Peregrine Falcons are still here, back from the brink of extinction and a case study that demonstrates how the endangered species protections can succeed. The saving of the Endangered Peregrine Falcon hasn't cost much, and has produced many unanticipated benefits.

This bird is off the endangered list, though it's still a species of concern, and it's instructive to examine what it took to get here. What is really needed to save a species or a genus from extinction?

It took a recognition that extinction was happening, it took a commitment by humans that these creatures survive this human civilization. Wildlife biology contributed a knowledge of the life cycle and habitat requirements for the birds.

Since Falcons have been kept by royalty for hunting for centuries, there was a lot of knowledge of how to raise birds, though these birds have some unique habits that made saving them more difficult, such as the tendency to nest on clifs, bridges, and skyscrapers.

The effort brought together lawyers who crafted legislation, legislation that created habitat protection, funding for the guardians at SPRIG ( University of California at Santa Cruz) who lead the program. The effort also included volunteers, foundations, private funding, public information, web cams, web discussion groups, web pages, power company mitigation measures ( technical support and retrofitting power systems to stop killing birds), special feeding and care techniques, protection of fledglings, public interest and support, media coverage, organization, facilities, cooperation from private landowners, public land trusts, being included in the mission of the fish and wildlife service, support for the Fish and Wildlife Service, documentary films, public education programs, and more.

The costs have been spread out over 25 years, and should go on for many more decades. Saving the endangered Peregrine Falcon from extinction also brought benefits to our society. We've learned what it takes, and we've done it. Saving species who have lived on earth for hundreds of millions of years from extinction is sacred work, a sacred duty for our civilization. Here is an example of the best of our society, a case where many segments of our society came together to do a compassionate act, and it worked.

The new knowledge of how the knowledge enabled a few dedicated folks to develop technology that could help with raising birds by humans who could successfully live in the wild. Life cycle studies, population studies, and looking at the cause of death for these rare birds was part of the successful save.

In the course of the quest to save the Peregrine Falcon from extinction, we've learned about how our ecosystem was shifting, exhibiting pathology, with the birds as a signal to pay attention, to recognize the shifts that were killing off beings who lived with us for so long. The simple act of putting a metal triangle on a power pole cross arm so that these big birds aren't electrocuted anytime they perch on a pole made a big difference in Peregrine mortality. The intervention of the Peregrine experts when birds have nests in an inappropriate site reduced the mortality of the babies, but will require an ongoing commitment if the "saving" is to continue, if we are to live together with our cities. Maybe the birds will adapt to cities more successfully, or maybe with enough birds in the wild it won't matter so much.

UCAL Santa Cruz biologists effectively utilized web cams to both monitor nests, and to stir up public support, volunteers, and even some funding. Web news groups are a way of coordinating, informing and mobilizing the Peregrine Falcon community. Telemetry has helped with tracking, that gave knowledge of how the birds travel, where they like to live, etc. Private land owners who protected nesting sites, who cooperate with University and wildlife care folk play an important role in this effort. Public education through documentary films or videos, tv specials, news releases, all help to develop the public awareness that makes this effort work.

The fact that these groups have effectively worked together is a bit of "intellectual or community capital", as this shared experience of successful cooperation is a model for other projects to emulate.

So while some bemoan or belittle the endangered species protection laws, the reality in this case is that a modest amount of resources from both public and private sources has been successful. None of the "job loss" or other "terrible impacts" have occurred, the restrictions on habitat conversion to human use haven't stifled the California economy.

Climate change is going to make such challenges much more frequent and even more difficult, and they make the life-affirming response even more necessary, even more important. We can help many creatures to transition to the new world humans have created with our release of greenhouse gasses, we can help them find new niches, we can create new niches for them if we are smart.

How tools become valuable.

July 2008

Tools gain value when kept organized and ready to go. You have to be able to efficiently put your hands on a tool for it to convey a real capacity, a capability that it alone enables.

It follows that grouping tools into functional collections or kits is one way to take these concepts, and add a few choice pieces of hardware or a component, put this in a tool box, label it, and store it where it can be found amongst the other toolboxes.

Once you've used a tool, clean it, put it back in the toolbox. Track when a drill bit needs replacement, when the Teflon tape runs low, and keep these crucial elements stocked.

The meta view then is to have toolsets that are complete for a set of actions. An example is a pop rivet toolbox. Has the pop rivet tool, a selection of pop rivets, drill bits for each size of pop rivet, reamer. Simple, but with correct drill bits, more likely to be ready to go to work immediately. The correct assortment of tools, hardware and container means that 80% of the jobs can be done without a trip to the hardware store.

Fortunately some older guys told me to organize my tools, and helped instill good habits. My father worked that way. As I've gained experience, I'm so glad that I've lived by these values and understandings. It's nice to be able to go to my shop and just do a task. Simple, but when I was very young, the acquisition of the tool was my priority, it took a while for me to appreciate how the organization multiplies the value.

The shop is quite small, and yet it functions well. Has lots of power, a data connection, phone, natural light, and privacy. I don't like to be bothered when working in the shop, though I do enjoy visitors and collaborators.

Good security for the tools and the shop is vital, best to have an alarm system. This minimizes the times that you have to start over on the workshop….a non trivial consideration as the collection grows and becomes more useful.

Anyway, as the shop develops, it adds to the value of the tools, the kits, and we have a system capability, a capacity to do things that results from the synergism. At this level we might see for example a fume hood/dust-exhaust system adding value, as the tools can now be employed in a wider variety of ways, and health is maximized. At this level we might see a jib crane or a bridge crane, forge, etc.

At the shop level, attention to the sources of energy and utilities adds value. Lots of electrical outlets is basic, with compressed air a common upgrade, data ports, and sometimes various forms of water ( cooling water, de-ionized water, distilled water, potable water), gasses ( natural gas, nitrogen, etc.), sometimes its cryogens such as liquid nitrogen. Various forms of sewer add value, including ability to handle silt, acid waste, or the ability to contain, these add value.

The national laboratories take this concept two levels higher.

Laboratories combine the specialized work spaces/work shops into ensembles that convey a sophisticated capability such as that needed to do materials research. The national system of laboratories delivers a capability to manage the technical capabilities and research fields in a coordinated manner.

Culture is ultimately what gives value to tools, and this includes individual behavior, clan or tribal values, dynamics and practices, social organization, and how education works. The culture of the craftsman, the culture of the laboratory worker, these are important meta level assets that must be passed through time via organizations.

The simple transmission from master to apprentice has a modern analogue in the way that a PhD is earned, how folks get a doctorate in experimental science. It's not much changed as a cultural practice, a way of maintaining our cultural intellectual capital since long before Jesus was the son of a carpenter.

At the basic level, it's a decision to adopt the craftsman's practice that was important to me. The cultivation of the beginners mind is also important, but informed by cultivated habits of care that express an understanding of how this all fits together.

Thanks