March 13, 2015 Via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Docket No. Attn: Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2013–0011; 4500030114 Public Comments Processing Division of Policy and Directives Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Main Office 300 E. University Blvd., #120 Tucson AZ 85705 4401 N. Fairfax Drive TEL 520.629.0510 FAX 520.623.3476 MS 2042–PDM Tucson Audubon’s Mason Center 3835 W Hardy Road Arlington, VA 22203 Tucson AZ 85742 Karen Fogas Executive Director TEL 520.209.1801 Re: Proposed Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Critical Habitat Designation
[email protected] Dear Director Ashe: Established in 1949, the Tucson Audubon Society (Tucson Audubon) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization. We are the third largest local Audubon chapter in the nation and write to you on behalf of our membership in excess of 5,000 citizens. Tucson Audubon promotes the protection and stewardship of southeast Arizona’s biological diversity through the study and enjoyment of birds and the places they live. Tucson Audubon advocates statewide for the sustainability, resilience, preservation, restoration and connectivity of habitats utilized by birds and other wildlife, with special emphasis on riparian habitats and their associated uplands. Tucson Audubon Society appreciates the opportunity to respond to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) request for comments on the proposed designation of critical habitat for the federally threatened Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis - WYBC). See: Fed. Reg. Vol 79 No. 158 50 CFR Part 17 (August 15, 2014). Due to recent staffing changes at Tucson Audubon, we submit our comments to you after the deadline stated in the Federal Register notice.