Southern Adirondack Audubon
A chapter of the National Audubon Society

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Bullet 8/31/08
Bigger Better Bottle Bill – S5850-A

This proposed legislation extends the five-cent deposit to non-carbonated beverages such as bottles of water, sports drinks, and teas not covered by the 1982 Bottle Bill.  The recycle rate for beer and soda containers covered by the current law is 80%, but only 10% - 20% of non-carbonated beverage containers are recycled.  The rest end up in the trash or littering our communities.

Why is trashing plastic bottles a problem?  Burning plastic releases Dioxins, some of the most toxic and carcinogenic chemicals known to man!

Recycling plastic bottles would also save roughly 18 million barrels of crude oil annually and prevent 800,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.  

The Bigger Better Bottle Bill now appears to have a better chance in the State Legislature following the recent change in legislative leadership. It has the support of Gov. David Paterson. Republican Dean Skelos, the new State Senate Majority Leader, voted for an earlier bottle bill when he was a rank-and-file legislator. Joseph Bruno, the former Senate Majority Leader, strongly opposed the bill.  On June 11, the Assembly passed the Bigger Better Bottle Bill after a three-hour debate. Now it’s up to the Senate to take action

Please contact your senator and urge him/her to support this common sense bill in the fall legislative session.

To find your senator’s contact information, follow the link below and enter your zip code in the box provided:  

Bullet8/15/08    
National Audubon victory helps protect grassland birds
A plan being considered by the United States Department of Agriculture to open up millions of acres of private land into agricultural production was abandoned in a July 2008 decision.  More at:  www.audubon.org/campaign/farmBill.html


Bullet 8/15/08
Please Don't Move Firewood!
A new regulation is now in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been kiln-dried. The new regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from it's source.                                                              
                                                             
Bringing your firewood with you to hunting camp or a campground?  Most people don't realize they move bugs along with their firewood. You could be spreading diseases from insect invaders that can quickly kill large numbers of trees. Our forests are at risk from the transport of firewood infested with tree killers. Help protect our forests and STOP THE SPREAD of these pests. Use only firewood from local sources.
If you bring firewood, burn ALL of it before leaving your campsite.                                      
        Further information about firewood and insect pests can be found at:  www.dec.ny.gov/lands/28722.html

BulletNEW 06/04/08!    As global climate change increases, wind becomes a more important source of renewable energy.  Southern Adirondack Audubon Society's Board of Directors has released its position on wind power development.  This policy paper outlines the Board's concerns relating to possible harm to birds and bats, and the results of habitat alteration at any proposed wind energy facility.   Please take the time to read the "Position on Wind Power Development." 

BulletNEW OPPORTUNITY to assist with bird monitoring at Saratoga National Historical Park
As part of a regional bird monitoring program, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies(VCE), in collaboration with the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring Program, is seeking volunteers to help conduct long-term bird monitoring at 8 National Parks and Historic Sites across the Northeast region, including Saratoga National Historical Park, in Saratoga, NY.  At each park, volunteer observers will "adopt" a study site consisting of between 5 and 10 point count stations spaced 250 meters apart.  Each June these points will be surveyed during an early morning visit, and every bird seen or heard will be recorded within a 10-minute listening period.  At Saratoga NHP, both grassland and forested study sites are in need of volunteer observers in 2008.

Skills Required: Volunteer observers must possess excellent bird identification skills (both visual and aural), and be capable of identifying the majority of songbird species that breed in the park.  They must also be capable of hiking on variable terrain without trails, and navigating with GPS and/or map and compass.

Time Commitment:  Each survey will take between 2 and 4 hours (depending on the number of points surveyed) during a single morning in June.  This does not include travel time to and from the park.  Surveys are to be conducted during the early morning hours (e.g. arrive at the first point at approximately 5-5:30 AM).  In addition, another 1-1.5 hours of time is required to transfer data from field forms onto data sheets, and to enter data into an online, web-based data entry system before August 1st.  Because this is a long-term monitoring program, we are most interested in participants who can make a multi-year commitment to the project.

For more information about the protocol, visit http://www.vtecostudies.org/FBMP/npsurveys.html

For questions or to participate, contact:

Steve Faccio
Conservation Biologist
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
20 Palmer CT
White River Junction, VT 05001
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 420
Norwich, VT  05055
802-649-1431 xt.3
sfaccio@vtecostudies.org
www.vtecostudies.org


BulletcampfireNEW!  The Dangers of Wood Smoke  - Sitting by the fireplace on a snowy evening, or around the campfire on a warn summer night, has long been a part of American family home life.  This article by SAAS member, Laurie LaFond, will cause you to rethink exposing yourself and your family to the dangers of wood smoke.  Read Laurie's informative and thought-provoking article here.


BulletDraft Guidelines for Conducting Bird and Bat Studies at Commercial Wind Energy Projects  With over 30 wind farm projects under review by NYS DEC, in addition to the 11 currently in operation or under construction, this draft is of huge importance.  The guidelines (PDF, 135 Kb) are now available online. The comment period closed March 7, 2008; however, you can read Southern Adirondack Audubon's comment letter to DEC
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 Bullet Issues involving the Fort Edward Grasslands IBA
A large subdivision has been proposed to be built in the Fort Edward Grasslands Important Bird Area. Fort Edward has a new proposed Planned Unit Development law. Your involvement is needed.  For more info:  Fort Edward

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Bullet NYS Important Bird Areas
State IBAs include several "in our backyard". Check them out.  Important Bird Areas

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(The following links will open a new window)
Bullet Audubon "Take Action"
An easy and convenient way to communicate with your lawmakers and newspapers on conservation issues that impact birds, wildlife and our shared environment:  Take Action
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BulletAudubon New York
An E-Activist Newsletter on environmental issures.  Activist Newsletter

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bullet Bird News Headline
Some current issues - from the Bird conservation Alliance.  Headline News

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Conservation Issues

bullet  SAAS has been actively involved in the following local issues:

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bullet  Environmental Conservation - SAAS currently offers the following education programs and activities to the community:
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