Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District board on Wednesday heard a plea from Plymouth resident and Veterinarian Elida Malick to discontinue its alleged destruction of migrating swallow nests at Amador High School. Malick said she raised the issue during public comment because the board has “repeatedly refused” to add it as a regular agenda item. Malick said that for many years, a colony of native swallows have been completing their southern migration by returning to the eaves of the backside of the school’s gymnasium. “This year,” she said, “the district attempted to eradicate the colony…because one parent threatened to sue the district claiming their child might be sensitive to fungus carried by the birds, the fungus in question being Histoplasma.” Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Public Health Officer, verified that there have been no cases of Histoplasma reported in Amador County. Malick said nest destruction has happened on “at least two occasions” and is a violation of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, which makes it unlawful to kill, hunt or capture over 800 species of migrating birds. The law took effect soon after the extinction of the passenger pigeon. Malick said that as a result of the district’s action, birds have been driven deeper into the school grounds where they are attempting to nest in “less desirable locations.” Malick said the purpose of bringing this issue to the board’s attention was to “ensure that the practice of destroying nests that adult birds are occupying does not resume, ensure that the district obtains proper permits for nest removal if that is essential in the future, and discontinue the use of the Methyl Anthranilate bird repellent.” “Nature does not always work in a manner that is convenient to our schedules or our delicate sensitivities but that does not make us any less responsible to find ways to co-exist as we, man, continue to exert unyielding pressure on the natural environment,” said Malick. The board made no comments on the issue. No one was available for comment at the school district office at the time this story was written. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 14 May 2010 06:20
School Board Hears Plea Against Destruction of Migratory Swallow Nests
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District board on Wednesday heard a plea from Plymouth resident and Veterinarian Elida Malick to discontinue its alleged destruction of migrating swallow nests at Amador High School. Malick said she raised the issue during public comment because the board has “repeatedly refused” to add it as a regular agenda item. Malick said that for many years, a colony of native swallows have been completing their southern migration by returning to the eaves of the backside of the school’s gymnasium. “This year,” she said, “the district attempted to eradicate the colony…because one parent threatened to sue the district claiming their child might be sensitive to fungus carried by the birds, the fungus in question being Histoplasma.” Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Public Health Officer, verified that there have been no cases of Histoplasma reported in Amador County. Malick said nest destruction has happened on “at least two occasions” and is a violation of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, which makes it unlawful to kill, hunt or capture over 800 species of migrating birds. The law took effect soon after the extinction of the passenger pigeon. Malick said that as a result of the district’s action, birds have been driven deeper into the school grounds where they are attempting to nest in “less desirable locations.” Malick said the purpose of bringing this issue to the board’s attention was to “ensure that the practice of destroying nests that adult birds are occupying does not resume, ensure that the district obtains proper permits for nest removal if that is essential in the future, and discontinue the use of the Methyl Anthranilate bird repellent.” “Nature does not always work in a manner that is convenient to our schedules or our delicate sensitivities but that does not make us any less responsible to find ways to co-exist as we, man, continue to exert unyielding pressure on the natural environment,” said Malick. The board made no comments on the issue. No one was available for comment at the school district office at the time this story was written. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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