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---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

Someone forwarded this to me and I wasn't able to find www.skyburials.com
online, but an interesting idea...

Rob Fergus
Austin, TX


Donating your Body to...Condors?

PHOENIX, Sept. 29--Wildlife lovers and birdwatchers may soon have an
alternative to costly funeral and burial services. If approved by state and
federal authorities, they may be able to donate their body to science...as
food for endangered condors.

According to Barry Simmons, founder of Skyburials.com, "We wanted to find a
way for people to support endangered species protection even after they are
gone." Simmons plans to construct giant burial platforms in California,
Arizona, and Texas. Skyburials customers can then have their bodies placed
upon these platforms after they die.

"Condors eat carrion," says Simmons, "and this is a great way for us to help
the condor recovery efforts." California Condors, once found across the
western United States, almost went extinct in the 1980s before a massive
recovery effort led to the capture of all wild birds and later release of
captive-bred young birds. In recent years, condors have been released in
California and the Grand Canyon of Arizona.

Simmons thinks that people will flock to have their bodies placed on his 150
foot high burial platforms. "Imagine the opportunity to have the Grand
Canyon as your final resting place. The view from the burial platforms will
be spectacular."

Simmons is seeking approval for the construction of three platforms on the
north rim of the Grand Canyon, six platforms in canyons on National Forest
land in southern California, and two platforms in the Chisos Mountains of
Big Bend National Park in Texas. Though there aren't any condors in Texas,
Skyburial officials hope to convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to
release condors there to feed on their platforms in the future. In the
meantime, there are plenty of vultures in the park, and Skyburial.com hopes
to provide a service to Texans, many of whom would never consent to be
buried outside their home state.

"Funeral costs are going through the roof," said Simmons. "This will be an
affordable way to take care of burial needs in our society."

Though many scoff at Simmon's proposal, Skyburial.com is merely capitalizing
on an ancient Native American custom. According to James Crowdin, associate
professor of history at Northern Arizona State University, "Sky burials are
traditional among many Plains Indian tribes."

Federal and state officials refused to comment on permits applications filed
this week by Skyburial.com, but at least one state biologist thought the
idea had merit. "Aesthetically and biologically, [sky burials] make a lot
more sense than filling your body full of toxic chemicals and sticking it in
the ground after you die," he said. "If this can help lower funeral prices
and save an endangered species, all the better."

Simmons may face an uphill battle with his plans for human sky burials, but
Skyburial.com already offers pet sky burials at platforms in Phoenix,
Albuquerque, San Diego, and Los Angeles, with plans for an additional
platform and educational vulture viewing area in south Texas, where
thousands of vultures pass through during migration.

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For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas
Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

-- END OF FORWARDED MESSAGE --


--
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
A.K.A.:Birdbooker
Rallidae all the way!