wild parrot habitat protected in SF

[Guest guest]

http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=7702944

 

San Francisco Protects Wild Parrots' Habitat

Board of Supervisors passes ordinance to preserve and replace vital cypress

trees

 

 

Back in December 2005, IDA joined the effort to help save a grove of Monterey

cypress trees in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood because they are a

favorite perch of the world-famous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. Readers of

last week's eNews will recall that IDA recently started a second petition to

support legislation proposed by Supervisor Bevan Dufty to preserve this habitat

and ensure that the parrots will have a home on the Greenwich Steps for years to

come.

 

Well over one year later, after a long campaign by many dedicated private

citizens, city officials and the Northeast San Francisco Conservancy, we are

proud to announce that yesterday the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted by

a margin of 9 to 1 to pass the ordinance protecting the trees! Mark Bittner, the

parrots' longtime caretaker who lives next to the cypresses, noted that " the

parrots were sitting in those trees squawking at the very moment the legislation

passed. " Thank you to everyone who signed IDA's petition and asked their family

and friends to do the same. More than 1,900 caring people from every corner of

the globe showed their support for the parrots by signing on.

 

IDA presented the results of this petition and the one we started in December

2005 at the Land Use Committee hearing in City Hall on Monday, March 5th.

Committee members were impressed that IDA had gathered more than 4,500

signatures in support of protecting the parrots' habitat. The hearing chamber

was packed with parrot advocates, many of whom made public statements about how

the parrots benefit the people of San Francisco and add to the city's

uniqueness. These included Judy Irving (the producer/director of " The Wild

Parrots of Telegraph Hill " ) and Mark Bittner (the movie's human co-star),

Richard Schulke and Christine Garcia (chair and vice-chair of the Commission of

Animal Control and Welfare), and IDA spokesperson Mat Thomas, who was also

quoted in an ABC7 News story about the parrots. " A key element in this success, "

said Judy Irving, " was the very visible outpouring of support from all over the

globe. We couldn't have done it without IDA. "

 

With Arbor Day coming up on Saturday, March 10th, it's especially fitting that

San Francisco has passed this unique ordinance to mandate the pruning and

maintenance of the two older cypress trees, plant up to six new parrot-friendly

trees, and protect the property owner from legal liability should the dying

trees happen to fall before being replaced. Wild parrot flocks now live in such

diverse urban environments as Orange County, Calif.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Fort

Lauderdale, Fla. and Chicago, Ill.; as well as numerous cities in Great Britain

and elsewhere. San Francisco's innovative solution will show other cities faced

with similar issues that living harmoniously with urban wildlife benefits

everyone -- human and animal alike.

 

 

 

 

Watch the broadcast television premiere of " The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill "

on Tuesday, May 29th at 9:00 p.m. when it airs on PBS' Independent Lens series.

For more information, check local listings for your area.

 

Or purchase a copy of " The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill " on DVD or VHS, as

well as Mark Bittner's best-selling book " The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A

Love Story...With Wings. "

 

 

 

I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to

tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been

enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money

power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the

prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and

the republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the safety

of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my

suspicions may prove groundless. " Lincoln in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins

on November 21, 1864