Dumbass birders ignore rules again

Ohio Birds e-mail listserv postings:

Subject: Whither conservation dollars for birds?
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:19:56 -0500
It's no big news to readers of this list, but today's New York Times
(pg. D7) runs an article from the AP, "As Hunting Declines, Conservation
Efforts Suffer." It makes the point that fading interest in hunting is
resulting in fewer dollars going to conservation efforts. It also
laments the loss of income for the sporting industry. The article is
about Wisconsin's situation, but applies just as much here.
Regrettably, the article assumes only one thing can reverse this loss
of conservation dollars: reviving hunting, thus selling more hunting
licenses, duck stamps, ammunition, traps, etc. This is nonsense, of
course. There are plenty of other ways to direct more dollars to
conservation---donations to private organizations, levies for state and
local park systems, etc., and taxes. Red states like Missouri and
Arkansas for years have levied state sales taxes dedicated to the
acquisition and care of wild lands for wildlife, including but not
limited to species legal to hunt. The Missouri sales tax, first of all
its kind, and regularly renewed by a good majority of voters, is the
envy of other states, as are their conservation programs and
publications. Minnesota voters passed a similar law in 2008, and in the
last election Iowa voters easily passed a law to make 3/8 of 1% of the
next tax increase to go to conservation projects. Thus, Iowa residents
who spend $50,000 a year for taxable goods and services will pay about
$180 for conservation. Multiply that by millions of people and there's
some serious money for the outdoors. This is the modern efficient way to
accomplish these aims, not burdening (or serving) only hunters and
trappers, or asking birders to pretend to be hunters by buying a duck
stamp. If you want significant public money to go to birds other than
game species or raptors, this is the way to go.

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Subject: Re: Whither conservation dollars for birds?
From:
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:17:01 -0500
Let's put that more positively: Ohio birders can support the Ohio Division
of Wildlife conservation activities by purchasing the new Ohio Wildlife
Legacy stamp. This stamp is ODW's first attempt at developing a voluntary
program to raise funds for wildlife conservation in Ohio. I certainly agree
with Bill that a larger scale, more comprehensive program is needed, but the
Ohio Wildlife Legacy stamp is at least a start. Moreover, success with this
program might help demonstrate that there is a non-hunting/fishing
constituency for conservation in Ohio, which may, in turn, help lay the
groundwork for measures such as levies or other revenue sources.

You can purchase Ohio Wildlife Legacy stamps in a variety of ways, including
online at the Columbus Audubon website (http://ColumbusAudubon.org -- select
Order Wildlife Legacy Stamps from the menu on the left).

By the way, we could have a long, contentious discussion about the kinds of
conservation activities that ODW does, whether ODW still is too focused on
consumptive activities (hunting, fishing, and trapping), and so on. But ODW
really has made some progress in this area. In my opinion, they are a lot
more likely to continue to move toward broader constituencies if those
constituencies show some support.

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Unrelated e-mail thread:

Subject: Re: A caution from ODNR on coming weekend (Kendra Wecker)
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:47:00 -0500
As a Hunter Ed Instructor and a Complier for the CBC, I highly recommend to
wear the minimum of a vest, the hat is not enough. The more visible you are
the safer you will be. Be courteous to the hunters, they have as much right
to be there as we birders and we all must share the spaces we have left.
Many of the places we look for birds are there because of Wildlife
Management Programs and are either paid for or supported by Sportsman and
Conservation Groups.