No arguement that many faucets of the urban environment is lacking, but if
people are hollering over geese, just think what would happen if the
number of predators went up. I can see the headlines now "State
biologists try to deal with neighborhood claims of nuisance coyotes
attacking family pets (or something else)". I think its impossible to win
as people talk a good story but to get people to make those hard decisions
that would support a more functional urban environment is probably not
going to happen. We can try different things with varied success, but in
the end a urban environment is going to be much more trashed than suburban
or rural areas. Hopefully we can find things to appreciate in the urban
environment.
I'm not sure though how you have lawns without grass, I doubt too many
people will find native groundcovers as a nice soft alternative to grass.
Most people only care about the environment to the extent that it does not
interfer with their lives.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood


On Thu, 6 May 1999, Sandra C. Andersen. wrote:

> The "problem" with the geese is just a symptom of problem with our whole
urban enviroment. If the environment had fully functional greenbelt
areas, there would be predators (foxes, etc) that would control the number
of goose eggs and young. If tall snags are left in all areas possible, there
would be more eagles and hawks, and therfore , less geese.
> If we used alternate forms of ground cover(native yarrows, salal,etc. ) ,
we would not be setting a dinner table for them and also would be using less
chemicals that pollute our salmon streams. Most of our big urban parks have
not come close to providing tradional habitat.
> One can still have "lawns", but of something other than sweet, tender grass!
> Sandi
> scadane at msn.com
>