URGENT
On 12/30, Rich Reiger posted an excellent note to VA-BIRD making the case
for support of the pending VA legislation re the Horseshoe Crab, and asking
for
your assistance. So I won't repeat the substance here.
However, in my own name (as the recently appointed Chairman of the VSO
Conservation Committee) and that of the VSO President, John Sparr, I would like
to
offer formal VSO support to Rich's intervention. It really is VERY IMPORTANT.
The VSO itself will be writing to a number of influential VA legislators,
asking for their support to this crucial legislation. In addition, it would be
useful if as many of you as possible were to write to your own State
Delegates, as soon as possible - the legislation is to be introduced on
January 20, so
there is still time! The letters can be quite short - hard copies are much
better than e-mails - and a sample is set out below:
"<insert name here>
Address
City, state, Zip
January 6, 2006
Dear <insert name here>
I (We) urge you to support legislation for a moratorium on horseshoe crab
harvesting to help prevent the extinction of the Red Knot rufa subspecies.
Legislation to be introduced by Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R) will declare
a moratorium on landings or importation of horseshoe crabs in Virginia until
the Red Knot rufa subspecies reaches its target population of 240,000 birds.
Red Knots on the Delaware Bay declined from approximately 100,000 in 1990 to
15,000 in 2005. The decline in Red Knots is specifically related to the
overfishing of horseshoe crabs that targeted egg-bearing female crabs. The
result was a decrease in horseshoe crab eggs available to foraging shorebirds
and
is the major cause of the decline of the Red Knot population.
The Red Knot shorebird makes the longest migratory route of any bird –
approximately 18,000 miles roundtrip. The Red Knots feed almost exclusively
on
horseshoe crab eggs during spring migration on Delaware Bay beaches.
Please support this important legislation and protect the Red Knot from
possible extinction.
Sincerely,
<Insert individual or organization name here>"
Thanks, Stephen
