Comments:

George Archibald:

Thank you very much for your excellent and inspiring letter.  Back in the 1970s, I attended a conservation meeting in Kino, Mexico.  Someone told the sad story of the fate of the Mexican end of the Colorado River, the loss of the delta, and the impact on the Sari Native Americans who depended on the resources of the former wetlands.

It was all very sad and the ecological situation seemed hopeless. I am encouraged that some restoration of inflow has been undertaken.  It was a crime against nature and humanity to block the Colorado River from doing what it did. Perhaps the crane project you mention can be a metaphor for continued restoration.  

Dr. David Ellis recently retired from the Crane Project at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. It was he who pioneered the technique for leading cranes behind a vehicle to teach them a new migration route.  Dave might have the time and the interest to undertake a migration of Greater Sandhills from northern Nevada to the delta of the Colorado if funding can be provided.   

Dr. Curt Meine and I hope to collaborate with our new Board member from Texas, Lalise Mason  to establish a Southwest Working Group on Cranes to include Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico.  Perhaps the project you mention is an opportunity for collaboration between the Northwest and the Southwest groups.   

I sincerely appreciate the efforts you have invested in this idea, Tom, and I hope that something blossoms.

Estella Leopold:

Dear ALF Board members,

I want to call attention to the fine work that Tom Hoffman, one of the participants on Buddy's Colorado R. Delta Trip last month, has done regarding possible restoration of Sandhill Crane habitat and migration through that key delta area. I find this memo very substantive, thorough, and of great interest because it was a direct result of Buddy's trip, and because it was an area dear to Aldo Leopold's heart.

I hope you will take a minute to read it. Tom Hoffman is a Seattle resident and has been active with the Crane Foundation in Baraboo.

Regards, Estella L 

Steve Cornelius, La Ruta

Thanks for copying me on this interesting communication.  I have forwarded to Francisco Zamora, SI Delta Project Manager, and Osvel Hinojosa, Univ. of Arizona PhD candidate working in the Delta.  They were with the CAP folks on the other side of the river last week.  I especially encourage you to have direct communication with both as the Crane idea evolves.  

Paul King:

My friend Glenn Lamb, who is head of the Columbia Land Trust based in Vancouver WA, has some experience with international land conservation efforts based on the international status of migratory friends.  I don't know whether he could be any help here, but I'm sure he would be interested.