Federal Wildlife Agency Won't List Disappearing Eastern Songbird as 'Threatened' Species

[jpak]

http://www.enn.com/net.html?id=1744

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), after stalling for six years and missing numerous deadlines required under the Endangered Species Act, has issued a decision not to list the Cerulean Warbler as a threatened species. The National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, and regional conservation organizations that petitioned the agency in 2000 to list the Cerulean as threatened expressed grave concerns over the songbird's future without the comprehensive protections provided by the Act.

The Cerulean Warbler population has dropped almost 82 percent throughout its U.S. range over the last 40 years, making it the fastest declining warbler in the country. The rate of decline has quickened and the threats to its survival, particularly from mountain removal mining, have worsened while the groups' petition has been pending before the FWS.

The FWS decision comes after the groups sued the agency in February 2006 for repeatedly violating deadline requirements under the Act. In June, the FWS settled that case by promising to render a final decision by November 30.

"The birding community is greatly concerned because the Cerulean has been declining throughout its range for such a long period of time," said Greg Butcher, Ph.D., Director of Bird Conservation with Audubon. He said the bird has declined an average of 6 percent per year over the last eight years, compared to an annual average of 4.3 percent from 1966 to 2004.

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[mitchtv]

1. Don't worry , the next administration will

The gods willing.

[NCarolinawoman]

2. I use to see them in my backyard. Sometimes they were just passing through.

Other times they seemed to stay around a bit.

I have not seen any in about eight years. same for the Summer Tanager and others. I am praying that the new group of Democrats will change things. but you never know. Even Robert Byrd and John Edwards voted for Mountaintop removal back in '99.

[nam78_two]

3. K&R/nt