Oh, come on. I like native species as much as the next liberal eco-nazi,
but urban birds take a lot of unfair blame. Does anyone really think that if
all the Starlings, House Sparrows, and Rock Doves were wiped out tomorrow
that Seattle would suddenly be filled with warblers, flycatchers, and
Spotted Owls? Yes, I know that Starlings and House Sparrows compete with
cavity nesters for limited nest sites but they are only able to be so
successful because so many other aspects of the environment have been
altered besides nest site availability. An open landscape filled with mowed
lawns, concentrated food sources (garbage, pet food left outside and bird
feeders) removal of brush and decaying litter, etc. all favor a different
set of species than a forest. If there were no exotic birds in North
America, then the relative proportions of native birds would still have
changed drastically in developed and farmed landscapes. Witness Crows,
Canada Geese, and House Finches.

Personally, when I walk down a dingy concrete canyon and see a House
Sparrow hopping around looking for crumbs next to some derelict curled up
around a brown paper bag, I don't think "Gosh, if that House Sparrow weren't
there, maybe this place would have bluebirds." I'm happy there's a few
feathered life forms that can survive under those conditions.

Kelly Cassidy