Freedom or Euthanasia? Florida's Pelican Man Sanctuary near closing

This is a thought-provoking article: is it kinder to keep alive birds (and other creatures) who can not be free, who must live their lives in cages — or, to be unoriginal, to take arms against a sea of troubles and end those damaged (by us humans, usually) lives, kindly, lovingly?

Everyone who has helped with wildlife faces that question sooner or later and we all come down with differing responses. Here's a piece about the Saratoga, Florida sanctuary that was once viewed as a model... until more was known about how its founder sometimes operated.


Pelican Man left questionable legacy
by Tom Lyons, HeraldTribune.com, November 19

Wild birds? I like them as much as the next guy, and more than most.

I'm a fan of sea and shore birds. I have many times gone to pains to extract someone's fishing line out of mangrove branches to prevent harm to pelicans and cormorants and herons and other critters.

But I can't help but see a big, bright silver lining in the supposedly dire news from the Pelican Man's bird sanctuary on Sarasota's City Island.

According to its own press releases, the sanctuary could close, very soon, if it doesn't get a lot of donations, fast.

I'm not urging anyone to donate. I'm even tempted to hope the usual donors, and any others who would consider giving, will come to their senses this time and put their checkbooks away.

There, I've said it. Let the hate mail begin. ...
:::snip:::

Check the link above, the article title, for the complete article. Add a comment here.

Repudiating Rep Hunter's extended hunting on Santa Rosa

Write Sen. Dianne Feinstein at http://feinstein.senate.gov/contact.html
thanking for overturning the Rep. Duncan Hunter proposal for Santa Rosa Island. I've posted the press release on my web site.

Here is Senator Boxer's address: http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/index.cfm

Urge them also to support the Endangered Species Act, pointing out the especial need for habitat protection. A wild creature without a natural habitat is no longer wild....

Charging volunteers to volunteer

Interesting article about the Lindsay Museum charging teens to volunteer. (I'll paste the full article in comments below since it won't be easily available for long.)

Betsy

Lindsay Wildlife Museum charging teens to volunteer

By Theresa Harrington
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

WALNUT CREEK - Feeding animals, cleaning cages and teaching others about critters at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum is fun and educational for teens who volunteer at the nonprofit facility.

It's also costly.
:::snip:::
(http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/15983419.htm)

MAX, the great horned owl

Missing Max: Great horned owl flew away

A feathered friend to many children in Santa Barbara is missing -- and his caretaker hopes the public will help in the search. Max, an 8-year-old great horned owl that has thrilled elementary school students for years through the Audubon Society's Eyes in the Sky Education Program, flew the aviary Wednesday night and hasn't been seen since.

He flew away in the La Cumbre Road area. If seen, contact Gabriele Drozdowski - or the SB Audubon Society or call the SBWCN 966-9005; they surely will contact her.

After all these years in captivity, can he feed himself?

UPDATE
NOV 14: Max was found approximately two and a half blocks away - and was reunited with Gabriele, a happy reunion for both owl and person, according to the story in today's Santa Barbara News-Press, available online only to subscribers.