Date: 5/22/25 3:40 pm From: Nina Shepardson <nmallozzi...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Fwd: [NHBirds] Fwd: URGENT CALL TO ACTION - Tell your people. Call your representatives. Raise your voice. Take action.
I called Katherine Clark's office about this. I expected to just be leaving
a voicemail, but I got to talk to an actual person.
Nina Shepardson, Arlington
On Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 10:53:57 AM UTC-4 Meg Muckenhoupt wrote:
> For what it's worth:
>
> Senator Markey's office:
> https://www.markey.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion > <https://www.markey.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion> > Senator Warren's office:
> https://www.warren.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion > Rep. Katherine Clark's office: https://katherineclark.house.gov/email-me >
> Meg Muckenhoupt
>
> On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM Cliff Cook <cco......> 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 >> <cco......>
>>
>> --
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>>
>
