Case Study:
Oklahoma Legislators Convene Process to
Deal With Big Birds
At the first public meeting, convened by state Senator Daisy Lawler and Representative Jari Askins, federal and state agency representatives described their respective roles and outlined the laws and regulations that applied to the situation. Citizens then expressed their concerns and asked what the agencies could do about the nuisance and health issues. At a subsequent meeting, residents and agency representatives toured the affected areas and began to talk about solutions.
Following the meetings, the US Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality agreed to begin working together to address the issues. Senator Lawler and Representative Askins remained actively involved in coordinating the effort. Congressional representatives helped find federal funding to pay for habitat alterations that would discourage the birds from nesting in the platted neighborhood. Senator Lawler said, “This funding will serve as the vital next step in the process toward finding a solution to this horrible problem.”
Habitat alterations were planned and carried out while the birds were away, because once they arrive, build nests and lay eggs, a rookery becomes a protected area. In 2005, the effort was shown to have worked, as the birds found other habitat suitable for nesting.