Delta Towns Hope Woodpecker Brings Riches

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2005/may/04/050409314.html

COTTON PLANT, Ark. (AP) - If the ivory-billed woodpecker was magic to early day American Indians, perhaps it can work some magic for the modern-day residents trying to scratch out a living in this poor Delta region.

The striking bird - not extinct after all - has already attracted eager birdwatchers to the dying communities that dot the area. Rooms at a nearby Days Inn are filling up for fall - prime season for birders.

<snip>

"I'm sure there are some commercial fishermen and some subsistence fishermen, who fish to feed their families, living there," said Keith Stephens, spokesman for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. "It's a Catch-22. You want to have an area where people can go and research, but it will restrict some fishing and hunting."

<snip>

Lewis George and Curtis Stovall, who have fished the area's waterways for years, said they have been told they can no longer fish where they like. As the two men and a third friend showed off a large catch one recent afternoon, George laments: "They stopped us from fishing in the bayou."

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[phantom power]

1. I hope they don't love it to death.

A massive influx of tourists is probably the last thing these birds need.

[jpak]

2. I hope there's no backlash too

All it would take is one asshole with a shotgun and grudge...

[amazona]

3. birders don't seek to restrict fishing and hunting

Everyone is well aware that it was a turkey hunter that brought the hunt for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker back to life in 1999. At least one member of Team Elvis has sent around an email specifically reminding birders 1) not to rush to the area and put the stress on this single bird in Arkansas, and 2) NOT to call for restrictions on hunting/fishing. We all know the only reason the corridor was saved was because of recreational hunting/fishing. No one wants to give hunters/fishers a motive to quietly shoot any IBWOs rather than reporting them. I'll find out if I am allowed to publish the email and if so I'll come back and post it later. But the gist is that birders are less likely to find the IBWO because they move around checking "edge" areas for birds. When there is no immediate action, the birders move on. (Yeah, I'm guilty of it too.) Hunters observed the bird because they sit very still in one place for a long time and they are away from the "edge" where it is safe to discharge their firearm. IBWO needs deep, old forest. The "edge" is useless to this species.

I'm surprised that the fishermen were barred access and I hope the state/federal authorities can work this out because we are all in this together and I don't see any reason why a fisherman with proper license needs to be refused access to the area. I do not understand why fishing would be any threat to this species. Hunting may get iffy if there are too many birders and it becomes dangerous to discharge a firearm. But the hope is that birders will respect the rights of the hunters/fishers because we all have a common enemy -- LOGGERS! And we need the unified economic clout of birders, hunters, and fishers to protect the land for recreation and habitat. The Delta is very poor, and I don't blame the hotel for taking the reservations, but I've been advised that the area where this one male was seen is not necessarily the best area. It is not the breeding area. We have a lot more to learn, and I really think we can play fair by everyone. Most birders I've communicated with are willing to wait and do what is best for the birds.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Redneck Socialist]

4. Why did they close the area to hunting and fishing?

"Since the announcement, game and fish officials closed 5,000 acres of popular hunting and fishing areas within the Cache wildlife refuge for the bird's protection."

The bird isn't hunted and fishing shouldn't affect it at all (as far as I know.) If they are concerned about the mere presence of people in the area, they I would think that a horde of eager birders would have much more of an impact than a few hunters and anglers.

Closing areas is only going to generate resentment and ill will. Those sort of restrictions are the type of actions that turn people against protections for endangered species.

on edit: clarity