Whoopers Happening

Whoopers Happening Highlight Podcast 4

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-07-05T22:35:00Z

This is the last in my series of highlight podcasts, featuring excerpts from a number of older WH programs with comments from Joe Duff, Beverly Paulan, members of the class of 2005 (listen and see!) and Kent Clegg. This brings to a close over 4 years of podcasts about the Whooping cranes. However, before you think I have completely moved on, check out the podcasts I am doing for the Endangered Species Coalition or just click the round blue logo and link on the left.

I produced a radio program about the Whoopers which was featured on the ESC site as well as Radio Green Earth, and as long as the OM team and WCEP folks will talk with me, you'll be hearing from them again later this year. The disaster in the Gulf has put almost everything to do with endangered species aside at least a little, which seems unfair; but saving oiled wildlife has to be a priority. That is what many are doing, and while no one is forgetting those endangered species we all know need our help, this was a total impact out of left field that no one anticipated. One concern now is how migrating birds and other species that use the Gulf waters like turtles and whales will react to this highly toxic environment. There are some plans to possibly close certain refuges to hunting which might entice migrating birds to find the grounds more attractive and stop there, perhaps avoiding the desire to rest and feed near the Gulf shoreline. But this is still being determined, and while hunters may be dismayed, it might be an answer to encourage migrators to make a detour and avoid the issues they will certainly find near the Gulf.

I hope you found Whoopers Happening (or Whooper Happenings) somewhat informative, and I appreciate the comments and listenership these past 4 years.

photo: Half of the members of the Class of 2009 as they fly over the Dunnellon Airport, January 2010. Fred Wasti photo.

Cleaning the Gulf... and the Birds

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-07-01T17:30:00Z

The clean-up of the Gulf continues everyday, but it won't begin in a true sense until this oil well, releasing nearly 2 million gallons each day, is capped. However, wildlife like birds, turtles and sea creatures can't wait, and a constant patrol is made every day to search the islands and coastal beaches by air, truck and on foot for victims that have been caught in this catastrophe caused by BP.

A line to report any oiled wildlife is established at 866-557-1401. Tri State Bird Rescue checks this line every hour, and you can leave a message as to the animal, where exactly you saw it and what condition it is in. Your name and a contact number are also appreciated when you call. They do try to get to these animals just as soon as possible, as the speed they can get them and begin treatment makes all the difference in the hot Gulf sun. If you see any life affected by oil, please call... you may well be saving a life.

I talked with Jay Holcomb who is the Executive Director of the International Bird Rescue Research Center based in Fort Jackson (LA) and together with Tri State, they are the ones treating and cleaning birds since BP brought them aboard back in late April. Jay is very motivated and quick, and he obviously has the energy to deal with this crisis, as he is a veteran of many such oil spills around the world rescuing and treating birds. Some of his answers may surprise you as he talks about their work and what happens to these birds when they are located.

You can visit their site to make a donation (BP covers the Gulf work, but hasn't actually paid them when we talked) and support their work which takes their team anywhere in the US or in the World; visit the IBRRC and check their blog and make a comment yourself. I imagine they never tire of compliments and none of us ever gets tired of hearing someone say 'thank you'. It isn't work we are likely qualified to do, nor would want to do.

I broke our chat into 2 podcasts which are below and on the Endangered Species Coalition's new 'Oil Spill: Wildlife Crisis ' site.

This is part 1... part 2 is here, as my software for this site restricts more than one media per post! (not my fault!)

photo: Jay and staff care for and clean a brown pelican brought to their Fort Jackson facility. (IBRRC photo)

The Lake that Became Deadly to Thousands of Birds

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-06-25T02:06:00Z

Unless you live in Central Florida, and even if you do, you may not recall the thousands of birds that died after stopping on their southerly or northern migrations in late 1998 and the spring of 1999 over Central Florida. Lake Apopka is the 4th largest lake in the Sunshine State, but it is primarily an agricultural lake, with much farming that took place since the late 1800 on its northern boundary. Flooding and draining the farmland with its rich use of pesticides and fertilizer led to serious problems in the lake, and by the 1950s it was no longer a fishing spot for anyone. It once had been a prized place to catch large bass that would do any avid angler proud.

This is a story, told by those who know and were there, of how a lake became toxic and killed many migrating white pelicans, gulls, bald eagles, blue herons and even endangered wood storks. How this happened is the result of mans' overuse and poor planning, and serves as a warning to others who might repeat the same mistakes.

No, there are no Whooping cranes in this story... fortunately, but there could have been had a few more years evolved. And who knows... several might even have made the trip from the Kissimmee Prairie and either lucked out or met their fate, with no known report of their demise today.

This report was a feature aired on Radio Green Earth on June 19th, and on NPR's WXEL. The story does have a happy ending, so if your heart breaks for those many birds who perished because they stopped at Lake Apopka in 1998 or '99, the epilogue is the lake is remediated today; while not perfect, it is becoming a bird sanctuary and the wetlands are being reclaimed.

photo: Lake Apopka today from a boat guided by St.Johns River Water Management District personnel. Mark Chenoweth

Save Our Seabirds... They Need Your Help!

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-06-18T13:52:22Z

While BP has pledged to pay for all clean-up in the Gulf, if you think about this it is likely much work has already been done and will be accomplished saving wildlife that will never be compensated in terms of the huge corporate's money! Not everyone who rescues oiled wildlife is out there because it's their job and they are being paid; many are there just trying to save birds, turtles and whatever they can and the money factor doesn't enter their equation when the idea is to do what they can as soon as they can. Immediacy is the key, finding these oiled birds and turtles and cleaning them and nourishing them just as soon as possible. Sadly, way too many have already been found and it was too late for anything to be done for them. But in spite of what some naysayers have written, work continues and wildlife needs our help. The organizations doing this tirelessly and without BP's cash... perhaps they never will even submit a bill... are there to help. But get this... the US Fish and Wildlife people have a ruling that even licensed rehabbers who have years of experience rescuing oiled birds, and are well trained to do this are NOT being allowed! If this isn't absolutely ridiculous and extreme politics, tell me what is!

Right now negotiations and discussion is going on to change this, and with more than 100 brown pelicans being brought in some days even in Pensacola, FL, the valuable assistance these qualified people can provide is very much needed. To just let these birds die in the muck and oil from BP's tragic mistakes is not a tolerable answer.

One such organization that will be working with oiled wildlife and has the experience to rescue and treat them is Save Our Seabirds based in Sarasota, FL. Lee Fox is the founder and Executive Director of SOS, and I talked with her this week about what plans they have to help, how prepared they are to go wherever to insure wildife they encounter, imperiled from BP's oil spill, is nourished, examined, cleaned, treated, and allowed recovery time before release away from harm in Texas or on Florida's East Coast.

Lee is an experienced rehabilitator, and her team of personnel and volunteers know what to do and will make a difference. She talks about this, and you can visit her site at saveourseabirds.org/ . They could use your support (not her plea, this is from me and I know they could use the funding and consideration from listeners like yourself) and they are in Sarasota right on the Gulf Coast. Their information and a link to donate are on the site site.

Sadly, this is all just getting worse and the end is nowhere in site for now. Until BP can stop their oil well from flowing, now over 2 million gallons daily into the Gulf waters, clean-up is something that will be much worse than anything we have experienced environmentally in our history.

Let's hope something positive for us all comes out of this tragic accident, and that we can help as much wildlife in harm's way as we possibly can. We need more people who can help, and less politics and rules that govern by vague ambition and ego.

photo: Oiled brown pelican in Gulf waters. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Whoopers Happening Highlight Podcast 3

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-05-27T17:27:00Z

In this program, the 3rd of 4 highlight episodes, a few moments on the observation tower at Necedah NWR the morning of Crane Fest 2007, comments from a few at the Dunnellon Flyover as heard on WH #41 in January 2009, and ultralight pilot Richard van Heuvelen talks about the 2008 migration.

photo: Actually a quilt made by Kathie Briggs, 'To Save the White Birds'. Courtesy of Kathie Briggs.

International Migratory Bird Day at Disney's Animal Kingdom

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-04-20T13:41:16Z

The past 4 years, Operation MIgration has been the guest for International Migratory Bird Day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The first 3, Peggy and I helped greet guests, take photos of youngsters sitting in the ultralight on display (it was Chris Gullikson's aircraft) and I did a few interviews asking several who stopped by OM's display about IMBD and their thoughts. The podcast below is a compilation of comments and guests from the first 3 events at Animal Kingdom.

Whoopers Happening

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-04-14T05:00:00Z

Whoopers Happening is no longer reporting current events about the Whooping cranes. Please enjoy these new 'highlight' posts of past guests on WH.

Thanks for listening!

White Ghosts of the Wetlands... America's Whooping Cranes

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-04-13T02:45:00Z

Here's the broadcast on 4/10, done expressly for 'Radio Green Earth' (and broadcast on NPR's WXEL, West Palm Beach) about the Whooping cranes. It covers a lot of ground, drawing from audio resources since beginning podcasts for Whoopers Happening.

Whoopers Happening Highlight Podcast 2

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-04-10T00:48:00Z

Previously featured in Whooper Happenings #16, this program has excerpts and comments from a few of those at the second flyover at the Dunnellon Airport. Brooke Pennypacker takes the role of team leader and MC in the absence of Joe Duff at the event.

Whoopers Happening Highlight Podcast 1

whooperhappenings@earthlink.net (Mark Chenoweth) — 2010-03-20T20:29:00Z

This highlight episode features a chat with Operation Migration co-founder, inventor and aviator Bill Lishman. Bill discusses his first encounter flying with wild birds, the movie based on his work, 'Fly Away Home', his role in the classic film 'Winged Migration' and more.

photo: Joe Duff and Bill Lishman during taping of a public service announcement in Tennessee. Mark Chenoweth photo