Everyone,
I just have to get this off my chest after reading this recent thread of
emails concerning population decline of Red Knots. I have had enough of Rick
Heil's rantings. All one has to do is conduct a quick google search to find
out that man has nothing better to do with his time than to criticize
others.  First, I suggest he learn to read someone's paper before he
criticizes their findings.  It is clear he hasn't even taken the time to
read Baker's et al. (2004) paper, given his recent statements.  As Eric
Stiles eloquently pointed out in his most recent email (which Mr. Heil
apparently ignored), Baker et al. (2004) stated "Demographic modeling
predicts imminent endangerment and an increased risk of extinction of the
subspecies without urgent risk-averse management".  Clearly this subspecies
is in trouble, as further documented by Morrison et al's (2004) research.
Given the precipitous population decline documented in both articles, Baker
et al.'s conclusion that urgent risk-averse management is necessary should
be a cold hard fact.  To quibble whether given current population trends the
species will go extinct in exactly 2010 seems to be a meaningless exercise
in futility. Given the population projections of Baker et al. and Morrison
et al, I support any and all statements that NJ Audubon makes to try to
protect the species.  Mr. Heil's model suggesting that population is
leveling off now (with no data or analysis to back up this claim) is not
satisfactory to me.  I would rather take the conservative conservation
approach of taking all steps necessary to protect the species.

Dr. Peter Paton
Professor and Chair
Dept. of Natural Resources Science
1 Greenhouse Rd.
Coastal Institute at Kingston
University of Rhode Island
Kingston RI 02881
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