I was NOT attempting to make a "value judgment" on what Mr.
Hutchinson had to say, and if it appears that way, my quick "send" is
to blame. I KNOW that Mr. Hutchinson did NOT say we "shouldn't" make
value judgments, but "prejudicial" is a serious charge, whether the
object be trivial (bird watching) or racial... If we have not
"pre-judged", how can we come to some "value judgment", and,
additionally, how do we know we have a solid case for the "value
judgment"? We are ALL "prejudiced", whether for or against
"republicans" or "democrats" or other group or "-ism", for prejudice
is generally the culmination of experiences, learning, and our
thoughts and conclusions (even IF incomplete) about those things of
"life" and "life's lessons". Thus, I have NO problem being
"prejudicial" against HOSP and EUST, for we have AMPLE, cumulative,
evidence of their detriment to native birds. I make no apology for
being so - Jim Greaves, MT


>In "general", I can't fault the argument below. However, if we don't
>make "value judgments" [indeed, think we "aren't"], we might as well
>let all "human-induced" effects run their course. I bet there are
>many on this site who disagree with MY "value judgment" regarding
>global warming [without specifically expressing it, we all have
>one]... That aside, we make value judgments when we put up nest
>boxes, say we "love" bird watching, and feed birds. To say otherwise
>is both irresponsible and untrue - Jim Greaves, MT
>
>At 01:03 PM 3/30/2010, tweeters-request at mailman2.u.washington.edu wrote:
>>Avian species cannot help if they are introduced, released or just
>>spread through opportunism, bringing them in to conflict with
>>"native", "local" or more poorly adapted
>>birds.
>>2) All this seems to be as a result of human action as we create
>>farmland, cities and plastic strewn oceans, where there were none
>>before. But it is our responsibility, not the birds. It does not
>>mean that we should not manage our bird boxes for unwanted
>>intruders, create extra nesting holes in snag!
>> s, or reduce the Cowbird population. But making value judgments
>> based on whether species are native or introduced to me is
>> predjudicial and deflects us away from our ultimate responsibility
>> in altering our landscapes and habitats and the difficult
>> management choices that must be made.
>>--
>>David Hutchinson, Owner
>>Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
>>Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
>>3212 W.Government Way
>>Seattle,WA.98199
>>http://www.ffbooks.net/
>>206-623-4727