Page 90 - 2002 DT 12 issues_Neat

Where have all the birdies ○ approach to conservation can avert criti- ○ November Board:
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gone? ○ ○ cal losses if measures are taken before a ○ ○
species reaches dangerously low levels. ○
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○ A motion to reject a suggestion
ach year, various plant and ○ Audubon’s WatchList is a warning ○ to provide Friends license plate holders
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animal species are submitted ○ system that includes more than twice as ○ ○ as member premiums passed unani-
○ many bird species as those federally ○
E for endangered or threatened sta- ○ ○ mously because of cost.
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tus. Only a few actually make the lists. ○ ○ designated as endangered or threatened. ○ A motion to eliminate the Friends
○ The system uses color flagging: RED for
The process of listing a species is often ○ 20% discount on Memorial Walkway
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○ ○ species which are probable candidates for
contentious, with scientists and environ- ○ tiles passed unanimously.
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mentalists pitted against government, ○ the Federal Endangered or Threatened ○ A motion to provide $1,600 to
○ Species Lists; YELLOW for birds that ○
business, special interest groups and ○ ○ the BLM for the funding of four Visitor
property owners. While there have been ○ ○ are declining at slower rates, typically ○ ○ Center traveling exhibits for 2003 was
○ those of national conservation concern
a few success stories, by the time a ○ passed unanimously provided that the
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○ or which can be saved most cost-effec-
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species is recognized as endangered, Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Assn.
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the efforts to reverse the trend require ○ tively; and GREEN for species not ○ ○ contributes a like amount. The exhibits
○ included on the WatchList. The system
considerable manpower, money, and ○ ○ on the Las Vegas Springs
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sometimes, legislation. ○ ○ “shows us where to focus our attention ○ Preserve Archeology, Lichens, Diversity
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○ and resources if we want to help the sur-
On October 22, 2002, the National ○ Endangered, and Las Vegas History will
○ vival of a vast number of bird species,” ○
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Audubon Society (NAS) released a report ○ each remain for three months beginning
○ says Gill. “The WatchList is preventive ○
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stating that a quarter of all bird species ○ January 1.
medicine . . . It’s far cheaper and more
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in the United States have declined in ○ ○ Ranger Gina Mele announced
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effective to protect and sustain birds be-
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population since the 1970s. Frank Gill, ○ ○ that a Second Annual Red Rock Photo
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○ fore they become endangered.”
Contest will be held in May. The catego-
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Naturalist and artist Roger Tory ○
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○ ries are tentatively described as “People
○ Peterson, who authored the first Guide ○
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○ and Nature,” “Plants and Animals,” and
to Birds in 1934 wrote, “Birds are an ○
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○ “Digitally Manipulated Photos.”
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‘ecological litmus paper’. Because of
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○ ○ Visitor Center Manager, Mark
○ their rapid metabolism and wide geo-
○ Rekshynskyj, forwarded thanks to
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○ graphical range, they reflect changes in ○
○ Friends for its outstanding contributions
the environment quickly; they warn us
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○ to Red Rock Days, the Tortoise Trot and
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of things out of balance sending out sig-
Harvest Festival.
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○ nals whenever there is a deterioration in ○
chief ornithologist and senior vice presi- ○ the ecosystem . . . .” ○ ○ Wild Horse Update
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dent for science, said the report “is the ○ ○ Habitat loss and fragmentation ○
most comprehensive so far of how ○ ○ caused by human activities and land de- ○ ○ he wild horses rescued from star-
velopment, depleted food and water ○ vation earlier this summer are
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American birds are declining.” Of more ○ ○
○ sources, the impacts of pollution, the ○Tmuch improved, thanks to the ef-
than 800 native bird species, the Audubon ○
○ spread of non-native species at the ex- ○ forts of the National Wild Horse Assn.
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WatchList 2002 identifies 201 that “show ○
○ pense of native plants, and diseases and ○ (NWHA) and contributions from the
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either significantly decreasing numbers ○
pathogens, such as the West Nile virus, ○ community. The situation remains seri-
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or restricted range, or are under other ○
are major factors in population declines. ○ ous, however, for a number of reasons,
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threats.” Numbers for many songbirds ○ ○
These major ecological changes also ○ not the least of which is a lack of funds
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show declines of more than 50 percent, ○ affect the overall quality of life for people ○ ○ to adequately provide for the horses’
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while the Cerulean Warbler of the eastern ○ ○ and wildlife. Gill warns that we should ○ ○ welfare in the upcoming months.
U.S. has declined by more than 70 per- ○ in no way take WatchList birds for ○ ○ Corral space must be expanded im-
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cent and the Henslow’s Sparrow, found ○ granted; we should instead listen to what ○ mediately for the four pregnant mares and
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in the Midwest, has dropped by ○ their declines are telling us about the eco- ○ their very-soon-to-be-foals. Additional
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80 percent. ○ systems we both inhabit.—NAS News; ○ contributions of fencing panels, either on
NAS believes that a pro-active National Geographic News Service loan or lease, are urgently needed now.
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