Way to go, Peggi. I have heard comments from birders about the insignificance of
rehab work in the great scheme of things, or how the money and effort being put
into it is somehow subtracting from what should be put into habitat
conservation, and it still doesn't make me feel bad about doing it.

First of all, one learns a great deal about birds' needs, preferences and
reactions by working with them in emergency health situations and one can apply
this knowledge to larger settings. Secondly, the money and energy going into
rehab seem to come from a different place in the heart than the resources for
habitat conservation or activism. Rehabbers who understand the importance of the
latter, still give to it, as well as to rehab work. Those who don't know
environmental activism from plasma physics will often open their wallets very
wide for an injured hawk or straying hummingbird. And some of these people are
subsequently drawn into the habitat side of things.

Chris Maack
Bird Treatment & Learning Center
Anchorage, AK
73201.3124 at compuserve.com