Tweeters,

I've been following the millennium celebration/migratory bird impact
discussion on the digest. I have two immediate reactions. The first is
excitement that the plight of migratory birds is getting some attention.
and how can this situation be built upon in a positive way. My second
response is one of concern about the tenor and tone of the responses.

I have known both Paul Schell and Sue Donaldson for a number of years. I
have toured them here at the zoo and seen their concern for the environment
and for wildlife. I had the opportunity to talk to a member of the Mayor's
staff last week when Mayor Schell was here for the dedication of the new
butterfly exhibit. My sense is that they are taking the e-mails and
comments seriously and want to shape a celebration that does credit to the
city and does nothing to harm wildlife. By way of background one of the
current Deputy Mayors was instrumental, during the Royer administration, in
getting the Seattle Water Department to set aside and enlarge Spotted Owl
Management areas in the Cedar River Watershed..

Because I know Sue Donaldson from her years as chair of the City Council
Parks Committee I had a hard time believing that she would take lightly
concern about possible harm to birds or any wild creatures, as reflected
in the quote in the PI. The zoo's recent experience with the Wall Street
Journal, leads me to treat news articles with a renewed skepticism. After
talking with her I am convinced that her belief is that a celebration can
be shaped that can enhance rather than harm migratory birds and be a
vehicle for future energy conservation and that our views and suggestions
can make a difference. Her use of the term "ridiculous" referred to her
belief that people of good will can come together to solve problems and
that the migratory bird problem should become a non-issue.

This leads to my second concern about the tenor of some of the posts and
some of the e-mail the Mayor and Councilmember Donaldson have been
receiving. Much of it is accusatory and negative and more likely to build
fences not bridges between those planning the events and the birding
community. These are well- meaning sensitive individuals who have dedicated
themselves to public service to make a positive difference in this
community. I think our role as citizens, and because of the knowledge we
have as members of the ornithological community, is to help them do just
that rather than denigrate them for lack of awareness about an issue that
most of the population knows little about. The real issue is how to take
this increased awareness of migratory bird issues and create something
positive. Maybe tweeters need to take the lead in creating something like
the Toronto Fatal Light Awareness Program(FLAP) here in Seattle.

Finally, I've seen the data compiled for Toronto and for a single building
in Chicago., Does anyone have any Seattle or Northwest data on this issue.

Mike







Mike Waller
Deputy Director
Woodland Park Zoological Gardens
5500 Phinney Ave N.
Seattle WA.98103
(206)684-4057
(206)233-7278fax
mwaller at wolfenet.com
http://www.zoo.org

"People who care conserve; people who don't know, don't care.
What is the extrinction of a condor to a child
who has never known a wren" Robert Michael Pyle