[mou] paying to use state wildlife land

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 19:32:04 -0600

Regarding the statement:
 "I'm not aware of anything that birdwatchers "harvest" that requires
maintenance or support..."

If you want to know what species require the maintenance and support of the
birding public start with the endangered species list, then add species on
the assorted watch lists compiled by various non-government organizations,
add the "Species in Greatest Conservation Need" list compiled by our state,
and any other native bird species whose numbers are declining due to
anthrogenic causes.

As for the "harvest".  Birdwatchers, as well as almost all americans,
contribute to declining bird populations.  Their harvest is not as direct as
if they were shooting a chickadee off their porch, but it certainly exists.
Birdwatchers use paper which has implications recently highlighted by the
Sax-Zim discussion.  Birdwatchers contribute to urban sprawl.  Birdwatchers
like to have a home on the lake, which is having consequences also discussed
in the media lately.  Birdwatchers drive, use electricity, eat, generate
waste, etc.  If you are reading this the electricity generated to run your
computer may be contributing to higher mercury levels in our lakes and
thermal pollution of our rivers.  What once stood where your home is now?
The spot where I live was formerly tall grass prairie - and we know those
birds are not doing well.

The question is simply are birdwatchers willing to step up to a greater
extent, in whatever capacity, to reduce or mitigate our impacts on the
environment?

Brad Bolduan
Windom

-----Original Message-----
From: mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu [mailto:mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu]On
Behalf Of wampy@att.net
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 10:05
To: Craig; mou-net@cbs.umn.edu; Jim Williams
Subject: Re: [mou] paying to use state wildlife land

The fees paid for duck stamps and other licenses to hunt are intended to be
used for the support and maintenance of the birds and animals harvested, and
as a regulatory mechanism. Furthermore, the stamps and licenses constitute
the permission granted by government  to hunt. I'm not aware of anything
that birdwatchers "harvest" that requires maintenance or support, and I'm
not sure either how you would determine who would pay for watching, or where
you couldn't watch if you didn't have a "Birdwatching Stamp".
As others have already pointed out, most of us who are birdwatchers are
members of other organizations ( Audubon, Nature Conservancy, National
resources Defense Council, Wilderness Society, American Rivers,etc., etc.)
which provide support and funding and protection for land acquisition and
habitat protection just as do Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

--
Bernard P. Friel

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Craig" <cbird@nsatel.net>
> How are state and public lands being paid for already??   Last time I
> checked I still pay taxes plus I'm an avid bowhunter, snowmobiler and my
> wife and I do a lot of camping in the state parks so I think I pay more
than
> my fair share in fees to use such areas.  I thought this was a free
country?
> There aren't  many things that you can do for free anymore but,
birdwatching
> is one of them and that's what I love about birdwatching.  It's getting to
> the point where we won't even be able to look through our binoculars
without
> having a permit first.  Ridiculous.
> Just because you feel guilty for not paying or feel that you need to
> contribute more doesn't mean the rest of have to too.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Williams" <two-jays@att.net>
> To: "MOU net" <mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>; "Paul J.Baicich"
> <paul.baicich@verizon.net>
> Cc: "WisBirdNet Network" <wisbirdn@lawrence.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:18 PM
> Subject: [mou] paying to use state wildlife land
>
>
> Hooray for Colorado. Other states should follow suit. Everyone,
> including birders, who uses state wildlife land should contribute
> directly to its purchase and maintenance.
> Jim Williams
> Wayzata, Minnesota
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: foodrev@aol.com
> Date: March 23, 2006 8:47:57 AM CST
> To: sd-birds@yahoogroups.com, SF-BC@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [sd-birds] Colorado New Wildlife Habitat Stamp
>
> South Dakota birders,
>
> For those who may be going to Colorado this year I thought I'd give a
> heads-up. I am leading a trip April 7-14 for Lesser Prairie Chicken
> Gunnison Sage
> Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan (more of course, but these are the
> targets) and
> got a kind post from a birder Re: the new Habitat Stamp required on
> Colorado
> State Wildlife Areas. I had heard of it, but was not too worried.
>
> I then got a post forwarded by Bill Schmoker from COBIRDS that detailed
> the
> requirements   for the new Wildlife Stamp. And the wardens are checking.
>
> So I waited a lot on CO state telephone lines (no 800 numbers there) and
> heard recordings about how much killing birds and bears cost
> innumerable times,
> but did finally get someone who could answer a few simple questions
> (she was
> great).
>
> YES. Each *person* needs a license--not just each car.
>
> At first I had been told the licenses had to be purchased in CO at Div.
> Of
> Wildlife Offices or places like Wal-mart where hunting licenses are
> sold.
>
> BUT… they are available on line. I just purchased mine for $10.25.   Go
> on
> line to the following address and follow the easy steps (MasterCard or
> Visa in
> hand) to get a license.
>
> <<<www.wildlife.state.co.us>>> is the official site.
>
> You can see if <<<https://www1.wildlifelicense.com/co/>>> works
> directly.
> That is the page where licenses are sold.
>
> BTW, I heartily approve. We should pay too. I have bought Duck Stamps
> for
> years (as have many of us) but our contribution (admittedly probably
> tiny--but
> NOT ZERO) shows up counted towards hunters' funding. This controversy
> Re: buying
> duck stamps can be easily altered by this simple approach. Bravo,
> Colorado!
>
> Doug Chapman
> Sioux Falls, SD
>
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