From the NYS Listserve
Subject: From Audubon New York From: Stella Miller Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:44:02 -0800 X-Message-Number: 8 Hello everyone, I am forwarding to you an email (see below) which was sent out by Erin Crotty, Executive Director of Audubon NY regarding the Port Authority/snowy owl situation. Attached to it is a letter which was sent to Commissioner Martens of the DEC and Port Authority ED Foye requesting information on the non-lethal control strategy they are working on as well as an offer to assist in its development. Thanks to the organizations that sent out actions alerts (HOBAS included) to their members regarding this issue as well as the individuals that engaged in the grassroots efforts which led to such swift action. Margaret Mead said it best: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". Each one of us has just one voice, but collectively, those voices add up to a roar which cannot be ignored! Stella Miller President Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon "Conservation is sometimes perceived as stopping everything cold, as holding whooping cranes in higher esteem than people. It is up to science to spread the understanding that the choice is not between wild places or people, it is between a rich or an impoverished existence for Man." Thomas Lovejoy ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "McCarthy, Laura" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 7:29 PM Subject: [ANYpresidents] Snowy Owls & Port Authority [2 Attachments] [Attachment(s) from McCarthy, Laura included below] Dear Chapter Leaders, We may have an acceptable resolution to the lethal control strategy for Snowy Owls that the Port Authority was using at some of its facilities. In addition to our grassroots outreach efforts, Sean Mahar, our Director of Government Relations, has been working this issue non-stop since we learned of it yesterday (with a tremendous assist from many of you and Laura McCarthy) and I have had conversations and done media interviews. Audubon was definitely an important leader in the movement that has made this change happen, and thanks again for all your help! We have been told that yesterday’s joint Audubon NY and NYC Audubon joint letter and our collective calls to the leadership at both entities were key catalysts in getting appropriate attention and action on this issue. As many of you are aware, the Port Authority issued a statement (attached) last evening indicating that they would immediately cease the lethal Snowy Owl control strategy and were working with DEC on getting the appropriate permits to institute a non-lethal control strategy. We do have confirmation from DEC that the permit was issued and we are reviewing it now. We have sent a letter (attached) to Commissioner Martens and Port Authority Executive Director Foye asking for additional information on the non-lethal control strategy and offering our assistance in its development. We are keeping our network informed through various social media platforms and networks. We will send another Action Alert to the network once we are convinced the Port Authority has an appropriate non-lethal control strategy in place. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you again for all that you have done to have our voices heard on this issue! Best regards, Erin Erin M. Crotty Vice President & Executive Director Audubon New York 200 Trillium Lane Albany, New York 12203 518-869-9731 (office) 518-275-3103 (cell)
