Subject: Re: Swainson's Hawks in trouble
Date: Feb 15 14:27:22 1996
From: Don Baccus - donb at Rational.COM


Richard Rowlett:

>I was absolutely stunned when this post appeared on BirdChat yesterday, and
>surprised that it has yet to generate any discussion if not just plain
>outrage (some on Tweeters, none in BirdChat). Is there any precident where
>such a large number of individuals of any one species has ever been
>similarily impacted?

Yes - the same species (Swainson's Hawk) last winter, I'm afraid. One
of the better (best?) known researchers was down there last winter and
uncovered the previously-unknown problem. Apparently the government
has conversion of the pampas to agriculture as a priority (hmmm, back
to the "cows aren't always bad" thread again? Or at least not always
the worst alternative?) and use of pesticides in indiscriminant.

I know an effort to get information was being organized for this
year, don't know if it's the same person or not. He knows
Steve Hoffman, for whom I band hawks in the fall, and Steve
called me up last spring after the researcher had called Steve.

There should be outrage, even if it is impotent outrage (not sure
what we can really do about it).

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, more at http://www.xxxpdx.com/~dhogaza