the first is the most important)

For 1996:
1) I hereby resolve to do more to protect the birds (and their
environments) I so enjoy. The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
is still in serious jeopardy. That's right, the bill that saved the
symbol of America, the bald eagle, and helped innumerable
others, is itself endangered. The insidious property rights
movement is one of the major forces in this battle. Hidden deep
in the Republican Contract with America is a promise to make
property rights a major consideration in any and all legislation
they feel it touches, the ESA included. However, an Arizona
Republic article in 1994 by Frank Turco (confirmed by tele-
phone with AR's environmental reporter, Steve Yozwiak) re-
ported that U.S. Fish and Wildlife found that out of 113,000
development proposals involving threatened species from 1979
to 1991, only 33 were actually stopped.

It is of vital importance that we birders use our collective clout
(and as a group, we are huge) to make sure our Congress-
people (and governors) know what we think. Please take the
time to e-mail, write, call and/or send specially-priced telegrams
to Washington protesting having the ESA abolished or se-
verely undermined. For good measure, suggest the ESA be
strengthened to protect endangered species' ECOSYSTEMS
as that is the most viable (and economical!) way to save them.
A list of available email addresses for congresspeople can be
obtained by emailing MamaDuck1 at aol.com

In the current political climate, our activism is more important
now than ever. See the upcoming issue (Jan. 1996) of our
sent-to-subscribers-only political alert bulletin, The TALON, for
a discussion of the latest legislative assaults on the ESA. If you
are interested in receiving the TALON, please email Mama-
Duck1.

2. I hereby resolve to take at least one newcomer or youngster
birding to introduce them to the wonder and camaraderie we all
enjoy.

3. I hereby resolve to explore some aspect of birding new to
me: participate in Cornell's Feeder Watch, an Atlas project, a
Christmas Count, an eagle survey, learn some bird songs, go
on (or lead!) an organized bird trip or tour, attend a workshop
on hawk identification or bird houses or decoys or backyard
landscaping for birds. It's a big birding world out there!

4. I hereby resolve, in recognition that birding is a consumptive
sport, to be a responsible birder especially when pursuing
rarities and during breeding season.

5. I hereby resolve to lower my stress levels, enrich my life and
have more fun by doing more birding.