

I|PRP ’m|VBP outraged|JJ ...|... 
and|CC I|PRP think|VBP you|PRP will|MD be|VB ,|, too|RB !|. 


Just|RB imagine|VB finding|VBG your|PRP$ favorite|JJ hiking|NN trail|NN or|CC birding|VBG area|NN littered|VBN with|IN dead|JJ birds|NNS --|: among|IN the|DT hundreds|NNS of|IN thousands|NNS of|IN unsuspecting|JJ and|CC innocent|JJ creatures|NNS who|WP were|VBD unlucky|JJ enough|RB to|TO consume|VB lethal|JJ doses|NNS of|IN a|DT slow-acting|JJ poison|NN spread|VBD in|IN fields|NNS miles|NNS away|RB .|. 


And|CC who|WP plans|VBZ to|TO commit|VB such|PDT a|DT mass|NN bird|NN killing|NN ?|. 


The|DT U.S.|NNP Department|NNP of|IN Agriculture|NNP !|. 


In|IN fact|NN ,|, the|DT USDA|NNP has|VBZ plans|NNS to|TO spread|VB poisoned|VBN rice|NN in|IN sunflower|NN fields|NNS throughout|IN the|DT northern|JJ Great|NNP Plains|NNP targeting|VBG two|CD million|CD migrating|VBG blackbirds|NNS and|CC threatening|VBG nearly|RB 70|CD other|JJ bird|NN species|NNS .|. 


it|PRP ’s|VBZ almost|RB unthinkable|JJ that|IN a|DT program|NN this|DT reckless|JJ could|MD be|VB implemented|VBN --|: in|IN view|NN of|IN the|DT tragic|JJ impact|NN that|IN poisonous|JJ chemicals|NNS and|CC pesticides|NNS like|IN DDT|NNP have|VBP had|VBN on|IN wildlife|NN and|CC people|NNS .|. 


Thanks|NNS to|TO the|DT help|NN of|IN caring|VBG and|CC concerned|VBN people|NNS like|IN you|PRP ,|, Audubon|NNP won|VBD a|DT temporary|JJ halt|NN to|TO this|DT planned|JJ killing|VBG last|JJ spring|NN --|: but|CC the|DT USDA|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ plans|NNS could|MD be|VB up|RB and|CC running|VBG for|IN the|DT next|JJ blackbird|NN migration|NN ,|, unless|IN we|PRP act|VBP now|RB .|. 


Let|VB me|PRP tell|VB you|PRP exactly|RB what|WP ’|NN s|VBZ at|IN stake|NN ...|... and|CC how|WRB this|DT could|MD set|VB a|DT dangerous|JJ precedent|NN :|: 
First|CD of|IN all|DT ,|, you|PRP might|MD wonder|VB why|WRB blackbirds|NNS are|VBP not|RB benefiting|VBG from|IN the|DT Migratory|NNP Bird|NNP Treaty|NNP Act|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ prohibition|NN against|IN actions|NNS that|WDT cause|VBP intentional|JJ harm|NN .|. 


You|PRP see|VBP ,|, the|DT USDA|NNP found|VBD a|DT loophole|NN allowing|VBG these|DT protections|NNS to|TO be|VB lifted|VBN for|IN “|NN experimental|JJ ”|NN activities|NNS .|. 


So|IN they|PRP applied|VBD for|IN the|DT right|NN to|TO spread|VB poison|NN as|IN Dart|NNP of|IN a|DT “|NN scientific|JJ experiment|NN ”|NN --|: to|TO learn|VB whether|IN lowering|VBG the|DT population|NN of|IN blackbirds|NNS by|IN poisoning|NN them|PRP will|MD reduce|VB sunflower|NN crop|NN loss|NN .|. 


Can|MD you|PRP believe|VB it|PRP ?|. 
The|DT USDA|NNP wants|VBZ to|TO conduct|VB an|DT “|NN experiment|NN ”|NN that|WDT will|MD spread|VB enough|JJ poison|NN in|IN our|PRP$ environment|NN to|TO kill|VB two|CD million|CD blackbirds|NNS .|. 


And|CC if|IN the|DT death|NN of|IN two|CD million|CD birds|NNS doesn|NN ’|NN t|NN “|NN prove|VB ”|NN their|PRP$ theory|NN --|: and|CC show|VB a|DT reduction|NN in|IN crop|NN loss|NN --|: they|PRP ’ll|MD likely|JJ seek|VB the|DT right|NN to|TO kill|VB even|RB more|JJR birds|NNS the|DT next|JJ year|NN !|. 


It|PRP ’s|VBZ time|NN to|TO tell|VB the|DT USDA|NNP ,|, in|IN no|DT uncertain|JJ terms|NNS :|: 


“|NN YOU|PRP WILL|MD NOT|NNP CONDUCT|NNP MASSIVE|NNP BIRD|NNP KILLS|NNP 

TO|TO BENEFIT|NNP A|DT HANDFUL|NNP OF|IN SPECIAL|NNP INTERESTS|NNP !|. ”|NN 


Because|IN the|DT USDA|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ slow-acting|JJ pesticide|NN takes|VBZ three|CD days|NNS to|TO kill|VB ,|, its|PRP$ victims|NNS will|MD likely|RB fly|VB many|JJ miles|NNS from|IN the|DT poisoned|JJ fields|NNS ,|, before|IN falling|VBG to|TO the|DT ground|NN .|. 


Meanwhile|RB ,|, blackbirds|NNS aren|NN ’|NN t|NN the|DT only|JJ birds|NNS threatened|VBN directly|RB by|IN the|DT poison|NN .|. 
We|PRP ’ve|VBP noted|VBD the|DT presence|NN of|IN 68|CD other|JJ species|NNS of|IN grassland|NN songbirds|NNS in|IN the|DT proposed|VBN poison-baited|JJ areas|NNS ...|... including|VBG the|DT Bobolink|NNP ,|, Grasshopper|NNP Sparrow|NNP ,|, Harris|NNP ’|NN Sparrow|NNP and|CC Le|NNP Conte|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ Sparrow|NNP .|. 


In|IN all|DT ,|, nine|CD birds|NNS on|IN the|DT Federal|NNP threatened|VBD or|CC endangered|VBN lists|NNS and|CC 11|CD birds|NNS on|IN Audubon|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ WatchList|NNP of|IN imperiled|VBN species|NNS could|MD be|VB found|VBN in|IN these|DT killing|VBG fields|NNS .|. 


We|PRP simply|RB can|MD not|RB afford|VB to|TO let|VB the|DT government|NN repeat|NN the|DT mistakes|NNS of|IN the|DT past|NN ...|... and|CC operate|VB this|DT deadly|JJ and|CC uncontrolled|JJ experiment|NN on|IN wildlife|NN .|. 


Here|RB ’|NN s|VBZ what|WP I|PRP need|VBP you|PRP to|TO do|VB ,|, to|TO make|VB sure|JJ we|PRP prevail|VBP :|: 

First|CD ,|, I|PRP need|VBP you|PRP to|TO sign|VB and|CC return|VB your|PRP$ Petition|NNP to|TO the|DT U.S.|NNP Secretary|NNP of|IN Agriculture|NNP .|. 


I|PRP ’ll|MD forward|RB your|PRP$ Petition|NNP ,|, along|IN with|IN those|DT from|IN thousands|NNS of|IN other|JJ Audubon|NNP members|NNS and|CC supporters|NNS ,|, urging|VBG the|DT USDA|NNP to|TO withdraw|VB its|PRP$ cruel|JJ plan|NN to|TO poison|NN blackbirds|NNS ...|... in|IN favor|NN of|IN alternative|NN ,|, benign|JJ methods|NNS of|IN protecting|VBG sunflower|NN crops|NNS .|. 


I|PRP can|MD assure|VB you|PRP that|IN thousands|NNS of|IN Audubon|NNP Petitions|NNP can|MD make|VB a|DT difference|NN --|: just|RB as|IN they|PRP did|VBD in|IN a|DT successful|JJ battle|NN against|IN an|DT adverse|JJ wetlands|NNS proposal|NN a|DT few|JJ years|NNS ago|RB !|. 


But|CC today|NN ’|NN s|VBZ battle|NN is|VBZ one|CD we|PRP must|MD win|VB ...|... to|TO block|VB a|DT dangerous|JJ experiment|NN that|WDT would|MD begin|VB to|TO erase|VB 50|CD years|NNS of|IN steady|JJ progress|NN eliminating|VBG pesticides|NNS and|CC other|JJ harmful|JJ chemicals|NNS from|IN our|PRP$ environment|NN .|. 


That|DT ’s|VBZ why|WRB I|PRP hope|VBP you|PRP ’ll|MD also|RB agree|VBP to|TO help|VB even|RB more|JJR by|IN making|VBG a|DT tax-deductible|JJ gift|NN to|TO support|VB this|DT crucial|JJ initiative|NN and|CC all|DT of|IN Audubon|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ vital|JJ conservation|NN work|NN to|TO protect|VB birds|NNS ,|, other|JJ wildlife|NN and|CC habitat|NN .|. 
And|CC with|IN a|DT donation|NN of|IN $15|NN or|CC more|JJR ,|, you|PRP ’ll|MD receive|VBP a|DT FREE|NNP Birdfeeder|NNP in|IN appreciation|NN for|IN your|PRP$ concern|NN .|. 


I|PRP ’ll|MD make|NN sure|JJ your|PRP$ gift|NN is|VBZ put|JJ right|NN to|TO work|VB in|IN our|PRP$ efforts|NNS to|TO :|: 


·|NN Win|NNP a|DT ban|NN on|IN the|DT USDA|NNP bird|NN poisoning|NN .|. 

·|NN Gain|NN strict|JJ enforcement|NN of|IN wildlife|NN laws|NNS .|. 

·|NN Ensure|NNP wildlife|NN programs|NNS are|VBP based|VBN on|IN sound|NN science|NN .|. 

·|NN Monitor|NNP the|DT health|NN of|IN Audubon|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ WatchList|NNP species|NNS .|. 

·|NN Conserve|NNP America|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ remaining|VBG grassland|NN habitat|NN .|. 


And|CC Audubon|NNP will|MD draw|VB upon|IN its|PRP$ century-long|JJ track|NN record|NN of|IN highly|RB effective|JJ conservation|NN work|NN to|TO make|VB a|DT real|JJ difference|NN in|IN other|JJ key|JJ areas|NNS :|: 


Audubon|NNP protects|VBZ birds|NNS .|. 
Your|PRP$ help|NN will|MD be|VB instrumental|JJ to|TO our|PRP$ bird|NN conservation|NN work|NN :|: designating|VBG Important|NNP Bird|NNP Areas|NNS to|TO protect|VB vital|JJ habitat|NN ...|... maintaining|VBG the|DT WatchList|NNP of|IN bird|NN species|NNS near|IN endangered|VBN status|NN (|( www.audubon.org/|NN bird|NN /|NN watch|NN )|) ...|... and|CC engaging|VBG citizen|NN participation|NN in|IN the|DT vast|JJ BirdSource|NNP database|NN of|IN North|JJ American|JJ bird|NN trends|NNS .|. 


Audubon|NNP rescues|VBZ endangered|VBN wildlife|NN .|. 
Nearly|RB 25|CD years|NNS ago|RB ,|, the|DT National|NNP Audubon|NNP Society|NNP helped|VBD win|VB passage|NN of|IN the|DT Endangered|NNP Species|NNP Act|NNP .|. 
With|IN your|PRP$ help|NN ,|, Audubon|NNP will|MD remain|VB committed|VBN to|TO wildlife|NN laws|NNS and|CC regulations|NNS that|WDT are|VBP well|RB funded|VBN ,|, properly|RB implemented|VBN ,|, and|CC strongly|RB enforced|VBN .|. 


Audubon|NNP establishes|VBZ and|CC protects|VBZ wildlife|NN refuges|NNS and|CC sanctuaries|NNS .|. 
“|NN Audubon|NNP is|VBZ truly|RB making|VBG a|DT difference|NN for|IN wildlife|NN refuges|NNS everywhere|RB ”|NN says|VBZ U.S.|NNP Fish|NN and|CC Wildlife|NNP official|NN Rick|NNP Coleman|NNP .|. 

And|CC your|PRP$ support|NN will|MD help|VB sustain|VB our|PRP$ innovative|JJ Audubon|NNP Refuge|NNP Keepers|NNS program|NN ,|, and|CC maintain|VB our|PRP$ own|JJ network|NN of|IN more|JJR than|IN 100|CD wildlife|NN centers|NNS and|CC sanctuaries|NNS .|. 


Audubon|NNP restores|NNS wetlands|NNS .|. 
Wetlands|NNP are|VBP not|RB only|RB crucial|JJ to|TO wildlife|NN ...|... they|PRP also|RB help|VBP purify|NN our|PRP$ drinking|NN water|NN and|CC prevent|VB billions|NNS of|IN dollars|NNS worth|NN of|IN flood|NN damage|NN .|. 
Your|PRP$ gift|NN today|NN will|MD help|VB us|PRP reach|VB our|PRP$ goal|NN to|TO restore|VB one|CD million|CD acres|NNS of|IN irreplaceable|JJ wetlands|NNS .|. 


Audubon|NNP educates|NNS the|DT public|NN .|. 
Teaching|NNP Americans|NNPS --|: particularly|RB young|JJ people|NNS --|: how|WRB to|TO become|VB better|JJR stewards|NNS of|IN our|PRP$ environment|NN is|VBZ one|CD of|IN the|DT best|JJS investments|NNS that|IN you|PRP and|CC I|PRP can|MD make|VB for|IN wildlife|NN .|. 
That|DT ’s|VBZ why|WRB we|PRP ’re|VBP expanding|VBG our|PRP$ network|NN of|IN Audubon|NNP Centers|NNPS to|TO reach|VB children|NNS and|CC adults|NNS in|IN every|DT corner|NN of|IN the|DT nation|NN .|. 


And|CC of|IN course|NN ,|, your|PRP$ support|NN will|MD enable|VB Audubon|NNP to|TO stand|VB ready|JJ to|TO act|VB whenever|WRB a|DT wildlife|NN crisis|NN emerges|VBZ 
--|: like|IN the|DT USDA|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ bird|NN poisoning|NN proposal|NN that|IN I|PRP ’m|VBP asking|VBG you|PRP to|TO help|VB us|PRP defeat|NN today|NN !|. 


So|RB let|VB me|PRP urge|VB you|PRP to|TO do|VB your|PRP$ part|NN by|IN supporting|VBG a|DT group|NN that|IN the|DT San|NNP Francisco|NNP Chronicle|NNP calls|VBZ “|NN one|CD of|IN America|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ most|RBS respected|VBN and|CC influential|JJ conservation|NN organizations|NNS .|. 


First|LS ,|, sign|NN and|CC return|VB your|PRP$ Petition|NNP to|TO the|DT Secretary|NNP of|IN Agriculture|NNP immediately|RB ,|, to|TO declare|VB a|DT firm|NN and|CC resounding|JJ “|NN NO|UH !|. ”|NN 
to|TO the|DT USDA|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ bird|NN poisoning|NN plan|NN .|. 


And|CC I|PRP also|RB hope|VBP you|PRP ’ll|MD take|VBP a|DT second|JJ important|JJ step|NN today|NN ,|, by|IN supporting|VBG Audubon|NNP ’|NN s|VBZ vital|JJ conservation|NN work|NN with|IN a|DT generous|JJ tax-deductible|JJ gift|NN .|. 
Thank|VB you|PRP .|. 


Very|RB truly|RB yours|NNS ,|, 



John|NNP Flicker|NNP 
President|NNP 


P.S.|NN Your|PRP$ gift|NN will|MD help|VB us|PRP save|VB birds|NNS ,|, other|JJ wildlife|NN and|CC their|PRP$ habitat|NN for|IN future|JJ generations|NNS to|TO cherish|NN .|. 
And|CC in|IN thanks|NNS for|IN your|PRP$ gift|NN of|IN $15|NN or|CC more|JJR ,|, you|PRP 11|CD receive|VB a|DT FREE|NNP Birdfeeder|NNP .|. 
Supplies|NNP are|VBP limited|JJ ...|... so|RB please|VB respond|VB today|NN !|. 

