- Houston Museum of Natural Science to host exhibits of paintings and mounted specimens of the the most endangered family of birds in the Americas, Cracidae, which includes the Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula). "Among the 50 species of cracids, half are threatened or critically endangered, and one species, the alagoas curassow, is only present in captivity," says Daniel Brooks, curator of vertebrate zoology and wildlife art at the museum.
- Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) introduces legislation to increase wetlands. The Wetlands Loan Act introduced with Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) plans to borrow $400 million against future duck stamp fees to prevent the development of dwindling habitat by acquiring land at today's prices. The bill would also expand revenues by increasing stamp prices over the next ten years. The cost of a stamp hasn't risen since 1991, but the price of land continues to go up. Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation are all supporting it.
- Hog factory operation gets the green light to be built near the Jasper/Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana. The National Audubon Society just identified this area as one of the Indiana's first Important Bird Areas on November 1. The marsh and surrounding areas typicaly attract over 20,000 Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) each fall. Area residents are planning an appeal, and are asking for an environmental impact report to be completed.
- Bird sanctuary habitats destroyed during Hurrican Rita are being restored with help from volunteers at the Houston Audubon Society. If you'd like to help, join them on the second of two fall cleanup days at High Island Bird Sanctuaries on December 10 at 8am.
- Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) released back into the wild at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, Virginia. It was found after being attacked by gulls last month. It's suspected that the bird was just a runt trying to survive, and the Wildlife Center of Virginia helped it put a little weight on.
- Wildcat Park in Joplin, Missouri holds sign-raising event to celebrate the new home for the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center.
(0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink








