[TN-Bird] Re: Hiwassee Crane Festival News
- From: Rconnorsphoto@xxxxxxx
- To: David-Aborn@xxxxxxx, TN-Bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:24:36 EDT
Hiwassee:
It is evident from the somewhat baffling article on the TWRA web site that
there are two issues that they are dealing with: the economic issue and the
crane hunting issue.
We can take on face value the economic issue. The number participating in
the hobby of hunting is decreasing and the number participating in the hobby
of
wildlife watching is increasing. For wildlife agencies across the country
there is a real issue of funding. Our Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has
been generous and supportive of non-game related projects so far. A budget
crunch we all understand. But as the name implies this is the state agency
responsible for ALL Tennessee wildlife, not just â??Game and Fishâ?? as the
old
agency name indicated.
Finding new sources of funding is a huge subject. There are many avenues
being tried such as CARA (?), and Teaming With Wildlife, which I am no expert
on. Single entities like TOS canâ??t come close to serving the purpose of a
state
agency, no one would seriously suggest we could do so. We need to work
together at the state and national level to establish recreation equipment
taxes
and/or other creative methods of funding. We need aggressive proposals from
TWRA Commissioners and TWRA staff working with legislators to get measures
passed that will result in long term dedicated funding for ALL wildlife. The
state has a responsibility to fund the conservation and management of the
wildlife in the state of Tennessee. This important mission can not be the
responsibility of a narrowly focused user group, the hunters and fishers of
the state.
It is a real shame that such a popular wildlife viewing activity is being
canceled â?? the largest public wildlife viewing activity that TWRA is
involved
with! And it is a shame that TWRA may be withdrawing from Hiwassee Refuge
Crane Viewing Days just to position themselves for the advent of a sandhill
crane
hunting season.
There is a TWRA Commissioners meeting this Wed. 1:00PM CDT open to the
public which I plan to attend. Richard Kirk will be giving a report on the
non-game department. This may or may not shed any more light on the Hiwassee
event.
It may be up to TOS and the Hiwassee/SE TN area supporters to determine the
extent of the event. We will be having our Fall meeting in Chattanooga the
first weekend in November. It will be on our agenda but I donâ??t expect too
much
progress will be made on the issue before then.
And by the way Director Gary Meyers has accepted out invitation to speak at
our TOS annual meeting in Nashville next spring. So with effort we should be
able to keep the traditional good communication and cooperation open between
TOS and TWRA
RICHARD CONNORS
Tennessee Ornithological Society
Nashville TN
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