| So fellow citizens, migratory
birds responsibilities are divided between three unrelated Federal agencies.
Useful birds like piping plovers that while "Endangered" are used to
stop public access and human activities from Atlantic and Great Lakes beaches
to Nebraska streams will stay under Federal "protection." Problem
birds like mute swans and sparrows can be dropped from Federal protection to
face whatever fate befalls them. Cormorants were seized (by conspiring Federal
bureaucrats) from State regulation where they thrived with minimal conflicts
and are allowed to become a catastrophe under Federal "control."
Resident Canada geese break office workers' arms and ribs as they drive lunch
hour workers from park ponds. Golf courses and parks where kids play are
covered with goose feces. (Take Note - There is practically no documentation
on the makeup and danger from feces in wild geese and ducks, especially in
large and persistent concentrations. Contrast that with reams of research on
domestic ducks "controlled" by EPA with draconian regulations
because of staphylococcus, streptococcus, orthophosphorus, nitrates, etc. in
their feces that are a confirmed threat to human health, groundwater, surface
water, and soil.)
There is no Federal responsibility anywhere
for this situation. There is no data to justify any control or management of
cormorants or resident Canada geese, or mute swans, or even the human health
and contamination impacts of large waterfowl concentrations. Impacts of birds
are suppositions and subjects for bar arguments. The FWS migratory bird
program boasts a $4.5 M per year shortfall and cancels bird surveys older than
FWS. State fish and game funds due from earmarked excise taxes are diverted by
FWS from State agencies with shortfalls of their own to prop up a Federal
program that has been run into the ground. Swan backers think it is hunters
running the program. Hunters think their organizations are looking out for
them. There are 94 species of "Invasive" migratory birds that will
lose Federal protection under "Invasive Species" legislation
according to an FWS Federal register Notice from a few years back. What is the
answer? Why dropping "Non-Native" and "Invasive Species"
from Federal protection. Federal performance gets worse in this area each year
just as it gets more dangerous to citizens in the "Endangered
Species" area each year and we are asked to believe that separating
plants and animals based on their arrival date is "progress."
The time to put the migratory bird pieces
back together and have Congress (the bureaucrats and their political bosses
have proven to be incapable) give them a comprehensive mandate. Failing that,
breaking the Treaties and turning management back to the States can be no
worse than this train looking for it's next and biggest train wreck risking
both birds and citizen rights..
Between the Endangered Species track record,
the Migratory Bird record, and these constant attempts to develop
"Invasive Species" authority; it might be worth considering
contracting all this out to offshore contractors like the Indians who work for
computer customer service offices. I am beginning to think they couldn't do
any worse than what is going on in this whole area today.
PS. All of you "Invasive Species"
fans save the mantras about the ecosystem and all the unknown effects of
"unnatural" plants and animals for somebody in Manhattan that falls
for that stuff. 
1 July 2004
This article and other recent articles by Jim
Beers can be found at
http://www.allianceforamerica.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=91
Jim Beers is available for consulting or to
speak
Contact: JimBeers7@earthlink.net |
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