Proof that we HAVE the power to make a difference...

[scubaman99]

The Bald Eagle has been taken off the endangered species list!!!!

"Today, there are nearly 10,000 mating pairs of bald eagles in the contiguous 48 states, compared to a documented 417 in 1963 when the bird was on the verge of extinction everywhere except in Alaska and Canada where it has continued to thrive."

http://www.ktvu.com/tu/5pWnUiXSn.html

 

[antichrist]

Thanks in large part to restrictions on the use of DDT. Though many people won't admit that.

 

[Durda]

Thanks in large part to restrictions on the use of DDT. Though many people won't admit that.

Not trying to start a fight or anything, I promise... This is one of my pet peeves, the idea that chemicals and pesticides are by definition bad and will kill us and kill all of the beloved/cute critters. DDT being a bird killer is one of those 'common knowledge' things that everyone just kind of accepts and I guess I'm one of people that won't.


"There is no scientific evidence that DDT had any negative impact on our national bird. To the contrary, DDT's elimination of disease-causing vermin helped virtually all bird populations, which is well documented by the National Audubon Society.

"A brief history of the eagle population makes this clear. In 1941, before any DDT was used, 197 bald eagles were counted. In 1960, after 15 years of heavy DDT use, the count had risen to 891."
-Jay Lehr, Ph.D

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=20636

All that being said, it's great to hear that bald eagles are now thriving.
atriot:

 

[rovercanus]

I'm glad they're back. They're so yummy!

 

[Nomar]

DDT did a job on me,Now I am a real sickie

Yep!

 

[nosivad_bor]

Not trying to start a fight or anything, I promise... This is one of my pet peeves, the idea that chemicals and pesticides are by definition bad and will kill us and kill all of the beloved/cute critters. DDT being a bird killer is one of those 'common knowledge' things that everyone just kind of accepts and I guess I'm one of people that won't.


"There is no scientific evidence that DDT had any negative impact on our national bird. To the contrary, DDT's elimination of disease-causing vermin helped virtually all bird populations, which is well documented by the National Audubon Society.

"A brief history of the eagle population makes this clear. In 1941, before any DDT was used, 197 bald eagles were counted. In 1960, after 15 years of heavy DDT use, the count had risen to 891."
-Jay Lehr, Ph.D

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=20636

All that being said, it's great to hear that bald eagles are now thriving.
atriot:

That website is spewing forth the reciprocal of the argument and use shitty science to support it. Just as they claim their environmentalist arch enemies do.

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=10488

DDT ain't good , keep dreaming.

 

[Durda]

DDT ain't good , keep dreaming.

Millions of dead Africans would disagree.

 

[nosivad_bor]

yes and maybe DDT would have saved the Jews?

 

[antichrist]

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=20636

Understanding the costs and benefits of regulations, and comparing the risks of action versus inaction, are fundamental building-blocks of common-sense environmentalism. The fact that government agencies do these things very poorly or not at all is a strong argument in favor of free-market environmentalism.

Yeah, that's what I want, businesses regulating themselves with regards to the environment. Everyone knows how well that's worked. :rofl:

 

[bri]

Apparently there still are plenty of loons around too.

 

[garrett]

we are losing close to .5% of our species every year. that's somewhere between 50-150/day. far greater than the "natural rate" that has been occuring for millions of years.
to say that DDT has been benefitial would be like attempting to prove that hormones in our milk is good for us or that polyunsaturated fats will make you thin. oh and i bet carcinogens are ok too.

 

[SCSL]

Millions of dead Africans would disagree.

x2

What a travesty.

If it was millions of Americans that were suffering from Malaria, we might have different priorities...

 

[garrett]

yeh good idea. lets breed DDT resistance mosquitos. while we're at it why don't we introduce more toxins into the food chain and create "super" resistance diseases. hmmm. this has happened before state side and still continues to this day. we breed resistance in the disease.......not the animal (or humans in this case).
it's a poor argument and it's been proven time and time again. we end up introducing a weaker animal and stronger disease in the end.
we fail to look long term. it always catches up.

 

[landrovered]

I think the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered list is just a ploy to allow Dick Cheney and the other DC despots to develop a resort on the coast somewhere where there is an eagles nest.

 

[Steve]

I've got a male bald eagle who hunts from the tree tops in my backyard in the mornings and late afternoons. I usually don't notice him until he starts "talking" to me with these chirp calls that he makes. It is a very inspiring experience.

 

[garrett]

i have yet to see any up close, but i do see three or four together flying above on field in particular here on the farm. the vultures are the only ones that seem to fly low and piss off the dogs.

 

[galen216]

One of the highlights of heading to SCC each year is seeing the eagles with a nest out over the swamp. Garrett you know what I'm talking about right?

 

[garrett]

yep. right near the little bridge looking off to your left heading into camp.

my parents live just a few miles from you and see a bald eagle once in a while. my father had a mountain lion pass in front of his car many years ago in Linden Hall too.

 

[galen216]

yep. right near the little bridge looking off to your left heading into camp.

my parents live just a few miles from you and see a bald eagle once in a while. my father had a mountain lion pass in front of his car many years ago in Linden Hall too.

Heading up over the mountain last Friday between Pleasant gap and Centre Hall Jess and I swear we saw a mountain lion heading down the dirt road that leads off the road halfway up. Whatever it was looked like a huge cat with massive paws. We turned around and drove down the dirt road to look for it.

 

[garrett]

they are out there. you just don't want the "locals" to find out or they will be out in droves looking for a nice wall hanging.
this was about 10+ years ago when he saw it in front of their house. at first the Fish & Game guys were skeptical, but once they realized he knew what he was talking about they gave in. there have been quite a few sightings all over the state. fairly elusive and aloof.
the only other "cat" in PA would be a Bobcat and they are significantly smaller of course.