Action Alert

Protect Great Gray Owls in Oregon: The southern Cascades in Jackson County are home to one of the most significant (and easily observed) populations of Great Gray Owls in Oregon. This population is particularly concentrated in the vicinity of Howard Prairie Lake east of Ashland.  Part of that area was included in the 2017 expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, but several adjacent blocks in BLM ownership were left out.  Not coincidentally, these have some of the oldest, biggest trees, the most valuable for logging.  BLM's Griffin Half Moon timber sale targets those blocks, including areas known to be occupied by Great Gray Owls.  KS Wild and the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council are currently engaged in litigation against this sale.  

We are sharing an important action alert from Portland Audubon. Please consider signing. 

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking permits to kill up to 1,500 Common Ravens in Baker County over the next three years. 

The birds will be killed using poisoned eggs, a food source for both ravens and other species. The young of the poisoned birds will be left to starve to death in their nests and non-target species will also be put at significant risk of poisoning. 

Tell the ODFW Commission to Prevent the Extinction of Marbled Murrelets in Oregon.

Tell Congress and the Department of the Interior to uphold America’s most important bird protection law, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

Lane County Audubon, as an organization, has already urged continued protection. In early February, LCAS was one of 513 organizations from all around the country to sign a letter to legislators urging them to oppose any effort that would gut the MBTA.

Add your name to the petition at: abcbirds.org/action/petition-mbta

Since 2008, Lane County has maintained roadways mechanically without the use of chemicals that may harm the health of people and wildlife. Some problem areas were identified and a task force recommended allowing limited use of roadside spray.  Recently the county announced that it would resume roadside spray along 400 miles of guardrails. They did not respond to requests for information about how they identified or prioritized areas in need of spray despite the fact that the task force clearly stated “All decision making and process development will be transparent to the public and guided by human and environmental health considerations.”

Further, a public works representative agreed with concerns about toxic run-off during the rainy season and indicated they would not spray at this time.  Yet, road signs indicate that the herbicide application will proceed NOW.

Please contact the county administrator and ask that they stop the herbicide spray plan immediately until a public hearing can be arranged. We need more information and a chance for public input.

Steve Mokrohisky, County Administrator
CountyAdministrator@co.lane.or.us
Phone (541) 682-4203

In light of recent moves to roll back environmental protections, the American Bird Conservancy is circulating a petition entitled Together for the Birds. The group encourages everyone who cares about birds to sign this petition. It asks the new Administration and Congress to protect conservation priorities that protect wildlife and the environment we share with them. 

FMI: abcbird.org

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Yurok Tribe are considering release of California Condors in northern California. Support the reintroduction of the California Condor to Oregon and urge policy makers to provide full protection for this endangered but recovering species. It would be a thrill to see these magnificent, intelligent, and social birds soaring in Oregon once again but if we are going to invite them back, we must take steps to ensure that they are not poisoned when consuming carcasses and gut-piles left by hunters using lead ammunition.

Please send comments to the link below by Feb 28 (Click on "Read More")