On Thu, 26 Oct 1995, Susan Collicott wrote:

>
> I can't imagine this world without crows. The crows that live out at NOAA
> seem to be even more playful than the ones that pass through my neighborhood.
>
> Susan Collicott
> camel at serv.net
> Seattle, WA
>
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I can't imagine a world without crows, starlings, house sparrows,
magpies, gulls, rats...........(cockroaches and fleas maybe yes). At any
rate, most of these are generalists, resourceful, opportunistically
parasitic (largely on us), and proliferate like crazy............just
like us! When we accept that we are responsible for the numbers of
ourselves flooding this planet, then perhaps, we'll learn about what it
takes to humanely balance the all-too-large populations of these other
highly successful creatures with those who are more specialized and more
fragile........and more dependent on our good sense.

One more thing: As Susan pointedly observed, crows especially
display a robust sense of humor. We all could use a little more of that.

Maureen E. Ellis
Toxicology Group at Roos 1
DEH, SPHCM Box 354695
U of WA
Seattle, WA 98195
me2 at u.washington.edu