From the "Audubon Advisory" for July, 2016:
http://www.audubonaction.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=67785.0&pgwrap=nYour Actions at Work
Comments to Oppose 30-Year Permits to Kill Eagles
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed new rules which would grant wind companies 30-year permits to kill Bald and Golden Eagles, Audubon, backed by our grassroots supporters like you, responded forcefully. In addition to our own detailed technical comments,
more than 24,900 people sent public comments to the agency to oppose 30-year permits. Thank you for sending comments. Participating in the public review process is one of the most powerful tools we have to influence sound conservation policies, and to make a stand against ill-conceived proposals. Read more about why Audubon opposes 30-year permits at Audubon.org.
Bald Eagle. (Photo: Richard Hebhardt/Audubon Photography Awards)
Audubon and Other Groups Call for Strengthening the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Audubon's CEO David Yarnold and top leaders from nine other major environmental organizations called on the Obama administration to move forward with rules to update and strengthen the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In a letter, the organizations asked that new rules be finalized soon to address the needless deaths of birds from threats such as power lines and oil waste pits.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects nearly all of the species that nest and migrate through the United States. The law, which passed nearly 100 years ago, helped successfully end the wanton killing of birds from the plume trade and unregulated hunting. Modern-day threats, however, are still killing millions of birds, but they can be prevented. To do so, the MBTA needs to be updated for the 21st century to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address these threats, known as "incidental take".
In the letter, the organizations asked President Obama to proceed with this crucial rulemaking. Last year, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Notice of Intent to begin considering changes to the MBTA. With limited time remaining in this administration, it is important that these rules be proposed for public review and comment in the near term.
Songbirds such as Prothonotary Warblers have died after drinking from uncovered oil pits. (Photo: David Boltz/Audubon Photography Awards)
