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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>BCN</span></font></st1:PersonName><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> friends –<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>The following is self explanatory. We are in real danger of losing
this bird and if you could take a minute and drop an email to the Delaware DNR it
could be very helpful. Thanks much.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>Donnie Dann<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Highland Park</span></font></st1:City><font
size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>, <st1:State w:st="on">IL</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><a href="mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com">donniebird@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=normalweb19><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear BCA members:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For the next week, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources
(DENREC) will receive input that will help decide the fate of horseshoe crabs
and Red Knots in the state. <br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This is an opportunity for everyone concerned with the fate of the
declining Red Knot shorebird, to act. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The rufa Red Knot is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u1:country-region u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region></u1:place></u1:country-region>’s
fastest declining shorebird. It migrates from the tip of <st1:place w:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">South
America</st1:place></u1:place> to breed in the Canadian Arctic each spring.
The only way it can complete this epic journey is to stop in <st1:place w:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">Delaware
Bay</st1:place></u1:place> to feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs. But crab
numbers have declined dramatically due to overfishing, and the Red Knot
population has crashed as a result. Experts </span></font>are predicting the
bird will disappear from the Delaware Bayshore by 2010. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recently reduced the number of
horseshoe crabs that each state can take. This was an important victory for the
shorebirds, but the commission stopped short of instituting a total ban on crab
take. Scientists believe that as long as horseshoe crabs are being fished to
any degree, the Red Knot will continue to struggle. It is now up to the states
to decide if they go further and each institute a total moratorium on crab
harvest. <st1:State w:st="on"><u1:State u2:st="on">New Jersey</st1:State></u1:State>
has already initiated such a moratorium; <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u1:State u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">Delaware</st1:place></st1:State></u1:place></u1:State>
should now the same.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Send an email today asking DENREC to instigate “Option 2,” a total
moratorium on the take of horseshoe crabs for two years. “Option
1,” a cap of 100,000 crabs, is insufficient to enable dwindling
populations of both crabs and knots to recover. The deadline for action is
4:30pm on October 3rd. Written comments should be addressed to Roy Miller, via
email to <a href="mailto:roy.miller@state.de.us"><span style='text-decoration:
none'>roy.miller@state.de.us</span></a> by October 3, 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>BCA member organizations National Audubon Society, American, New Jersey
Audubon, American Bird Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife have been working
on this issue and urge you to send an e-mail today to help the Red Knot!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
Contact Perry Plumart at 202-234-7181 or <a
href="mailto:pplumart@abcbirds.org">pplumart@abcbirds.org</a> with any
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Text below is a sample of a suggested e-mail to send: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
To Whom It May Concern,<br>
<br>
The rufa Red Knot is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
fastest declining shorebird. It once numbered in excess of 150,000 birds, but
is now heading towards extinction. The knot migrates up the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Atlantic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType>
each spring on an epic journey to its breeding grounds in northern <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>. In
order to complete this flight it must stop over in <st1:place w:st="on">Delaware
Bay</st1:place> to feed on horseshoe crab eggs. The bird relies on an
over-abundance of crab eggs to sustain the population, but in recent years,
horseshoe crab numbers have dwindled due to overfishing. Without sufficient
food, the Red Knot has also plummeted. <br>
<br>
Although the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has reduced the
maximum allowable horseshoe crab take for all states, scientists believe that
as long as horseshoe crabs are harvested to any degree, the Red Knot will
continue to struggle. It is now up to DENREC to ensure that the state of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Delaware</st1:place></st1:State> is not
contributing towards the extinction of the rufa Red Knot. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:place></st1:State> has already instigated a
moratorium. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Delaware</st1:place></st1:State>
can and must do the same. <br>
<br>
When you meet to consider the options before you, I urge you to choose Option 2
, a total moratorium on the harvest of horseshoe crabs for two years. The
science is clear and compelling. Option 1 will be insufficient in fully
protecting the Red Knot. <br>
<br>
Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Alicia Frances Craig<br>
Director, Bird Conservation <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alliance</st1:place></st1:City><br>
American Bird Conservancy</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
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