Hi Mary and tweeters,
I belong to Ducks unlimited and really changed my mind after I found out how
much habitat there preserve.It was in November 1999 when I went for a rare
bird a INDIGO BUNTING in Eastern Washington at the Barker Ranch in West
Richland.The property where this Bunting was seen was all fenced in .As I
was standing there for a while and no bird was seen a Rancher came by and
ask what I was looking for.After I told him that on this fenced property a
rare bird been sighted,he told me that the property belongs to him but that
Ducks Unlimited manage the property what otherwise would cost him way to
much money to manage right.I got allowed to go on to the property to look
for this bird as other birders as the late Jerry Converse.I also know that
Ducks Unlimited created the wetlands in the Nisqually refuge and so much
more.In Ocean Shores there is also a place I am not quite sure if this is
also Ducks Unlimited,but it is reserved for Hunters.I always go there to
find Shorebirds and no Hunter rejected me yet when there seeing me there.So
is up to you for such cause can support such group preserving habitat for
birds I strongly support this organization.

Ruth Sullivan
----- Original Message -----
From: "MaryK" <CelloBird at seanet.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 7:13 PM
Subject: Duck Stamps


....go on sale tomorrow. Just a reminder.

I've been buying duck stamps for the past several years, thinking that it's
nice to be able to flash a pretty, pre-purchased stamp and not have to deal
w/paying fees at NWRs. Kind of a voluntary taxation thing, I guess.

Have also been thinking about joining orgs such as Ducks Unlimited, Ruffed
Grouse Society, etc., because of the good conservation work they do. But
you know, somehow it just goes against my grain/philosophical makeup to
join/contribute to organizations that conserve waterfowl (or any other kind
of bird, for that matter) in order to keep their populations up so they can
go out and shoot them. Am not trying to stir up any sort of hunting debate,
mind you. It just seems weird. If any of you are members of such
organizations, I'd love to hear from you re how you reconciled what seem to
be the orgs' oxymoronic missions and being a birder. Maybe there's
something I haven't considered, ya know? Or, are there any other
bird-related conservation orgs that you support that don't have
hunting/hunters behind them? It's nice to be able to throw $$ at those
folks every so often.

Good birding,
Mary

Mary Klein
Seattle WA
CelloBird at seanet.com