>From Russell Rogers, Seattle WA, rrogers at halcyon.com
>
>Back in the 80's, Peregrine Falcon nesting platforms were constructed and
>Peregrine Falcons were put on them at many places along coastal areas of
>the Northeast Coast, where Peregrine Falcons have never nested. The result
>of this was good for the falcons, and bad for Piping Plovers.
>
>Is this good or bad?

Evidence is mounting that as various raptors continue to increase, they
will have an increasing effect on prey species, including those that are
themselves in some peril. A Peregrine pair had to be translocated in
England, because they were very effectively cropping a Roseate Tern (even
more endangered) colony. Peregrines on Tatoosh have nearly wiped out the
auklets there, and, more seriously, the Bald Eagles there have had severe
effects on the already much-reduced murre colony. Not as predators but
merely as a disturbance factor. The eagles fly by, the murres leave their
nests in panic, and the crows and gulls swoop in and pretty well clean out
the eggs. Someone studying the murres there has come up with solutions to
keep this from happening, but it turns out it is happening elsewhere along
the Pacific coast, with measurable effects at Triangle Island, BC, and
Three Arch Rocks, OR. Many of the seabird islands are not being monitored
that closely.

And of course we all know what happens to a Great Blue Heron colony when an
eagle takes an interest in it.

The "authorities" are killing ravens in Oregon and gulls in quite a few
places because of their predatory nature, but raptors, hallowed birds that
they are, may never be subject to this kind of "management." Can anyone
marshall a good argument why it's OK to "control" ravens and gulls but not
Bald Eagles? This question is not directed to those who think *no* animals
should be killed to manage species or ecosystems. Or at least no
charismatic vertebrates. Most everyone probably thinks it's fine to kill
fire ants, house flies, carp, Norway rats and starlings. Where should the
line be drawn?

Your question was interesting, Scott, and I hope to reply to it soon.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416