Hello Sarah,

I don't need to analyze the data you're receiving through the House Finch
Disease Survey to have a pretty good idea about why there exists a
prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in places like Montana and
Washington. Epidemics of this disease likely have occurred in these states
because the House Finch populations occupying them are relatively new and
probably not as genetically diverse as those occurring within the historical
range of the House Finch.

Please keep in mind that not all birders are as naive as Cornell seems to
think they are. I'm not sure whether it's jobs, funding, or something else
that Cornell is trying to protect through its zealous promotion of
birdfeeding, but doing so under the guise of advancing scientific knowledge
or becoming the savior of the House Finch isn't flying with some of us. And
if Cornell truly believes that it is acting in the best interest of the
natural world, well then Heaven help us.

In my opinion, Cornell's resources and influence would be much better used
in designing a study that asks why so many people who claim to be for the
birds pour their time and money into birdfeeding, a practice that is
questionable at best, when the only thing that we are certain that wild
birds require from humans is to protect what natural habitat remains on this
planet.

Sincerely,
Jason Rogers
Banff, AB
hawkowl at hotmail.com