Fellow Tweets -

I recieved this notice from the Maryland Ornithologic Society. I'm sure that
many of in Washington have also been to Aransas pass and would like to
comment on this possible development. The very last link on the page allows
you to easily send letters to our representatives.

Peter Mann
Seattle
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________


Subject: Aransas whooping cranes and proposed development



MOS birders,

I've been receiving so many action alerts lately, my head is spinning. The
one pasted below merits attention from anyone who has ever gone to Aransas
NWR near Rockport, TX to see the whooping cranes. The Army Corps of
Engineers is considering an application for a permit to develop two marinas
(in association with a big housing development) adjacent to Aransas. The
comment period was extended to 31 August when the National Wildlife Refuge
Assn. received the news too late for the original comment period end date of
17 August. Read their letter at the bottom for details, then consider going
to their website, signing up, and sending your comments via their easy link
to the Army Corps of Engineers. The cranes are really special; dredging and
putting in two marinas is bad enough, then consider the additional
disturbance from boat traffic that will ensue!

Maureen Harvey
MOS Conservation Committee Chair

_____

From: bcalist-bounces at lists.abcbirds.org
[mailto:bcalist-bounces at lists.abcbirds.org] On Behalf Of Desiree
Sorenson-Groves
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 12:50 PM
To: bcalist at lists.abcbirds.org
Subject: [BCAlist] BCA: From [NWRA-RAN] Protect the ONLY natural population
of wild whooping cranes in the world!


BCA members - we at the National Wildlife Refuge Association just learned of
a plan to put a luxury development adjacent to the Aransas NWR (TX coast)
and part of it would be in critical habitat for whooping cranes.

Please read below and if possible, send a comment to the Corps. You can
review the entire proposal (and see where the habitat would be impacted)
here:


* http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/2007-310.pdf



The Corps has extended the deadline for comments until August 31st. If you
would like to send in your own comments, you can do so via the information
on the public notice, found here:


* http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/pn2007-310.pdf



Below is an alert we just sent out to our advocates and can also be found at
our website: http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com/showalert.asp?aaid=2828

Thanks,
------------------------------------
Desiree Sorenson-Groves
Vice President, Government Affairs
National Wildlife Refuge Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 407
Washington, D.C. 20006
Ph. 202-965-6972
Toll free: 1-877-396-NWRA
Cell: 703-498-5897
Fax: 202-965-6972
www.refugenet.org





Dear Friend,

We need your help to protect endangered whooping cranes on the Texas Gulf
Coast - a proposed development could destroy critical habitat.

Problem:
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas is home to
the only natural wild population of whooping cranes in the world, but a
developer wants to build a 700-acre housing development right next to the
refuge - and a portion of the development would be in whooping crane
critical habitat.

The proposal by Seadrift Ranch Partners, Ltd. would build two marinas,
several canals and channels, as well as luxury homes and could have
serious ramifications for the whoopers that depend on the refuge to roost
in the evening and the adjacent lands to feed and find fresh water during
the daytime. In addition, the development could have adverse impacts on
numerous other migratory birds federally protected under the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act.

Thus far, a developer-hired consultant has conducted the only data
collection on the impacts to wildlife. Until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is able to do serious studies on the impacts to cranes and other
migratory birds, this permit must not be granted.


Solution:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) must reject the developer's
permit and protect this wild flock of whooping cranes and all other
migratory birds that depend on the refuge and adjacent lands and waters.

Action Needed:
Please send a comment to the Corps today insisting that they deny a permit
to the developer, Seadrift Ranch Partners, that could destroy critical
crane habitat.

Deadline for responding:
Please take action by August 31, 2007.

To send a message, please click the link below:

http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com/showalert.asp?aaid=2828