Joe and Tweeters,

Do we want to go into the forest and find Spotted Owls, whose numbers
are tragically depleted due to loss of habitat, or feel sorry that
Spotted Owls are gone with the final nail in the coffin being driven
by Barred Owls? Throughout their territories in North America,
Barred Owls have a very healthy population. If artificially lowering
their numbers (shooting them) has even the potential of increasing
the population of Spotted Owls, I am for it. After all, there are a
lot of Barred Owls out there. Even after shooting 400-500, there
will still be a lot of Barred Owls in Washington and Oregon.

Shooting a few sea lions who have learned to feast on salmon at the
Ballard Locks or at any other locks or dams in order to preserve the
native runs of salmon is also something I will accept for the
survival of the salmon. The loss a few sea lions certainly won't
hurt the overall survival of that species. The survival of those few
sea lions could have a devastating affect on the remaining salmon.

Humans have had a terrible impact on many, many species of animals
around the world. Managing a few of the very successful species to
protect some of the others that are in jeopardy is a price we have to
pay to insure the survival of an incredible bird like the Spotted Owl.

There was a piece on NPR yesterday about Mute Swan eggs in nests in
Maryland being sprayed with vegetable oil to kill the eggs in order
to lower the Mute Swan population. The project has been accepted by
most of the birding and environmental organizations in Maryland
because of the negative impact of Mute Swans on other bird
species. An animal rights organization in suing to preserve Mute
Swans. That is like fighting to increase the numbers of European
Starlings in North America.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA

At 06:44 PM 5/2/2007, you wrote:
>In a message dated 5/2/2007 7:21:42 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
>festuca at olywa.us writes:
>I don't wish to open a "political" discussion on Tweeters, but was wondering
>if the local Audubon groups, etc., are addressing this?
>
>This is as good a forum as any to discuss how we (humans) are
>screwing up the natural balance to the point where we have to
>consider thinning Barred Owls and even shooting a few sea lions that
>are merely trying to survive by feasting on the buffet that we
>(humans) have provided at places like the Ballard Locks. Caspian
>Terns will be targeted next for trying to make a living off young
>salmon. It's easy enough to blame the wild things and take the heat
>off the real problems.
>
>Bison need to be herded back into Yellowstone to keep from being
>slaughtered; wolves are being targeted throughout their range
>because they're recovering too well from all our efforts to
>exterminate them. And on it goes. The list is endless and it makes
>me sick to see how we (humans) handle situations like this. But take
>a look at the mess in Iraq while you're at it. Now there's a
>"political" discussion for you!
>
>I write for a local paper and plan to include the Barred Owl
>situation as part of my next column. I also plan to get something
>into the next issue of our local Audubon newsletter to make more
>people aware of this, for whatever it's worth.
>
>Cheers,
>Joe Meche
>Bellingham
>
>
>
>
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* dgranstrand at charter.net *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
http://granstrand.net/gallery/