Michigan Bill trying to pass NOT good for Wolves safety or Wildlife!

Introduced on April 9 by state Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, Senate Bill 288 seeks to allow unelected members of the Natural Resources Commission — and not the voters of Michigan — to determine whether wolves and other animals should be hunted and trapped for trophies after decades of protection. This is an egregious attack not only on Michigan wildlife but also on the fundamental rights of Michigan voters.
As important as the wolf issue is, this debate has now spiraled into one even greater. No longer is this just about wildlife. This is now about voting rights. Do not let this blatant display of political bullying go by unnoticed. Call your representative now and urge him or her to oppose SB 288.
John Di Leonardo
Berkley

Bill tries to go around petition drive

Why would legislators voluntarily give up authority? Under current law, only the Legislature can add an animal to the list of species to be hunted. Senate Bill 288 would give seven unelected members of the Natural Resources Commission that same right to designate animals as game species. Proponents claim that, if the bill passes, the decision of which animals are hunted would be based on only “sound science” and not on politics. Is it just a coincidence that this bill was introduced less than two weeks after the Keep Wolves Protected campaign, a coalition of Michigan citizens and organizations, turned in more than a quarter million signatures in a referendum to let voters decide whether to hunt wolves? If SB 288 is signed into law, public oversight of the process would be marginalized if not curtailed. This bill is bad for legislators, bad for people and, ultimately, bad for wildlife.
Beatrice M. Friedlander
Canton

You're Never Too Young to Help! So Adorable !

Julie Traweek

Anyone can help to protect sea turtles, no matter how old--or young--you may be. Lena and Naomi, ages 6 and 4, love sea turtles and wanted to help, so they put together an art exhibition and took donations. Lena says:
"Mummy had the idea of making an art exhibition, and we did. Then Mummy printed out lots of invitations to our neighbours and other people. And lots of them came. We asked for a gold coin donation, and one person gave us $5! We got $44 altogether for the Sea Turtle Foundation. There was lots of paintings, some clay figures of dolphins, a horse mask, koalas and owls made from pom-poms (Naomi made the owls and I made the koalas), two melamine plates that we made, and a dress and necklace for a sea turtle."

Well done, Lena and Naomi! Their generous donation to the Sea Turtle Foundation helps us continue working in the field, responding to calls about sick turtles and getting them the help they need. We are very proud of them and we hope their passion for sea turtles and the marine environment spreads!

SEA TURTLE FOUNDATION ..www.seaturtlefoundation.org How you can help!

I love Sea Turtles they were born to survive, a mighty creature of the sea and I believe they can survive these hard times! We need to help preserve the oceans and see everything we can do to help these creatures though! They cannot ask for your help as a human could so we need to do it for them! Most of the problems happening are because of humans so I think they deserve us to think of them.
Help Me, Help Them!
READ these articles and please consider helping whether it's cleaning, not littering or donating, Consider all of your options! ....

www.seaturtlefoundation.org
Sea turtles have survived for millions of years, evolving many strategies for dealing with all forms of natural threats. They were so successful that early explorers reported on seas that teemed with sea turtles as far as the eye could see. Today this situation has radically changed. Sea turtles have become so rare that a sighting is a cause of great excitement for those lucky enough to see them.

Simply put, there are 2 types of threats to sea turtles: natural and human.

Sea turtles have been swimming in the world’s oceans for over 120 million years. During that time they encountered many natural threats. Individual turtles still faced many dangers, but as a population they were incredibly successful.

Human impacts are the sole cause of all sea turtle species being listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. Take a look at the main threats:

	Climate Change Although the full impact of climate change on sea turtle populations is difficult to measure, the effects of rising sea levels, growing storm activity and increased temperatures are grave.		Unsustainable Hunting Indigenous coastal communities have long hunted sea turtles for their meat, shells and eggs.
	Habitat Change Sea turtle nesting beaches and foraging grounds are critical to their survival.		Poor Water Quality Water pollution from coastal development, industrial waste and agriculture has already created a negative impact on sea turtles and their habitat.
	Boat Strikes With the rise of coastal communities and the popularity of boating, boat strikes have become a common cause of injury and death among sea turtles.		Feral Animal Predation Nest attacks by feral animals are a serious threat in Australia, with pigs, foxes and dogs digging up nests to eat turtle eggs.
	Marine Debris Marine debris refers to any piece of rubbish thrown, blown or dumped into the ocean.		Fishing Activities Discarded fishing gear, unattended nets and crab pots, and commercial fishing practices can entangle and drown turtles.
	Tourist Souvenirs Turtles are highly prized for jewelry and souvenirs, leading to some species being hunted just for their shells.

Despite many populations of sea turtles facing an uncertain future, there is still time to act. Sea Turtle Foundation is at the forefront in the battle to halt the decline in sea turtle numbers. Some of the solutions require international government co-operation but some solutions are simple and easy. Click on the link to see some of the solutions that you can do to make a difference.

CLIMATE CHANGE:

The full extent to which climate change could affect sea turtles is currently unknown. However there is potential for climate change to have serious impacts on all turtle species through rising sea levels, increased storm activity and temperature rises.

Rising sea levels and increased storm activity will lead to the erosion and inundation of nesting beaches. Particularly at risk are low-lying sand islands. These nesting habitats are important to sea turtles as their remoteness often means they provide safe nesting sites away from feral animals that dig up nests to eat eggs. Sea turtles have already lost much of their mainland nesting habitats to coastal developments.

Increased temperatures could lead to skewed sex ratios. Hatchling gender is dependant on nest temperatures with lower nest temperatures resulting in mainly males and higher temperatures resulting in females. Additionally eggs can fail to hatch altogether if temperatures become too hot.

Turtles have survived climate changes in the past. However the difference now is that human-induced climate change may happen too fast for evolutionary changes for turtles, their foods and all the organisms they are connected to, to keep up. Additionally as a result of an overwhelming range of other human threats, the resilience of sea turtles has been greatly reduced leaving them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Sea Turtle Foundation is researching the impacts of climate change on hawksbill turtles on Milman Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (Australia). Read more about this research here.

Download Myrtle’s Battle Against Climate Change here. This children’s book is based on the findings of Dr. Mariana Fuentes.

 

FISHING ACTIVITIES:

Commercial and recreational fishing cause the death of many sea turtles.

Sea turtles drown after getting entangled in fishing nets and fishing line. They take the bait used by long-line fisheries and drown while being dragged behind fishing boats.

Sea turtles become entangled in ‘ghost nets’: fishing nets that are discarded or accidentally washed overboard at sea. Ghost nets drift with currents and continue to fish, and kill many animals including sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, whales and fish, for many years. Ghost nets have been found in northern Queensland (Australia) that are 4 kilometres long and 12 metres deep.

Trawling fisheries have been responsible for the deaths of many thousands of sea turtles. They are part of what is called ‘by-catch’, the part of a catch that is not the targeted species the trawl is fishing for. By-catch is usually thrown overboard once the catch has been sorted. This most destructive of fishing practices can have a by-catch of 90%. Changes to legislation requires commercial trawlers on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) to include Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), which have reduced the by-catch of sea turtles. However, TEDs are not required in many places around the world.

Shark control programs that use baited hooks or nets also cause turtle deaths by snagging and entanglement.

 

SOUVENEIRS:

Jewellery made from sea turtle shell

In many countries souvenirs made from sea turtle shells and skins are readily available for tourists to buy. ‘Tortoise shell’ or ‘Bekko’ items are traditional handicrafts and highly prized in Japan. Complete sea turtle shells and stuffed sea turtles are commonly found on market stalls and in shops in many popular tourist destinations.

The possession or purchase of products made from sea turtle parts is illegal in countries that are signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). All sea turtle species are listed under the convention. Australia became a signatory to CITES in 1976 and joined around 150 other countries that have signed CITES. Persons attempting to bring products made from sea turtle parts into Australia face heavy penalties when caught.

 

DEBRIS:

Marine debris consists of any piece of rubbish thrown, blown or dumped into the ocean. Items of rubbish dropped on streets and parks many kilometres from the shore will end up in the ocean by moving down stormwater drains into creeks, streams and rivers.

Most plastics are designed to last almost indefinitely, but most plastic packaging, bottles, containers and bags are used once and then thrown away.

Globally about 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles, and 1 million sea birds die every year from ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris.

Photo: Neil Mattocks

Plastics are the worst offenders. Most plastics do not biodegrade, they photodegrade, which means that they never entirely decompose, they just break down into smaller pieces that are more easily mistaken for food. Because of the long periods of time required to break down, plastics become serial killers, killing many animals over many hundreds of years. It is estimated that in some parts of the oceans minute particles of plastic outnumber plankton by 4:1.

Plastic bags kill many sea turtles who mistake their pale colours and gently undulating form for the jellyfish that they feed on. Once ingested, plastics can choke the animal or, if it blocks the stomach, cause it to starve to death.

A look at the numbers reveals the extent of the problem. Australians use almost 4 billion plastic shopping bags – and drop 50 million of them as litter – every year. Additionally 1000s more are blown from landfill sites into waterways and the ocean.

Hatchlings have been found with small pieces of polystyrene in their stomachs, having mistaken them for food. Sea turtles also become entangled in larger discarded items such as tyres and plastic containers.

 

WAYS TO HELP!!!:

VOLUNTEERING:

Volunteering brings amazing experiences and all the time you are helping to protect sea turtles.
Our volunteers gain valuable career experience, build networks in the conservation field and gain a useful referee. Please note: field volunteering opportunities, including nesting and population monitoring, are open to members only--click here to become a member!
You don’t have to patrol beaches at midnight to help – see below for current positions or contact us if you have other skills you would like to use to help turtles.

Updated March 2013
Casual Volunteer: Help clean up rubbish and collect data at beach clean-up events, staff our stall at community events, or volunteer in our office with administrative work. These opportunities are great for those who have heavy time commitments but would like to help out for a day when they can!
Education Officer: Reach the next generation of land users with a conservation message. Education officers go into schools and visit community groups to give interactive talks about sea turtles and the dangers facing them. Must have Blue Card and background in sea turtle biology.
School Talks Assistant: Gain experience with presenting to primary school children under the guidance of our Education officer. Must have Blue Card.
Educational Resource Development: Develop workshop materials such as workbooks and drawing sheets, or write lesson plans and presentations.
Graphic Designer: Give us a professional look or make our educational resources stand out!
Fund Raise: Sponsored swims, sausage sizzles, garage sales, school events – there are many ways you can help us raise funds to protect and conserve sea turtles.
Contact us to get involved or if you have an idea of your own you would like to try.

Make a Donation
Sea turtles are at risk of extinction. They drown in fishing gear, choke on marine debris, are hunted for meat and eggs and lose their nesting beaches to coastal developments.
With your donation we will complete research that identifies solutions, deliver education programs to remove threats, and campaign government and industry to ensure there are Turtles for Tomorrow.
Your donation is crucial to keeping our researchers in the field, our educators in the community and our campaigners at the negotiating table.
Please choose your preferred donation gateway, all online methods are through safe and secure providers. Donations over $2 from Australian residents are tax deductible.
PayPal
Use your PayPal account, or simply use your credit card if do not have a PayPal account (PayPal does not require you to open an account to use this facility). Australian residents can enter their address to receive a receipt for tax purposes.

Bank Transfer

Donate directly from your bank account to ours:
Bank: St. George
Account name: Sea Turtle Foundation Ltd
BSB: 114879
Account No.: 068160019
Reference: Donation
Please contact us about your donation and include an address to receive your tax receipt.

Cheque or Money Order

Please forward your cheque or money order with a brief note including your address to receive your tax receipt to:
Sea Turtle Foundation
PO Box 1190
Townsville
QLD 4810
Australia

In Person

Call us to donate by credit card or arrange to visit our office to make your donation in person +61 (07) 4721 2699.
Thank you for donating to Sea Turtle Foundation.
Your generous donation will protect and conserve sea turtles.

& MORE AT WWW.SEATURTLEFOUNDATION.ORG HELP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

April is Animal Cruelty Awareness Month!

April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month; and it's time to not only celebrate the victories made all over the world in regard to animal cruelty, but to also talk about what exactly animal cruelty is so that you can help fight the abuse in your community. Make sure you spread the word to people everywhere to raise awareness for the animals! Here are five steps you can take to making your community safer for animals.
1. Recognize the signs.
It is never okay to hit or physically abuse an animal. There are plenty of positive based techniques that can be used to handle behavior problems in pets. Other signs of cruelty are dirty, missing fur, flea/tick infested pets, injured, fearful or aggressive pets, repeatedly pregnant pets, emaciated/starving pets, or roaming pets. It is also cruel and illegal to leave pets chained or leave them in extreme weather conditions with no access shelter, food, or water. There is, however, a difference between neglect and cruelty. Some pets exhibiting these signs are being neglected, and unfortunately the owners will not be reprimanded. Education is important; so if you know someone neglecting their animal, try educating them in a non-confrontational way or even offering them some help with their pet.
2. Know who to contact.
Most communities have either an animal shelter or animal control agency with a humane law enforcement officer. Search for who is in charge of your area, and put their contact information in your phone. If you are unable to find the correct agency to contact, call or visit your local police department and ask for their help in enforcing the law.
3. Be proactive.
Without calls from concerned public, law enforcement would not be aware of animal cruelty issues in a community. Don't be indifferent to the cruelty. It is a crime, and those who do it need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Even if you are not 100% sure, it is better to be safe than sorry because the animals cannot speak for themselves. They need those who care to be their voice. Get involved in any way you can to bring a perpetrator to justice, whether it's providing a safe haven for an abused cat, or writing down details and taking pictures of a neglected or injured dog and contacting law enforcement .
4. Know your local and national laws.
Maybe you don't know that in Texas it is illegal to operate as a dog or cat breeder without a license or that in Massachusetts any form of animal abuse or cruelty is punishable by prison. Make sure you keep up to date on your current laws and the proposed laws that may need help through promoting them or making sure that they are not passed. The ASPCA and Michigan State University Law have teamed up to provide a great Database with quick access to the animal-related laws.
5. Talk to kids about treating animals with respect.
Children are sponges. Make sure you talk to your kids about how to properly treat an animal. If you are a teacher, incorporate it into your lessons. In order to make this world a better place, we need to continue to educate. Some kids live in households where their pets are being abused or neglected. Let them know it's okay to help and get them on the right path of caring and understanding that animals are living, breathing, feeling creatures who need to be taken care of.

Visit : www.isfoundation.org

HELP ISF build their NEW Animal Sanctuary! ..ways to help

ISF Animal Sanctuary!

Yep--you heard right. We want to open an Animal Sanctuary! While we have tremendous love for all the existing animal sanctuaries, we are aiming for something a little different. ISF intends on creating a safe haven for all the outcast animals that have been neglected, mistreated and ultimately misunderstood. Some may see the potential in an abused animal as ending at the animal's personal rehabilitation. In our eyes, this is just the beginning. What if ISF provided opportunities for these misfits creatures to continue their emotional journey alongside others who were hurting from a life filled with dejection?
Through the art of compassion, the continuously devastating issue of bullying in our country could be approached in an intensely impactful manner that encourages healthy relationships. We know in our hearts that animals and bullies share common emotional baggage. For example, an abused and neglected pitbull has the power to transform a school bully into a compassionate leader with a shift in benevolent consciousness. While both the dog and the bully are refused the opportunity to demonstrate their true potential within their daily lives, a healing and educational journey side by side has the power to manifest massive changes in perspective. We will bring the bruised together as a family to learn just how unique--and just very the same--we all are...and how if we unite...we are NOT the outcast, we ARE the UNSTOPPABLE. We believe in the understanding that all living creatures deserve dignity, love, compassion and the right to life. If you support this understanding as well, and you see the potential in bringing together kids and bullies into an environment where their hearts can grow and flourish, we need your support to make this happen. Please help us create the funds necessary to establish this haven. We plan to responsibly raise 5 million dollars towards this goal--we promise to keep you informed on the amount we raise.
Let's be the fit for the misfits!

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Please make your contribution payable to: Ian Somerhalder Foundation
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Ian Somerhalder Foundation
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PO BOX 1760
Santa Monica, CA 90406

"ISF reserves the right to use gifts as deemed appropriate and any funds received over and above the budget of a solicited purpose will be put into the general fund."

 

Visit www.isfoundation.org for more information and updates from Ian Somerhalder!

APRIL 17,2013 - SEABIRDS AFFECTED BY SECOND WAVE OF STICKY POLLUTION 'could number thousands'

Seabirds affected by second wave of sticky pollution 'could number thousands'

Wildlife agencies warn that the numbers of birds affected could be far greater than those harmed earlier this year

 

A dead guillemot on Wembury beach, Devon. Wildlife agencies in Devon and Cornwall said numbers of birds killed or rendered helpless could reach 'thousands'. Photograph: Teresa Naylor/PA

The numbers of seabirds affected by a sticky substance in the sea off south-west England over the past week could be far greater than those harmed by a similar – or possibly the same – spill earlier this year.
Wildlife agencies in Devon and Cornwall said numbers of birds killed or rendered helpless could reach "thousands" and that "a whole generation of seabirds" may have been wiped out in a single pollution incident.
Dead and distressed birds have been washing up along beaches in Devon and Cornwall since the middle of last week, covered in a sticky substance that has been confirmed as polyisobutylene, also known as PIB or polyisobutene, an oil additive often used to improve the performance of lubricating oil and in products ranging from adhesives to sealants and chewing gum. Affected species include razorbill, puffin and gannets, but predominantly guillemots.
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) said that more than 400 seabirds have already washed ashore on Cornish beaches, from Whitsand Bay to Falmouth. Abby Crosby, marine conservation officer for the trust, which also coordinates the Marine Stranding Network, said: "Over a 24-hour period yesterday, the public reported 130 birds in one stretch small of the south-east coast, plus 140 on just one other beach itself. That's 270 birds in 24 hours in one tiny stretch of coast between Portwrinkle and Seaton. It's tragic, it's horrific."
Richard White, senior marine officer for the Devon Wildlife Trust, said the trust was still trying to get a full picture of the numbers and was asking volunteers to count the dead birds they found.
"The numbers we do know about are quite concerning. We had reports of 50 dead birds along one relatively short stretch of beach near Wembury but we could be looking at thousands along the whole south Devon and Cornwall coast. This seems bigger to us than the January-February spill in terms of birds coming ashore – there are very few live birds coming ashore now."
A guillemot covered in a transparent substance is seen struggling ashore. Photograph: Richard Austin/Rex Features The deaths come less than three months after PIB was found to have affected more than 500 birds between 29 January and 6 February this year along a 200-mile stretch of coastline from Sussex to Cornwall. It is thought that the pollutant could even be from the same ship, affecting the coast once more due to a change in wind direction or tidal patterns.
While the exact source of this pollution is unknown, it is thought to have been flushed into the sea during cleaning of a ship's tanks or flushing of ballast water. Although PIB is considered to present a hazard to the marine environment, is it legal to discharge it in certain quantities into the sea under certain circumstances.
Steve Rowland, professor of organic geochemistry from the centre for chemical sciences at Plymouth University, confirmed today that samples he had tested showed that the birds had been affected by PIB. "Whether this is the original spill washing around I don't know but the substance seems to be the same as the January-February spill. There has been a change in wind direction and maybe this is the same material."
PIB is extremely hazardous to seabirds, who dive underwater to feed and become covered in the sticky substance. This leads to immobilisation, hyperthermia, starvation and eventually death.
"PIB is very adhesive and appears as transparent on the birds, but all the debris on the beach and surf collects on them so they look quite coated," said Peter Venn, centre manager for RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre in Taunton, Somerset, where surviving birds are being brought for treatment. "Their feathers become completely matted so they lose their ability to fly and to retain heat. Some of the birds that have been coming in have been quite poorly and what we've seen from both spills is inflammation and burns and lesions on their legs."
Wildlife agencies said the priority now was to try to get an accurate picture of the number of birds that have died so that conservation agencies can make a strong case for a change to the maritime law that governs polluting substances.
"It's really important for us to gather this data to ensure we have a clear picture of the scale of this incident so we can take it forward and ensure this never happens again," Crosby said.
Joan Edwards, the head of living seas at the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, wrote in a blog on Wednesday: "What we need to do is to put firm controls in place that minimise the chance of any release into the marine environment and – in the case of deliberate release – allow culprits to be tracked and punished. In these days of financial constraints it will be argued that these controls will be too expensive, and will put an unnecessary burden on business. But the cost of doing nothing may well be greater."
White said that a single pollution incident can affect a "huge proportion" of a particular breeding colony. "It's more than likely that there was a raft of guillemots, which float out at sea in large numbers just before they come back to their breeding colony, that have been caught up. Even a relatively small slick can affect a colony as they congregate in such big numbers."
Staff at the RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre in Taunton, Somerset, clean a guillemot using margarine. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images Venn has admitted 200 birds to the centre in a week, which have been mostly adults with breeding plumage. He said 189 of these have been guillemots, along with razorbills, gannets, Arctic skua and fulmar.
The birds are cleaned first with margarine or vegetable oil, which acts as a solvent on the PIB, then washed twice and dried in a warm room. They are rehydrated and treated with antibiotics, and will stay in pools at the rehabilitation centre for 12-14 days until they are waterproof, buoyant and comfortable, before being released at sites along the coast.
"Large numbers of animals being washed ashore is always a concern and takes its toll emotionally," Venn said. "But it's distressing to see large numbers of animals affected by something that might have been avoided."
Prof Rowland, who is being funded by the European Research Council on a five-year project to look at pollutants broadly of this type, said the last known PIB pollution case was near Liverpool in 1994.
"PIB is actually a range of substances. In one form it can be slightly yellow – in another form it is colourless and thick like glue. As the molecules get bigger it eventually takes a solid form. The intermediate tacky colourless substances seem to be what we are dealing with on the birds so far, and these are used as additives to lubricant oils."
Prof Rowland said some birds were also found to be covered in a white substance. "This suggests that either there is additional material or the PIB material has changed in form."
The government's Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is investigating the extent and source of the spill, said it would be difficult to trace as PIB is a fairly common chemical carried aboard ships, and produced in a large numbers of countries. It was unable to link the January-February spill to a particular time or vessel and was forced to close its investigation.
Spokeswoman Jo Rawlings said: "It's all speculation at the moment. We are going through same process again of trying to trace it and seeing if we can pinpoint it to a certain ship or time."
Under international shipping regulations, chemical tankers are permitted to discharge at sea any residue remaining after unloading their cargo as long as they are travelling at a certain speed, discharging below the waterline and at a distance of "less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land in a depth of water of not less than 25 metres."
White said: "At the moment it's perfectly legal to dump PIB. We don't know whether this was legally or illegally released - but whatever the situation, it shouldn't be released into the marine environment when it causes this much devastation."
• Anyone finding a stranded live seabird is advised to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. The charity advised the public not to attempt to wash the birds and warned dog walkers to keep their pets away from the pollution.
• The Cornwall Wildlife Trust has today called on members of the public to record the numbers of dead birds being washed up on the coastline in an effort to understand the full extent of the pollution. The 24-hour Marine Stranding Network hotline can be reached on 0845 201 2626.
Affected species include razorbill, puffin and gannets, but predominantly guillemots. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

 

 

Desperate Officials launch program to save Florida Grasshopper Sparrow..

www.tampabay.com/news

In a desperate bid to save a nearly extinct species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that it is launching a captive breeding program for Florida's grasshopper sparrow.
If they do nothing, experts predict the sparrow will go extinct in three to five years, just like its cousin, the dusky seaside sparrow. The dusky disappeared from the Earth in 1987 when the last survivor died at Disney World.
If the Florida grasshopper sparrow vanishes, it would be the first bird species to go extinct in the United States since then, according to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

"Captive breeding is labor intensive and challenging. It is generally done as a last resort and there are no guarantees. But we have to try," said Larry Williams, the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Vero Beach. "This is an emergency and the situation for this species is dire. This is literally a race against time."
Biologists estimate that fewer than 200 of the tiny birds remain. State and federal biologists plan to spend the next three months hunting for sparrow eggs, hoping to collect up to 20 to take to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Loxahatchee. The eggs would be placed in incubators until they hatch.
Biologists hope any hatchlings will emerge in 11 to 13 days. They will receive round-the-clock care in hopes they will grow up and breed further in captivity. The cost of starting the program, estimated at $68,000, is being covered by grants, said Ken Warren, a spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The ultimate goal is to release some back into the wild, perhaps in two to three years, Williams said. But biologist Paul R. Reillo, president of the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, said getting captive-raised birds ready for release could take a long time.
Florida grasshopper sparrows are about 5 inches long, with flat heads, short tails and black and gray feathers that help them hide their nests amid the low shrubs and saw palmetto of the state's grassy prairies.
They are generally heard more than seen, with a call that consists of two or three weak notes followed by an insectlike buzz —- hence their name. Biologists hope to follow the sound of their songs to track down their nests.
"We know it's going to be hard," Williams said. "They're small birds living in dense vegetation and they're secretive by nature."
The bird was first described in 1902 by U.S. Army surgeon Maj. Edgar A. Mearns, when their population was widespread across south-central Florida. By the 1970s, so many of the prairies that form their habitat had been ditched and drained and converted to pastures or sod production that the sparrow population plummeted.
They were added to the federal endangered species list in 1986, when an estimated 1,000 remained on public preserves at the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County, the Avon Park Air Force Range in Highlands and Polk counties and the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park in Okeechobee County.
In the past decade, Williams said, state and federal biologists have worked hard to restore lost habitat and to guard against losing any. Yet the most recent bird counts found the population now remains only in Osceola and Okeechobee counties, and may number fewer than 200. So far, no one knows why.
One possibility, Williams said, is that each small colony of birds hit the point "where there might be many more males than there would be in a healthy population," which would hurt reproduction and cause a spiral toward extinction.