On Fri, 10 Oct 1997, Steve Mansfield wrote in reply to Tom Schooley:

> > DO consider the different species between the east and west as a wonder of
> > evolution, not something to lament.
>
> But what if evolution is what brings the Blue Jay here. I could understand
> the opposition if humans were actively helping them come, but if they
> simply do it themselves...who are we to criticize mother nature?

But it really isn't that simple. My understanding is that Blue Jays are
moving west because of human modification of the Great Plains by planting
trees for windbreaks and the like. So it is "natural" in the sense that
they a flying rather than being transported; but they are flying from one
human-produced patch of landscape to the next and thus leapfrogging across
what was previously a "natural" barrier.

dale goble
moscow, idaho