Ridgewood Reservoir needs your urgent action !

Dear Birders and Nature supporters:

http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/2010/06/appeal-for-protection.html

 (click on link above ,then click on the attached letter to enlarge after reading this urgent post)

There is a required time we as a birding community need to unite in conserving our city's natural resources particularly a birding hotspot like Ridgewood Reservoir on the Brooklyn /Queens border. Silence cannot help unless we act in the best interests of our birds , habitats and natural biodiversity.

For the past few years ever since its fortunate timely discovery, Ridgewood Reservoir has been at the foreground a battleground between the park's conservationist advocates with the supporting communities versus the NYC Parks Department over its future . Ridgewood Reservoir's ecological balance and integrity ( especially as a critical watershed for Jamaica Bay) is under dire threat from development --namely ballfields inside the reservoir's basin--by NYC Parks, potentially impacting wildlife and habitats severely, unless you take action. The only recourse LEFT was to appeal to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for its preservation as a rich wetland with its supporting rich woodlands.

Attached above at the header is a link to an important announcement letter sent out by the non-profit organization Highland Park/ Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance. Please read and we hope you will write a letter based on its contents. No matter how well versed or whatever its length ( best one page or less is fine) , any concise letter sent to NYSDEC receives attention . It is the number of letters stressing concerns for preservation that makes the greatest impact for NYSDEC to designate Ridgewood Reservoir stringent protective wetland status.

It is our strong belief as birders we each must be a conservationist- in whatever measure- in saving our habitats for birds and wildlife now and for future generations assuring enjoyment for the general public of all ages. You do make a difference ! Please write in saving a viable  critically important birding location in support of our birds ,our natural riches and in supporting our friends at Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance. It is hoped someday  this wonderful greenspot will be a nature preserve with a visitors center,  for exploring nature, particularly for children the primary benefactors .Click on the link above at the heading and act for conservation of an urban treasure.Remember: the more of us replying to NYSDEC, the better.

Regards

Your friends at Brooklyn Bird Club

CBS News on Jamaica Bay ecosystem

"Jamaica Bay hoped to be cleaned by 2020"

http://wcbstv.com/local/jamaica.bay.pollution.2.1756044.html

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill-keeping tabs; NYS bill on Smart Growth land planning

Here are some links to the nature of the disastrous oil spill and updates for your information:

http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/oilspill.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/16/louisiana.trampled.nests/index.html?hpt=T1

From Defenders of Wildlife

http://www.blogger.com/www.gulfoilspillrecovery.org

Please help get the word out about an online resource regarding wildlife impacts from the Gulf Oil Spill by forwarding this message to your members, relevant listservs, etc. Thanks.

Please visit Defenders of Wildlife's Gulf Oil Spill Response and Recovery web site (www.gulfoilspillrecovery.org) to help advance effective responses to save wildlife and keep track of recovery efforts, needs and long term impacts of the spill.

This visual mapping tool allows responders, volunteers and eye witnesses to map and share information on impacts from the gulf oil spill and projects being done to promote recovery. It also provides a way for the general public to understand the environmental affects of the disaster and what is being done to protect wildlife and coastal habitats.

Anyone can search the map for impacts and projects by activity type, species and habitats and view impacts and projects in relation to sea turtle nesting sites, manatee locations, coastal federal lands and other relevant map layers. Users can access the latest news on the spill and recovery efforts.

To report an impact or enter a project, a user must create an account through a simple one step sign-up which requires a name and email address. Users can report sea turtle strandings, boom placements, impacts to birds, wildlife rehabilitation efforts, and other oil spill related impacts and projects. Logged in users can also share photos and highlight volunteer and funding needs.

To help facilitate recovery efforts, anyone visiting the site will be able to easily access information on what projects need volunteers and which need funding.

The Gulf Oil Spill Response and Recovery web site is part of the Conservation Registry, another project initiated by Defenders of Wildlife with the help of many federal, state and local agencies, foundations and non-profit organizations. The Conservation Registry is an easily accessible database and mapping system that allows users to enter, search, map and track conservation and wildlife projects across the landscape. You can access it here: http://www.conservationregistry.org/


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NYS Audubon News Alert

https://secure3.convio.net/nasaud/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&cmd=display&page=ActionAlertTakenPage&id=874


Dear Peter,

We are in the home stretch of the 2010 legislative session here in Albany, and the Legislature is only a few hours away from voting on a critical measure to combat suburban sprawl! We need your help NOW to ensure it passes!

Audubon has long been a leading organization working to promote Smart Growth in New York State, and now we’re poised to realize significant progress with passage of the Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act!

What is Smart Growth? It means ensuring that planning and land use decisions focus development in downtowns, main streets and community areas with existing infrastructure, helping to eliminate suburban sprawl and save open space and habitat for birds and other wildlife. This bill would promote Smart Growth by ensuring State Agency infrastructure funding decisions follow Smart Growth principles and target funding to already developed areas and not green spaces.

Habitat loss fueled by sprawl development continues to be a leading threat to birds and other wildlife in New York. The American Kestrel, North Americas smallest falcon, is an example of a bird under threat by sprawl, as it's open grassland habitat is quickly being taken away by development. While we are working with Audubon chapters and Centers and the NYS Dept. of Transportation to establish more nest locations for Kestrels, without measures to combat suburban sprawl, birds like the Kestrel face an uncertain future.

You can help us take a big step forward for Smart Growth by sending a letter urging your elected officials to pass the Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act today!

Please send a letter today, as the Legislative session is quickly coming to an end!

Photo: Tim Baker



Audubon New York
200 Trillium Lane, Albany, New York 12203
(518) 869-9731 NYaction@audubon.org

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