Derek¡ thanks for that post. What a superb documentary! I thought it was very well done and perfectly captures the threat these birds are facing. RBT2 is really a heartbreaking development for anybody who loves nature. It may be good for economic development, but it will be an utter disaster for wildlife at a time when wildlife the world over is on the defensive big time!
The main job of politicians is to stay in power. For that they need economic expansion at all costs. People need jobs and to be earning money or they will vote the politicians out of power or there will be civil unrest and this is the thing politicians fear the most. This is why economic expansion and money trumps all other considerations. In the end money ALWAYS wins out. A very sad but true fact of life. But there has to be a limit to this development at all cost mentality because it is destroying the planet. RBT2 would be a crime against nature.
Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@... <mailto:danielbastaja@...>
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On Dec 18, 2024, at 05:58, Robert Hay via groups.io <rbhay2020@...> wrote:
Thanks Derek,
Note that there may be more migrant shorebirds that use the head of the Bay of Fundy. Loads of semipalmated sandpipers, especially in the fall - between 1-2 million. It¡¯s an IBA with protection measures. Even though there¡¯s fewer shorebirds there should be similar protection out west as the Fraser estuary is an IBA too.
Bob Hay
Cassidy, BC
On 17 Dec 2024, at 5:51 pm, Derek Matthews via groups.io <Derek@...> wrote:
?Any of you that were on the VARC Shorebird ID Workshop last month will remember our last session when we spoke about the anthropogenic threats facing our shorebirds. Shorebirds, with their varied habitats and long migrations, face many threats. Habitat loss may be the greatest, as the wetlands and coastal areas they rely on are impacted by development, agriculture, pollution, and recreation. The effects of climate change, like changes in the timing of insect emergence in the Arctic and worsening droughts in the Prairies, also put them at risk.
Disturbance and hunting at migration stopovers place additional pressure on shorebirds. Loose dogs, off-road vehicles, and entanglement in garbage can also harm or kill birds on beaches and other shorelines.
I spoke briefly about the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) project and the main components of the proposed project which include dredging and construction of the new three-berth marine container terminal; widening of the causeway to the mainland to accommodate additional road and rail infrastructure; and expansion of the tug basin to accommodate a second tug operations contractor and I showed this map of the whole area outlined in pink that will be impacted if the project goes ahead in an area recognized as wintering grounds for the highest number of shorebirds anywhere in Canada!
My friend Bob Elner has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the threat to Western Sandpipers and appears in this new documentary from Salish Sea Wild.
Please take action against this potential threat to the world¡¯s population of Western Sandpipers by reaching out to Russ Elliott (russ@...) at the Georgia Strait Alliance who is leading a campaign to halt this expansion!
Let¡¯s all take action today and stop this madness!
Happy Christmas everyone!
Derek
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Derek J. Matthews
Chairman, Director Communication
NABC Certified Trainer
Vancouver Avian Research Centre
Registered Canadian Charity #82118 2656 RR0001
4115, East Braemar Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7K 3C9
T: (604) 218-1191
E: Derek@...
W: www.birdvancouver.com
