Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York City is one of the premier
birding sites on the Atlantic Coast of North America and birders
throughout the world come here annually. The freshwater West Pond,
once a Mecca for rare, endangered and threatened species became a
wasteland when it was destroyed by hurricane Sandy in 2012.
The JBWR is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area (GNRA)
within the National Park Service. Statements by some GNRA
representatives raise concern that they may not restore the Pond (the
New York Times, February 10, 2014). No action has been taken since
Sandy; no decision is expected until nearly the end of this year; and
there is great concern that GNRA will miss the opportunity to draw on
Sandy Recovery funds. We need to communicate the importance of the
Refuge and its restoration to government officials who have the
authority to restore the West Pond at all levels, from the Refuge
management to the Secretary of the Interior. We, therefore, ask you
to please join the Birder's Coalition for Gateway by signing our
petition to Restore the West Pond. Several birders from Australia
have already done so.
Here is the link for further information and to sign the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/sally-jewel-restore-the-west-pond-at-
jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge-new-york
or
http://tinyurl.com/west-pond-petition
Thanks,
Peter
for the Birder's Coalition for Gateway
Peter Post
New York City
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