Bush touts conservation

By Chris Baltimore

ST MICHAELS, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush took a nature outing on Saturday to tout new federal initiatives aimed at protecting migrating birds and two fish species prized by anglers.

Bush took a break from bruising battles with Democrats in Congress over his agenda on children's health care, domestic spying, the budget and the war in Iraq to walk around a wildlife preserve in the scenic Maryland countryside.

He later headed to Chesapeake Bay to sign an executive order to protect striped bass and red drum fish -- two once-abundant species that have faced over-fishing.

"I'm looking forward to going out and try to catch some. I love to fish," the casually dressed Bush told a small audience at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum before heading out in a small boat.

Earlier at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Bush unveiled a federal plan to encourage private landowners to set aside "stopover habitats" for more than 800 species of migratory birds.

"Birds are losing the stopover habitats they need and depend on for their annual migrations," Bush said, flanked by his wife Laura and federal officials.

Bush donned a leather glove to handle a screech owl.

"Pretty awesome-looking stare there," he said of the bird's luminous eyes.