Martyn, et al

And right behind the domestic cats are the dogs that some of us allow to
become "part of the family," to the extreme. The disturbances created by
uncontrolled dogs on flocks of feeding and resting waterfowl and shorebirds are,
perhaps, not as much of a problem as the havoc wreaked by cats. Nonetheless,
irresponsible dog owners are much to blame for declines and displacement of some bird
populations.

Before you unleash your cat or dog and allow them to "run free," consider if
you were one of the birds resting and feeding in someone's backyard or on a
lonely stretch of beach, for instance, trying to make it through another year. I
witnessed numerous examples of this and other "human problems" at Ocean
Shores beaches during the weekend of the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival.

Humans need to accept more of the responsibility for stewardship of the
planet and "all creatures, great and small." Are we up to it?

Joe Meche
Birding Programs Coordinator
North Cascades Audubon
Bellingham, WA