The effects of the continuing oil gusher have been localized so far. It will not remain that way-
This from the Missoulian. Gulf oil spill threatens birds migrating south from Montana. By Rob Chaney
It seems like the Texas coast is the most important for migrating birds from Montana.
Plans are being made to try to quickly create some artificial wetlands to attract wintering birds.
Alternate habitats for migrating birds considered. By Amy Wold Advocate (Louisiana) staff writer
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
My god, can anything ever be as tragic and depressing as the Gulf Oil spill? It is incredible that its destruction can impact our birds in this part of the country. At least they are trying to jump on this, but will it be soon enough? Sounds like probably not, as usual, as “they” wait until it is almost too late to do anything.
Local researchers here in Western New York are also concerned as nearly all our migrating birds fly through the Gulf region. This “spill” could have extremely devastating effects on migrating bird populations throughout North America.
It doesn’t seem too many people really care about the spill. I still see Expeditions, Excursions and Escalades being driven by one person on the way to work.
It’s also interesting how many of these states aren’t all that interested until they find out birds from their states might be involved.
Most people don’t really get upset over these things until it comes knocking on their door.
I think you will find people in all geographic regions of country that are concerned and motivated. It just might be that people who drive the large SUVs you speak of have never been concerned about the environment. Certainly here in WNY, we’ve had several well attended demonstrations on the Gulf debacle and the local news covers this issue in each of their broadcasts. We’ve also seen an enormous movement in supporting the local economy with dozens of farmers markets, a well established urban gardens movement, a growing Re-Use cooperative, and increased support of locally owned businesses. Our region boasts more than a dozen sustainable CSAs, as well. I don’t believe WNY is unique in this perspective and it is encouraging as our area has been in a real recession for 20 years.
“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Joni Mitchell (early 1960’s).
Would think it would be a no brainer:
http://www.brasschecktv.com:80/page/890.html
At long last, the “silent spring” is scheduled for next year. When the migratory birds fail to arrive in the northern latitudes, I wonder if the sleeping public will then wake up to what has taken place. Of course, by then it will surely be too late. I think the tipping point for the biosphere was a couple years ago, and now has certainly passed us by.
The biosphere, it’s what sustains all life on the planet. Glad I have been able to see all the wildlife I have in the recent past because I can’t be sure it will be here next year.