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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img width="624" height="163" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D26CE4.C4910F70" alt="ABC-Together-for-Birds-petition-banner.jpg"></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Together for Birds Petition
</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Bird conservation is a core American value, whether inspired by the powerful flight of a Bald Eagle or the charisma of a Golden-crowned Kinglet. This value is widely supported by citizens of all political persuasions.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Now,
we face a critical moment.</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The environment was not a major issue in the recent election, but decisions made by the incoming Administration and Congress could have far-reaching impacts for birds and
their habitats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">That's why we need<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">everyone who cares about birds</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to join
together and </span><a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">sign this petition</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> to protect cornerstone legislation
and other top conservation<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>priorities. This may be the single best opportunity ever for our community to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">stand together
for birds</span></strong>. Please show your support for bird conservation and ensure that the progress we have made in recent decades is preserved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We will present the petition and signatures to the new Administration and Congress on January 23, just after the Inauguration.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please
sign</span></a><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> to show your support for bird conservation today!</span><o:p></o:p></strong></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Sign the Petition</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Forward the Petition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please use Facebook, Twitter (#togetherforbirds) and email to let family, friends and colleagues know about this effort to join together in support of birds.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Organizations Can Endorse the Petition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To sign on your organization, please fill in the name in the box provided</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Organizations, Please Circulate the Petition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:22.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please forward this link to your lists
</span><a href="https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">https://secure2.convio.net/abcb/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=290</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444">"TOGETHER FOR BIRDS" PETITION<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444">Dear [Administration and Congress],<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444">We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, represent a broad cross-section of the bird conservation community. We aim to build a dialogue with the new Administration and Congress
to promote the conservation of birds and their habitats, which are of fundamental value to the American people.<br>
<br>
More than 60 million Americans care deeply about birds, and bird-related recreation contributes more than $36 billion to our economy. Birds also act as the "canary in the coal mine" for our environment and provide valuable benefits to society, from pollination
to pest control. But birds are in trouble, with many declining in population or facing extinction.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
We endorse the following priorities to ensure that birds and their habitats continue to be effectively conserved for the benefit of all Americans. We ask that you please support:<br>
<br>
1. THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: Protect the Act that has helped recover our national bird, the Bald Eagle, and other species in trouble.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
2. THE MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT: Safeguard the only law that exists to protect most American birds, and support the federal Duck Stamp, one of the nation's most successful conservation programs.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
3. FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BIRDS: Maintain and grow essential sources of federal support for migratory bird conservation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
4. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: Ensure that the EPA can continue its vital work to protect people and birds from dangerous pesticides and other toxins.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
5. LAND MANAGEMENT FOR BIRDS AND PEOPLE: Ensure that public lands remain public, are properly managed for wildlife, and that recreational access is maintained.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
We also acknowledge that many other national and state initiatives are of critical importance to birds, and that citizens and private enterprise can play vital roles in these conservation efforts.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
Let's work together for birds!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="624" height="163" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D26CE4.C4910F70" alt="ABC-Together-for-Birds-petition-banner.jpg"></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Steve Holmer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vice President of Policy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">American Bird Conservancy &<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director, Bird Conservation Alliance<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">202-888-7490<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:sholmer@abcbirds.org"><span style="color:blue">sholmer@abcbirds.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="www.abcbirds.org"><span style="color:blue">www.abcbirds.org</span></a>,
<a href="https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-conservation-alliance/">https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-conservation-alliance/</a>,
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Bird-Conservancy/136126341809"><span style="color:blue">ABC on Facebook</span></a>,
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds"><span style="color:blue">ABC Videos</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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