Based on Wikipedia: The Nationwide Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental group devoted to conservation of birds and their habitats.

So, why does it seem that San Antonio’s native Audubon has distanced themselves from “defending” the birds together with their habitats? Is San Antonio Not Large Sufficient for a Rookery?

The Nice Egret-the image of the Nationwide Audubon Society is featured in Audubon’s brand. But, this lovely “Conservation” mascot, the Nice Egret is considered one of a gaggle of migratory birds beneath assault all through the Metropolis of San Antonio (COSA) by the Metropolis’s Parks and Recreation Division and the USDA’s Wildlife Companies Texas Division.

In 2021, COSA proclaimed itself a “Fowl pleasant” metropolis, after which employed an company that obtained a US Fish & Wildlife Division Depredation allow for deadly take of a number of the birds. The USDA APHIS is understood for killing hundreds of thousands of wildlife every year.

Learn Extra: US Authorities’s Wildlife ‘Administration‘ is Inflicting Gradual, Painful Dying on Animals by ladyfreethinker.org.

Based on TPWD web site: “Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Division licensed San Antonio in 2021 as Fowl Metropolis Texas. Recognition is predicated on what communities have already accomplished throughout the yr they apply in addition to their future commitments.”

Fowl Metropolis Texas is a “community-focused certification program was created to assist folks defend birds and their habitats the place we stay, work, and recreate. The standards required to realize certification are designed to be impactful and environment friendly in opposition to habitat loss and different dangerous elements impacting birds.”

Learn Extra: Fowl Metropolis Texas by Texas Parks & Wildlife Division.

Bexar Audubon’s present President Britt Coleman in a current publication acknowledged that, “because of habitat destruction exterior of town, the populations have swelled to enough numbers to change into a nuisance. “

Having noticed and documented the assault on the birds for the final six years now, I can let you know that the destruction of habitat by the Metropolis of San Antonio Parks and the USDA in 16,237.5 Acres is the trigger for the motion.

The present effort to destroy nests with viable eggs and even kill birds doesn’t take conservation wants into consideration nor has there been any consideration for these species listed within the State’s Wildlife Motion Plan as a Species of Biggest Conservation Want.

The Egrets and Herons journey to the inside of Texas and past to nest every spring. They embody the Nice Egret, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, and Yellow-Topped Night time-Heron.

These brief to lengthy distant migrants come from the Gulf of Mexico Shoreline, Mexico, Central and South America to nest. During the last 4 years, these birds have been arrived to seek out themselves in a dwelling a nightmare in a metropolis whose cultural heritage is deeply linked to the Tradition of the folks.

The present work by the USDA all through the Metropolis of San Antonio is with out public disclosure as required per the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act or Part 106 of the Nationwide Historic Preservation Act.

In a letter obtained by way of FOIA from Bexar Audubon to Jessica Alderson, Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, Audubon provided options on the place to “relocate” the birds from Historic Brackenridge Park.

I used to be knowledgeable by Audubon of the suggestion to construct “nesting platforms” close to Braunig and Calaveras Lake tributaries on the outskirts of city. My query to Audubon, is why you’ll ship the birds to nest the place air pollution has been reported, because the waterbirds are delicate to pollution.

Learn Extra: Report Reveals Air pollution’s Leaking from CPS Power Vegetation in Southeast San Antonio by San Antonio Information.

The opposite suggestion from Audubon was to ship the birds to Mitchell Lake. In 2019 the USACE notified the general public. “The ER feasibility research will develop and analyze ecosystem restoration alternate options, together with the No Motion Different, to revive degraded ecological capabilities and wetland habitats at Mitchell Lake to extend habitat high quality for migratory birds and different wildlife species.”

The Ultimate feasibility report by the US Military Corps of Engineers, “Though the lake not serves a wastewater operate, the degradation remains to be evident. The waters of Mitchell Lake are extremely eutrophic inflicting unstable dissolved oxygen and pH ranges and subsequently the present circumstances not help the biodiversity of the historic wetland vegetation neighborhood or different aquatic life.”

Learn Extra: Mitchell Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Research by https://www.swf.usace.military.mil/.

The Metropolis of San Antonio seems to have bypassed the general public within the selections which have adversely impacted not solely wildlife, but in addition the general public. A pattern of misrepresented data is being promoted. Blaming the birds for the water high quality alongside the realm in Brackenridge Park that may be contradicted by emails and on-line knowledge(16% Avian in line with the San Antonio River Authority web site).

TSHA on-line reviews that Cattle Egrets haven’t been discovered to have illnesses detrimental to people, or native egrets or herons. With no plan on the place the birds will go or it seems with out consideration for the place the birds might find yourself, the assault continues till public outcry stops it in its tracks.

The USDA’s strategies might pose danger to people, pets, nontarget species and the Surroundings!

What you are able to do

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Alesia Garlock

Wildlife / Environmental Advocate! I combat to guard nature. Informing the general public of hidden agenda!