Date: 5/22/25 7:54 am From: Meg Muckenhoupt <megmuck...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Fwd: [NHBirds] Fwd: URGENT CALL TO ACTION - Tell your people. Call your representatives. Raise your voice. Take action.
On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM Cliff Cook <ccook13...> wrote:
>
> Have received this message from a couple people this morning. The
> situation appears to be urgent.
>
> Cliff Cook
> Watertown
>
>
> This is an important call to action about something that affects all of us
> who value birds. Take it from Scott Weidensaul via his email below. The US
> Bird Banding Program is slated for elimination as early as this week. A
> virtual rally organized by some of the nation’s biggest conservation
> organizations is scheduled for Noon today (Thursday). Link to register is
> in Scott’s email below.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jonathan Doherty
> Hopkinton NH
>
>
> *Subject:* Tell your people. Call your representatives. Raise your voice.
> Take action.
>
> From: SCOTT WEIDENSAUL
> Subject: The federal Bird Banding Lab needs your support, now
>
>
> As some of you may be aware, there are reports that the federal Bird
> Banding Lab, which runs the entire U.S. bird banding program, has been
> slated by DOGE for elimination as soon as this week, along with the rest of
> the vital Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS. The U.S. Geological Survey
> Ecosystems Mission Area is responsible for many of the programs that serve
> millions of birders, hunters, anglers, gardeners, biologists, ecologists,
> and wildlife enthusiasts around the country–and importantly, the wildlife
> we treasure.
>
> The consequences of such a move on birds and bird conservation would be
> incalculable. The BBL is the only source for bands and the federal permits
> that allow us to do the work we do; the loss of the banding lab would mean,
> frankly, an end to nearly 30 years of Northern Saw-whet Owl research. But
> the ramifications go far beyond one species of small owl. Without it, we
> will lose the backbone of environmental and ecological monitoring in the
> United States. This includes research that enables states to set hunting
> seasons, allows conservationists to understand and respond to declines in
> birds, bees and other wildlife, and tracks dangerous wildlife diseases and
> environmental pollutants that impact people and biodiversity. For example,
> most of the birds banded in North America are waterfowl, and banding and
> band return data are central to properly managing our waterfowl populations
> by setting scientifically defensible hunting seasons and bag limits. No
> data, and wildlife managers are working half-blind.
>
> A serious concern is that defenders of the BBL manage to salvage the
> waterfowl management aspects of its work, but that the nongame banding and
> research is done away with. This has cross-border consequences since the
> BBL single-sources all the bird bands used in North America, so nongame
> banding in Canada overseen by the Canadian Wildlife Service would also
> cease if those elements of its work are eliminated.
>
> On Friday "Field and Stream" magazine - hardly a left-leaning publication
> - reported that the cuts could come as early as this Friday, with EMA staff
> told to draft plans for disposing of vehicles and supplies. The BBL has
> already seen significant cuts to its already small staff from long-serving
> employees who took early retirement offers.
>
> What can you do? There will be a virtual rally to support the EMA this
> Thursday, May 22, at noon, organized by some of the largest and most
> important conservation NGOs and professional societies, including the
> National Wildlife Federation, American Bird Conservancy, Ecological Society
> of America, the Xerces Society, and the Wildlife Society. The response has
> been huge; when I signed up this morning to attend the confirmation
> indicated some 1.5 million Americans have said they will take part. The
> link is:
>
> https://www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/790009/ >
> I don't care if you're red, blue or purple, this is a critical moment for
> bird conservation. The birds need you voice and your involvement.
>
> Thanks, and hope to see you online Thursday.
>
> Scott
>
>
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> --
> Cliff >> <ccook13...>
>
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