and, dang, but there are THE PEOPLE, too!

i mean seriously, PEOPLE are the problem, the birds are just taking
advantage of a severely altered habitat. but i am sure that you all
are acutely aware of this already.

not that i am a huge fan of english sparrows, but really, we, as
members of the human race, have NO ROOM to talk about loss of
habitat, nesting space, food sources, movement of exotic disease
causing agents, etc., etc., etc. if we would only take steps to
limit our own destructiveness, then everything on this planet would
be VASTLY more pleasant for everyone living here, beast, fish or
fowl.

regards,

Deborah Wisti-Peterson, PhD Candidate nyneve at u.washington.edu
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, USA
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
Love the creator? Then protect the creation.

On Wed, 20 Mar 2002, Eugene Hunn wrote:

> What's amazing about House Sparrows is how you can drive 100 miles across
> the Arizona desert, pull into a "town" of one derelict gas station, and
> there are the House Sparrows!
>
> Gene Hunn.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Margaret Parkinson" <margparkie at attbi.com>
> To: <hal at catharus.net>; "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 8:58 PM
> Subject: Re: From buntings to juncos to sparrows
>
>
> > I like that, Hal ..... "Hey didn't they just come out here with the
> > railroads, like most of us?" A very rational and compassionate attitude.
> I
> > often think it is us humans who are taking over space and habitat with our
> > over population to the detriment of all others rather than the House
> > Sparrows and Starlings. I have had House Sparrows building nests in my
> > eaves for years. It does not seem to have hampered the many many other
> > species who also come to my yard .... House Finches, Goldfinches, Pine
> > Siskins, Juncos, Bustits, Ruby Crowed Kinglets, Bewick Wrens, Annas
> > Hummingbirds, American Robins, Chickadees, Northern Flickers, Steller Jays
> > and on and on. Good for you, Kelly.
> >
> > Margaret Parkinson
> > University District
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Hal Opperman" <hal at catharus.net>
> > To: "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 7:42 PM
> > Subject: RE: From buntings to juncos to sparrows
> >
> >
> > > What species are these House Sparrows displacing, i.e., would be
> > > nesting under Kelly's eaves and finding waste seeds or french fries
> > > to eat if House Sparrows hadn't moved into the neighborhood? If they
> > > are claim jumpers then there's maybe reason to be indignant, but
> > > where's the evidence? Hey, didn't they just come out here with the
> > > railroads, like most of us?
> > >
> > > Hal Opperman
> > > Medina, Washington
> > > hal at catharus.net
> >
> >
>
>