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Morley Nelson's Jaws

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``That was the stupidest thing. When you train birds you realize how intelligent they are,'' Nelson said. ``I knew we had to do something to stop it.'' In 1980 Morley Nelson noticed a drop in population of birds of prey in Idaho. He came to Boise to fix this conflict and save the birds of prey. Morley Nelson, with the help of many others, compromised with the government to grant the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area permanent protection, and saved thousands of birds from being hunted. Growing up on a farm and being involved in World War ll are two factors that had a tremendous effect on Nelson’s ambition to help birds of prey. While herding cattle on his farm in North Dakota, he observed a falcon prey on a duck. That rare …show more content…

Among these were raptors using the power poles for nests, Walt Disney making movies to help animals, and Rachel Carson’s book about the dramatic impact of DDT. The first influence was in the 1960’s Morley started working for Walt Disney, and make many documentaries on the birds of prey ("History"). To solve the problem with the power poles, Nelson made nest platforms so they would not get electrocuted. The first problem was raptors began nesting on the power poles. The birds could get electrocuted other nesting can cause power outages ("Bird Protection"). He helped Rachel Carson ban DDT to protect the birds from extinction. DDT was a chemical to help plants. When bugs ate the plants, they got DDT in their systems, and when the birds ate the bugs, their eggs softened. They got so soft that when the mothers incubated them, they would get crushed ("birds, people"). All his research while making movies with Disney and working with Rachel which all made him more connected to the …show more content…

Nelson developed a platform for the Raptors to nest on so they would not get electrocuted by the power lines. He also sees him on a PBS special sharing his love for birds with John Denver (“Statesman”). Morley Nelson inspired John Denver during filming. They were friends for many years until Denver moved back to Boise (“Statesman”). Cool North Wind, a book written by Stephen Stuebner, is all about Morley’s incredible life and his passion for birds ("Senate Approves"). Morley Nelson had a very large short-term impact as well as a long-term impact

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