The Aardvark’s Tongue

So here’s a little news item. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering re-listing the Pygmy Owl as an endangered species in Arizona. The bird was first listed in 1997 and subsequently delisted in 2006.

Now there’s probably no rush since there are nearly 30 birds still in existence, down from 41 birds in 1999. Clearly if there are 41 birds it can’t be endangered so good thing they took it off the list. But now, with less than 30 birds the agency is going to conduct a one year status review, at the conclusion of which they will determine whether or not to re-list the bird. No word on how long that determination will take but it looks as if the annual loss rate is about 1.2 birds per year so they can probably delay making a decision for at least 25 years of so. Unless of course only males or females are dying off in which case you would have to half the time period but that still leaves 12 years to get it right.

Well I guess that about says it all, if we have 12 years to make a decision then the birds can’t be critically endangered can they?

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