What We Can All Do To Help Wildlife

[DeborahG]

Thanks Keystone, this makes me so angry, well they just lost a customer, I usually use Miracle Gro on my flowers.

[julie]

Keystone XL Pipeline Will NOT DIE
Republicans in Washington, D.C., aren't giving up trying to ram through the Keystone XL pipeline. On Monday, less than two weeks after President Obama rejected the controversial Canada-to-Texas project, Republicans in the Senate introduced a bill that would let Congress make it a reality. They're also scrambling to attach Keystone XL to other pieces of legislation floating around the Capitol.

We're not surprised: Big Oil and its congressional cronies were angered by Obama's rejection of Keystone XL. We can't let up on the counterpressure. If it's built, Keystone XL would, as climatologist Dr. James Hansen says, be "game over" for climate change. It would also be a disaster for Canada's boreal forests (where the tar sands the pipeline would carry are extracted) and put hundreds of waterways and some 20 imperiled plants and animals, from the whooping crane to the piping plover, at risk of a spill -- which government scientists say would be inevitable.

Please note that spill is inevitable probably because Keystone's record already has two large spills and a few smaller ones.  These all caused damage to the environment.   Apparently Canaa is unconcerned about losing the boreal forests.

[tailwags]

[/quote]

Well, since it's unlawful to interfere with eagles and their nests, I guess they'll have to move the airport!
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Great idea for a new bumper sticker!  "Move the airport, let the eagles roost in peace"  (:

[julie]

That's a good one tails; might go over well in VA especially Norfort area.

[tailwags]

I am a teacher and use the stream in my classroom. I am always looking for materials and  found this letter in the Kennedy Library and thought it was really cool.   A note about eagles from JFK.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/JFK-Miscellaneous-Information/Appeal-Bald-eagle.aspx

July 18, 1961
Mr. Charles H. Callison
Special Assistant to the President
National Audubon Society
43 South Calumet Street
Hastings-on-Hudson

Dear Mr. Callison:

The founding fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the Bald Eagle as the Emblem of our nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America. But as latter day citizens we shall have failed a trust if we permit the Eagle to disappear.

To find out why the Bald Eagle has declined in numbers, and then to take the necessary steps to assure its permanence among our living wildlife -- theses are important tasks for conservationists.

I commend the Bald Eagle project undertaken by the National Audubon Society and associates.

Sincerely,

John F. Kennedy

(White House Central Subject Files, Box 103, FE 10 National Emblems - Executive)

[AliceWitt]

What a wonderful find, tailwags. I never would have known that I certainly commend you as a teacher extending yourself to your students. You get an A+.

[AliceWitt]

More auto collisions, more injured eagles, more rehab. Some make it some don't. I just don't understand why people can't slow down a little, especially on rural roads when they see wildlife in the area.

Sara - Another Semi Truck Accident
Uploaded by MARSbirds on Feb 4, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igb8kC-5KPU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Not all injuries are caused by human though.

Gold River.
Uploaded by MARSbirds on Feb 3, 2012

G.R. is an approximately 4 1/2 year old male Bald eagle that was brought down from Gold River. He was probably fighting with another eagle and sustained several puncture wounds to his wing. During the night he has torn at one wound and made it much larger, tearing out feathers in the process. Maj applied a heavy bandage so that he couldn't do any further damage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgmImiHLraw&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[AliceWitt]

[julie]

Alice did you make this? it is wonderful!  would make a nice bumper sticker. 

[AliceWitt]

Wish I could take the credit.

You know I found another Wildlife Rescue Center that I have been following. It is the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society in BC.
http://wingbeats.info/

Their Mission: To rescue ill, injured, orphaned or oiled wildlife and transport for rehabilitation and eventual release those which have a chance for survival. To share the knowledge gained from this experience with peers, their agencies and the public.

Their Goals: To reduce suffering of wildlife often affected by human influences and educate the public about their effect on nature and how to reduce that impact.

Their Objectives: To provide a safe, stress-free environment for wildlife to recover.To contribute to the knowledge and understanding of wildlife by participating in research, and sharing information with wildlife and professional organizations, and the general public through meetings, lectures, displays, workshops, seminars, conferences, reports and publications.

MARSbirds uploads great videos of each of their rescues and tracks them from intake to possible release.

I never gave a thought to this one, until last year when a neighbor installed a mesh grating over my fireplace chimney high on the roof because of the birds which were noted hanging around.

Chimney Owls
Uploaded by MARSbirds on Feb 4, 2012

On February 1 Maj rescued two Barn owls from a fireplace. They are covered in soot, but not singed. She is concerned about smoke inhalation, however, as they appeared two days after a fire had been lit in the fireplace.

Please make sure your chimney has a cap or screen so that nesting birds can't enter it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXGOkL93CN8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[AliceWitt]

[julie]

I emailed my state senators regarding Keystone pipeline and followed up with phone call.  here is a typical big money oriented reply and also sort of pork barrel as far as work and jobs for TX.  It is interesting to read but is lengthy.

Dear Friend:
     Thank you for contacting me regarding the Keystone XL pipeline.  I welcome your thoughts and comments.
 
     The Keystone XL pipeline is a proposed $7 billion private sector infrastructure project that would transport 700,000 barrels of oil from Alberta, Canada to refineries in Texas.  Texas refineries are in a unique position to take on the very large quantities of oil from this pipeline.  Our state’s 26 refineries account for more than 25 percent of total United States oil and approximately 5 percent of worldwide capacity.  If completed, it has been estimated that the pipeline development would create up to 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs, and as many as 100,000 jobs at refineries and other businesses.
 
     International pipeline projects like Keystone XL require a Presidential Permit.  Keystone XL has been studied and reviewed for the past four years by one dozen different federal agencies, including in a comprehensive environmental impact statement.  By any measure, it is the most-studied pipeline in history.  Nevertheless, President Barack Obama has been hesitant to make a decision on the required Presidential Permit.
 
     With so many badly needed, good-paying jobs at stake, Congress intervened late last year by attaching an amendment to legislation that extended unemployment benefits and temporary payroll tax reductions.  In an attempt to move the pipeline project forward, the amendment directed the president to decide whether the project would be in the national interest and, if so, to conclude the permitting process within 60 days.
 
     Unfortunately, on January 18, 2012, President Obama rejected a Presidential Permit for Keystone XL.  In my view, the President missed a huge opportunity to boost the national economy and create thousands of jobs in more than a dozen states, including Texas.  In Texas alone, the pipeline construction would produce an estimated $2.3 billion in private investment and generate more than $48 million in new tax revenue.
 
     Notwithstanding the President's decision, efforts to move Keystone XL forward are continuing.  The pipeline would be an important step for our energy independence and security.  In contrast to the instability in the Middle East and in other oil-producing regions, Canada is one of our most trusted allies and a friendly neighbor.  Keystone XL could essentially eliminate our Middle East oil imports.  Without the pipeline, however, Canadian crude oil will be sold to China and other nations.
 
     I will continue to look for ways in which Congress can work to keep the Keystone pipeline as an option for America to go to work and lower energy costs by increasing supply.  I appreciate hearing from you.  I hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.
 
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

[cosbyboy1]

Julie, you know Kay can't help it.   She's one of them.   

[AliceWitt]

I keep harping and harping about man being the biggest threat t all wildlife. I am particularly concerned about the raptors and their attempts to eat carrion along roadways. How many times do we see "such and so" crossing for wildlife, but people do not slow down. Then we come to the raptors and their eating on the shoulders of roads because some car hit the deer, or the beaver, or the turtle, or the raccoon.  Just this weekend In VA a car hit an adult eagle which had landed on the shoulder to get a dead rabbit. It had the rabbit already in its talons and was taking off. Wam, bam, along comes someone not paying attention on a rural road, and the beautiful eagle is dead.
This picture tells it all, but if you have a weak stomach, please skip over it quickly.

[tailwags]

I keep harping and harping about man being the biggest threat t all wildlife. I am particularly concerned about the raptors and their attempts to eat carrion along roadways. How many times do we see "such and so" crossing for wildlife, but people do not slow down. Then we come to the raptors and their eating on the shoulders of roads because some car hit the deer, or the beaver, or the turtle, or the raccoon.  Just this weekend In VA a car hit an adult eagle which had landed on the shoulder to get a dead rabbit. It had the rabbit already in its talons and was taking off. Wam, bam, along comes someone not paying attention on a rural road, and the beautiful eagle is dead.
This picture tells it all, but if you have a weak stomach, please skip over it quickly.

Heartbreaking and tragic. Tears.  A good reminder to keep eyes on the road and move road kill to a safe location if possible.