Free Kori Bustard Feathers 2010

FREE KORI BUSTARD FEATHERS 2010

 

The program is now completing its 5th year and for all intents and purpose it is a rousing success. For that I want to thank the Kori Bustard SSP and all the people involved in gathering the feathers we receive. I’m sure to some degree they realize the importance of this and are happy to help but what we really need to do is show our appreciation for real. In the past I have simply asked that feather recipients voluntarily send a donation (the amount is up to the individual) to the Friends of the National Zoo to be deposited into the Kori SSP Fund. Some people are and have been very generous, most (even though their intent to do so is genuine they seem to forget once they receive the feathers) are rarely or never heard from.  Quite a few professed the need for giant pairs to fulfill their needs in tying only the largest “Classic Salmon Flies” have never been heard from again, not even to say thanks let alone send a donation or even a fly.  It’s not a matter that my feelings are hurt by that behavior but we are really not very generous in our response to the program. We have done some good with the money raised to date:

 

“Since its inception, the kori bustard feather program has supported two key projects within the SSP.   In the first project, the SSP provided money to purchase a satellite transmitter a PhD student studying kori bustards in Botswana.  The second project supported hormone analysis from fecals in a multi-year, multi-institutional reproductive physiology study.” 

 

In lieu of the thousands and thousands of dollars worth I’ve given away, what we’ve given back is barely a drop in the bucket. I know many of you have donated flies, some framed, most not that I continue to send to the feather gatherers. Those are appreciated, both by the recipients, and me however nothing says thanks like good old fashion $.  I absolutely don’t want anyone to send me money for this unless it is in the form of a check made out to FONZ (Friends Of the National Zoo). 

 

I am now creating a new club of sorts. It will be called Friends of the Kori SSP. It is really not officially associated with FONZ or the Kori SSP; it is not a non-profit and really will receive no funds other than what I spend, if any. What it will require to join will be a minimum $25 donation to FONZ. You must send me a check or money order made out to FONZ along with Kori SSP in the memo section to join. You will not receive any membership card, newsletter, meeting dates or anything of any value except you will be entitled to preferential treatment in my feather distribution until I need to do something like this again. Simply put I will take care of club members first and then look into non-members needs after that. That is not to say you have to donate to the program to receive feathers but it won’t hurt. If you would just like to have an assortment of miscellaneous Kori feathers to tie fishing flies (herl & biot bodies, wet fly wings or wing cases etc.) joining isn’t necessary but to insure your chances in receiving some of the large, Salmon Fly wing material it is almost mandatory. Postage will also be your responsibility. When I started this US Priority Mail was one price nation wide and all I needed was a stamp and an address. Now the postage depends on the distance so the cost will vary. I now require $7 to cover the postage and handling and that needs to be separate from the donation to FONZ. Please bear in mind your donation is tax deductible not your postage.  Please remember you can send a donation in any amount over $25 as it is tax deductible and it will be very much appreciated.

 

As of last week this time I had no big feathers to give away. That has changed drastically as seen in the pictures below:

 


  

 

Now to obtain feathers you will need to send me $7 for postage and handling. Your package will be sent via USPS Priority Mail. You can send the postage any way you wish (PayPal or check) or I’ll be glad to include some with any domestic order but it is important that you join the club by sending me a check or money order made out to FONZ if you are seeking first pick on the feathers on hand. Sorry to have to do it this way but we really haven’t been holding up our end of this. Thank you all again.

 

To be sure you get enrolled in the new club Friends of the Kori SSP please send your donation, a check or money order made out to FONZ with Kori SSP Fund in the memo section and send it to me:

John McLain

9145 Sandy Ridge Dr

White Lake MI 48386-2052

I will then forward same to the proper person. Some of our earlier checks wound up in the Panda fund. Its not that I don't like the cute little critters its just the Kori need our attention more.

If you have any questions:

John@FeathersMc.com

248-432-1568

 

Also see Friends of the Kori SSP