tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.comments2017-01-24T02:32:54.595-08:00Audubon California Chapter NetworkGarry Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492703626364589878noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-56696951412064695382010-12-12T09:51:53.811-08:002010-12-12T09:51:53.811-08:00I believe Richard Drechsler does a good job repres...I believe Richard Drechsler does a good job representing the frustrations we all have as we see raptors and other species being killed needlessly at Altamont. It would be good however to paint a complete picture.<br />Yes, NextEra Energy is the only wind company to sign this agreement. But they are the largest. And this agreement eliminates the argument that repowering can't be done or it's too expensive. The agreement sets a precedent for permits and adaptive management of the remaining turbines.<br />-- Mr. Drechsler states that the birds will have to wait five years.-- <br />Nov. 2015 is the fallback date, should nothing else happen, when NextEra will shut down all existing old technology turbines. However, every effort is being made to repower phase 1 by 2011, Phase 2 by 2012, and Phase 3 by 2013. A far superior scenario than the 2018 expiration date of the current permits.<br />-- Mr. Drechsler points out the agencies that are absent from the agreement.-- It's important to understand that these agencies have overseen what's happened at Altamont for 30 years. Their lack of enforcement compelled the Audubon chapters to sue the county in 2004. What the current agreement does have, is the Attorney General as a party to the agreement, bringing oversight to operations in Altamont that the Audubons have never had.<br />--Mr. Drechsler closes by taking me to task for compromising.-- If we chose not to compromise, we would condone the status quo through 2018. By developing this agreement with the Wind Companies and the Attorney General's office the Audubon's have set in motion an end to this outdated technology and given Altamont a reasonable chance at an 80% reduction in raptor mortality. I personally am proud of this agreement and what it means for the raptors and other bird species at Altamont.Bob Powernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-85027313991657277912010-12-10T16:39:38.917-08:002010-12-10T16:39:38.917-08:00During the last 30 years about 250,000 birds and b...During the last 30 years about 250,000 birds and bats have been eviscerated by the rotating blades of the wind turbines at Altamont Pass, Ca.<br /><br />Ironically, the lives of nearly all the birds here are protected by two or three federal laws.<br /><br />Another thing that this press release does not tell you is that the settlement only requires that 44% of the offending wind turbines, those owned by NextEra Energy (formally Florida Power and Light), be replaced.<br /><br />And the birds will have to wait five years until these 44% are swapped for safer, but not safe turbine technology.<br /><br />Monitoring and enforcement agencies such "Department of Fish and Wildlife" or "Department of the Interior" are also conspicuously missing from this agreement.<br /><br />In short this "settlement" puts us on course for the deaths of thousands of birds annually, forever: All from a single cause on a single 56 sq.mile plot of land in N. California.<br /><br />What should make us most concerned is the language used by Audubon in this press release. Bob Power, Exec. Dir. of Santa Clara Audubon condones compromise in:<br /><br />"balancing the need for renewable <br />energy generation with subsequent <br />impacts to wildlife"<br /><br />Let's recall that every new form of energy, since the prehistoric discovery flint, has been greeted by humans with enough enthusiasm to rationalize polluting and killing. Remember the promise of nuclear energy and the hydroelectric dam?<br /><br />Mr. Power's statement will become the credo of every company who, after getting certified as "Green", will find it too costly to "balance" the habitat that they plan to ransack. He should allow these companies to speak for themselves.Richard Drechslernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-41002042473136913292010-12-07T14:08:42.735-08:002010-12-07T14:08:42.735-08:00This achievement took heroic persistence and patie...This achievement took heroic persistence and patience on the part of the individual activists, attending meetings, reading documents, writing documents, keeping up-to-date on the relevant literature....and it can't be done without contributions to keep these chapters functioning. And it's not over yet, it never is. Constant vigilance is required.<br />Now on to saving Panoche Valley!Debinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-57368423029091036802010-12-06T20:43:34.585-08:002010-12-06T20:43:34.585-08:00Hat's off to Golden Gate, Santa Clara Valley, ...Hat's off to Golden Gate, Santa Clara Valley, Mt. Diablo, Ohlone, and Marin Audubon Chapters. Seems like a really big step not only physically but figuratively too. You must of worked hard: thank you.chicostevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04593444924173349907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-7032666405700943962010-12-06T20:23:24.735-08:002010-12-06T20:23:24.735-08:00Great to finally see progress on this black eye of...Great to finally see progress on this black eye of wind energy.Garry Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492703626364589878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-76933744137152417562010-01-13T22:34:34.793-08:002010-01-13T22:34:34.793-08:00happy to read~ thank you!............................happy to read~ thank you!<a href="http://shop3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://show3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://showlive3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://sogo3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://talk3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://tw3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://tw183.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://ut3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://ut3873.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://uthome3.movie919.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://www.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://love.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://love104.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://loveu.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://mm.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://nice.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://orz.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://play.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://playboy.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://post.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://room.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://sex.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://sex520.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://sexy.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://shop.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://show.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://showlive.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://sogo.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://talk.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://tw.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://tw18.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://ut.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://ut387.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://uthome.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://utshow.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://woman.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://love1.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://love1041.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="http://loveu1.ez999.info" rel="nofollow">.</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-86975221528631173922009-06-03T15:15:05.232-07:002009-06-03T15:15:05.232-07:00Dr. Onik Arian, a long-time friend to California’s...Dr. Onik Arian, a long-time friend to California’s birds and birders, was tragically killed on December 14th 2008 after being swept from a jetty in Crescent City, CA while participating in his local Del Norte County, California Christmas Bird Count (CBC). <br />His untimely death at age 61 represents a devastating loss to his family of course and to the wider California birding community, as well as to the many International friends he made over the last 30 years during his annual spring visits to Pt. Pelee National Park in SW Ontario, Canada.<br />Since Onik’s death, a number of actions have been initiated in his memory, among them the following:<br />1. An Onik Arian Warbler Research Fund has been set up through Bird Studies Canada, located in Port Rowan, Ontario. <br />The mission of Bird Studies Canada is to advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, in Canada and elsewhere, through studies that engage the skills, enthusiasm, and support of its members, volunteers, and the interested public.<br /><br />Bird Studies Canada is a not-for-profit organization built on the enthusiastic contributions of thousands of volunteer Citizen Scientists. Data from Bird Studies Canada’s volunteer surveys and targeted research projects are used to identify significant population changes and help direct conservation planning.<br />Donations to the Onik Arian Warbler Research Fund should be sent to the attention of Debbie Badzinski at the following address:<br />Debbie Badzinski<br />Ontario Program Manager<br />Bird Studies Canada<br />115 Front Street, PO Box 160<br />Port Rowan, ON<br />N0E 1M0<br />519-586-3531 (ext.123); <br />toll-free 888-448-2473<br />www.bsc-eoc.org<br /> <br />2. Pt. Pelee National Park agreed to inaugurate Parks Canada’s new “bench program” with a memorial bench in Onik’s memory. This bench was dedicated on May 18th, 2009 during a simple ceremony in the presence of many of Onik’s friends and will be permanently located in Tilden’s Woods on one of his favourite Pelee trails.<br />3. Anyone wishing further information regarding either of these projects should contact Brock May, a 30 year Canadian friend of Onik’s, via email at: Outside_Exposure@telus.net.Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07228634338128124618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-79521060059155619902009-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:002009-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00At left is David Bunn and at right is Steve Hampto...At left is David Bunn and at right is Steve Hampton, moderator and presenter on the Habitat panel. The day was a great success. Thank you to Audubon California for encouraging and supporting this event!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-38506050803168597802008-12-11T19:55:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:55:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11410848639653079671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-43284586551746096312008-08-28T15:10:00.000-07:002008-08-28T15:10:00.000-07:00Update: Mike Prather reports that over 42,000 indi...Update: Mike Prather reports that over 42,000 individuals of 71 species were recorded on the big day with American Avocet, Wilson Phalarope, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, California Gull, the most abundant with 16 Snowy Plovers sighted!Garry Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492703626364589878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8994260009622586412.post-14923563974011978782008-07-22T20:11:00.000-07:002008-07-22T20:11:00.000-07:00That's a great victory. Great site, too.That's a great victory. Great site, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com