Ornithologists and just plain old ordinary bird watchers are in a twitter about the Ivory Billed Woodpecker being found in Eastern Arkansas. A bird thought to be extinct has appeared to the wondering eyes of bird watchers. And Ivory Bill is more than likely not alone. Since there is one there is most likely two or three or ... well you get the point.

But this bird may not be the only thing that is endangered. This bird may cause a problem for those who own the land on or around which it was found. There is the Endangered Species Act whose purpose is to protect critters that may be endangered and likely to disappear from the earth. If it is determined that the bird nests or inhabits areas around where it was found, the land will be declared a sanctuary or for the birds, and if the land isn’t owned by the state then the rightful owners will be hindered and hampered and harassed when they try to use the land since it might upset the bird.

Don’t take any of this wrong. It is fine to protect wild life but not at the expense of land owners. The Bible says that man is to have dominion over the animals, not the other way around and yet, spotted owls and other animals of all kinds have been pampered to the extreme, causing hardship on landowners who wish to use their land in ways that the government doesn’t and won’t approve because of the supposedly endangered critters.

Environmentalists carry things to the extreme and think animals should have rights over humans.  The PETA People are always sticking their collective noses into places they have no business such as the ruckus over KFC and its chicken use. They spread propaganda and stage protests that make no sense and serve only to disrupt legal enterprise for their own aggrandizement. How long will it be before PETA sticks its bill into the Ivory Bill bird business? 

There is a sign off of Highway 16, on Dave Creek Parkway in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, that says Fairfield Bay is a bird sanctuary. I can’t help but think when I see that sign that it could be said, in a joking way, that Fairfield Bay is for the birds. There are all kinds of birds in the city and surrounding area and they are a joy to watch, so being for the birds is okay until the birds begin to take precedence over people which happens all too often in various parts of the nation. It hasn't happened here and I hope it never does.

The Ivory Bill is no doubt giving the people who are for the birds a lot of pleasure and it will continue to do so as the days go by. However much enjoyment the bird watchers may have in viewing the bird, they need to make sure that they don’t trample on the rights of property owners on whose land the bird may choose to settle its feathers.

Without proper consideration for the rights of the people the bird can and will become a real nuisance. That would be a shame if the bird is given precedence over people and that would be well ... for the birds.     

© 06-25-2005 DEC