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| THE CONSERVATION COLUMN RVAS Conservation Activities beyond the Rogue Valley by Pepper Trail In addition to our efforts in the Rogue Valley, RVAS supports conservation activities of other organizations in Oregon and nationwide, and this is a good time to summarize some of our recent actions. At the April Board of Directors meeting, RVAS endorsed the Oregon Water Parks, and Wildlife Initiative ( www.waterparkswildlife.org). Oregonians for Water, Parks and Wildlife is an initiative petition campaign committee seeking to renew Oregon's only dedicated source of state funding for parks and natural areas. The current dedication of 15 percent of Lottery revenues to parks and natural areas will expire in 2014 unless voters renew it. This highly successful program, first adopted overwhelmingly by voters in 1998, is at work today supporting the efforts of Oregonians to improve and expand parks, restore habitats for fish and wildlife, and protect important natural areas in every part of Oregon. This important measure will: -- Continue to protect and restore clean water in Oregon 's rivers, lakes and streams. -- Preserve natural areas and wildlife habitats that are an important part of Oregon's natural heritage, economy and quality of life. -- Improve and expand state and local parks, enabling Oregon families to enjoy nature and the outdoors close to home. -- Preserve federal matching funds in Oregon that would otherwise go to other states for their parks and natural areas. -- Renew Oregon's only dedicated fund for water, parks and wildlife, with no increase in taxes, and no cuts to other vital services. |
| Something to ponder: "The last word of ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?' If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not. If the biota, in the course of aeons, has built something we like, but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering." Aldo Leopold, The Sand County Almanac |
| Rogue Valley Audubon Society PO Box 8597 Medford, OR 97501 roguevalleyaudubon.org 541-601-3683 (541-601-DOVE) |
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future - that groups around Oregon are working to renew it now. That's why RVAS had endorsed
the effort to place a ballot measure on Oregon's November 2010 ballot.
Also this month, we joined the Bird Conservation Alliance ( www.birdconservationalliance.org), and
signed on to the group’s efforts in support of a new bill recently introduced in Congress, the
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2010 (H.R. 4797). It is estimated that 300 million to one billion
birds die each year from collisions with glass on buildings – from skyscrapers to homes. H.R. 4797,
introduced by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), is a cost neutral bill which will save the lives of millions of
birds that mistake objects reflected in window glass, such as habitat and sky. The bill calls for each
public building constructed, acquired, or altered by the General Services Administration (GSA) to
incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, bird-safe building materials and design features.
Many buildings constructed by GSA are already, in fact, bird-friendly. The legislation would require
GSA to take similar actions on existing buildings, where practicable. While this legislation is
limited to federal buildings, it’s a very good start that perhaps can lead to more widespread
applications of bird-friendly designs elsewhere.
Finally, RVAS signed on to a letter to President Obama from the Alaska Coalition (www.
alaskacoalition.org) asking him to work toward a formal wilderness designation for the coastal plain
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is a major breeding ground for birds that migrate
south to our region, among others. And, we are already members of the Endangered Species
Coalition (www.stopextinction.org) and the Oregon Conservation Network (www.olcveducationfund.
org) and will continue to maintain our membership in these organizations.
So, enjoy your summer, everyone! RVAS will remain on the job, working for the protection of birds
and their habitat.
the effort to place a ballot measure on Oregon's November 2010 ballot.
Also this month, we joined the Bird Conservation Alliance ( www.birdconservationalliance.org), and
signed on to the group’s efforts in support of a new bill recently introduced in Congress, the
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2010 (H.R. 4797). It is estimated that 300 million to one billion
birds die each year from collisions with glass on buildings – from skyscrapers to homes. H.R. 4797,
introduced by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), is a cost neutral bill which will save the lives of millions of
birds that mistake objects reflected in window glass, such as habitat and sky. The bill calls for each
public building constructed, acquired, or altered by the General Services Administration (GSA) to
incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, bird-safe building materials and design features.
Many buildings constructed by GSA are already, in fact, bird-friendly. The legislation would require
GSA to take similar actions on existing buildings, where practicable. While this legislation is
limited to federal buildings, it’s a very good start that perhaps can lead to more widespread
applications of bird-friendly designs elsewhere.
Finally, RVAS signed on to a letter to President Obama from the Alaska Coalition (www.
alaskacoalition.org) asking him to work toward a formal wilderness designation for the coastal plain
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is a major breeding ground for birds that migrate
south to our region, among others. And, we are already members of the Endangered Species
Coalition (www.stopextinction.org) and the Oregon Conservation Network (www.olcveducationfund.
org) and will continue to maintain our membership in these organizations.
So, enjoy your summer, everyone! RVAS will remain on the job, working for the protection of birds
and their habitat.