While searching the web, I found this video on CNN of a Red-tailed Hawk that apparently tried to take a boy's puppy.
The wildlife officer and reporter in the clip give the impression that Red-tails will readily attack humans. Again, I wonder why people like that wildlife officer are even in a position to try to educate the public about wildlife. We, as birders, have a lot of work to do in trying to change the public's perception of raptors.
The whole print story can be found here.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Loosing habitat/conservation funding
Recently, a discussion about conservation funding came up on the Ohio-birds email list. Although the topic seems to show up every so often in these types of forums, it is generally looked at as taboo to go in to much discussion about the subject. Many birders get very jittery when the subject even comes up. It often turns political and personal, which causes the subject to be put off.
But the fact is that politics, no matter how much we birders don’t want to admit it, is tied into the whole conservation issue. If we birders want to continue to be able to have *public* land that is attractive to birds that we can bird on, we must start becoming active on the subject. We are now seeing with increasing frequency, the disappearing of local birding hot spots. The fact is that this is going to continue. Many communities are losing funds to other more important issues (one example is here, click on “See the cost in your community” and then click on Ohio and then Cincinnati on the drop down menus.) Eventually, I feel that if we birders want suitable places to bird in the near future that is truly birdy, we are going to have to have our own *private* preserves. Organizations such as The Ohio Ornithological Society and others should look into the possibilities of raising funds for the acquisition of bird habitat. This will be the only true way, I feel, that we are going to be able to preserve suitable bird habitat in the very near future. But, even this approach has its problems. I know that many communities around this area see undeveloped land as an eyesore and loss of revenue. Even private land is not completely safe from development, but it may be all we can do (maybe conservation easements can be used in these situations?).
No matter how much we birders don’t want to admit it, all of this can be changed by making our positions heard in the way we vote. Enough said on that matter.
I will end with some more examples of how a local birding location is about to change (or has changed).
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but a local mountain bike club has made several trails on the south side of the park. Although I would say that this is minor as far as disturbance goes (it could be much worse). At first, I had no problem with the trails. However, now it seems that every 3 ft. there is now a mountain bike trail in certain parts of the park. They have cleared some trees and areas, causing some minor erosion. For example, I have seen places were Kentucky Warbler nest sites and nice wildflower areas have disappeared under the mower. For more information, see here
But the fact is that politics, no matter how much we birders don’t want to admit it, is tied into the whole conservation issue. If we birders want to continue to be able to have *public* land that is attractive to birds that we can bird on, we must start becoming active on the subject. We are now seeing with increasing frequency, the disappearing of local birding hot spots. The fact is that this is going to continue. Many communities are losing funds to other more important issues (one example is here, click on “See the cost in your community” and then click on Ohio and then Cincinnati on the drop down menus.) Eventually, I feel that if we birders want suitable places to bird in the near future that is truly birdy, we are going to have to have our own *private* preserves. Organizations such as The Ohio Ornithological Society and others should look into the possibilities of raising funds for the acquisition of bird habitat. This will be the only true way, I feel, that we are going to be able to preserve suitable bird habitat in the very near future. But, even this approach has its problems. I know that many communities around this area see undeveloped land as an eyesore and loss of revenue. Even private land is not completely safe from development, but it may be all we can do (maybe conservation easements can be used in these situations?).
No matter how much we birders don’t want to admit it, all of this can be changed by making our positions heard in the way we vote. Enough said on that matter.
I will end with some more examples of how a local birding location is about to change (or has changed).
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but a local mountain bike club has made several trails on the south side of the park. Although I would say that this is minor as far as disturbance goes (it could be much worse). At first, I had no problem with the trails. However, now it seems that every 3 ft. there is now a mountain bike trail in certain parts of the park. They have cleared some trees and areas, causing some minor erosion. For example, I have seen places were Kentucky Warbler nest sites and nice wildflower areas have disappeared under the mower. For more information, see here
Thursday, October 5, 2006
What ever happened to bird flu?
What ever happened to avian influenza in the press? Maybe the current situation in Iraq (or with Iran or N. Korea) or the current scandals plaguing the party of fear is just moving the topic to the backburner. Whatever the cause, we may be hearing about bird flu once again.
I just happen to work as a stocker at a local grocery store. Therefore, the following information I am about to discuss here is not a presenting of some secret information. Rather, it is merely what I have observed and should be taken only as such. The sole reason for which I am choosing to disclose this information is that I feel people should not be left in the dark as to what is going on behind the scenes.
A couple of months ago, I had received with my check a letter from my employer stating that the U.S. government is urging that people stock up for the potential bird flu pandemic. It stated that food distributors and my company, at the government’s recommendations, are partnering up to stockpile food and water, as well as certain drugs, for future use in the event of a pandemic outbreak. However, what I thought was odd, is that these pallets of food and water have dates on them and warnings that state “Do not break down. Hold in back until further notice”. Here will probably be the only place that you will see actual dates posted, but here it goes:
The first pallet of canned foods arrived shortly after we had received the letter with our checks. It had a date code (which tells when it should be on display) of December, but I can’t remember the year. But, I can tell you that this particular pallet is on the sales floor now with no mention of bird flu as of yet.
Recently, more had come in. Associate protection kits that read something to the nature of “Avian influenza start-up kits” have also arrived. It is said to have vaccines, drugs, face masks, rubber gloves, etc. Along with these kits, more pallets of food and water have come in. The dates marked on the outside of these pallets (beside the notice mentioned above) are July (with a specific day, but I don’t remember exactly) 2007. It does not state that this is when it must be put out on the floor, just date code of 7-some day-2007.
Talking amongst my co-workers, we were joking around about the whole situation. We were talking about how we wouldn’t be made to wear rubber gloves or rubber suits. One of my co-workers asked another what can we do about it (meaning bird flu in general)? His response, “I guess I will have to just stay away from birds. I will have to quit feeding them.” Which got the response back “I guess I’ll have to shoot all the birds off around my house.” I tried to explain to them the REAL agenda behind all of this and that these actions are not warranted. But, I thought to myself, who is going to listen to someone that works in a grocery store, what the hell does he know. His responses also kind of made me wonder. Will others have the same knee jerk reaction to seeing displays in their local grocery encouraging them to stock up for bird flu? Also, the Business Continuity Plan for my company (I may regret this later, but my conscience says let it all out!) also states the pharmacy will be distributing information about bird flu to the general public in the near future. What will this cause? Why are grocery stores going to be the primary source of information for the general public on avian influenza? Kind of makes me worried.
I just happen to work as a stocker at a local grocery store. Therefore, the following information I am about to discuss here is not a presenting of some secret information. Rather, it is merely what I have observed and should be taken only as such. The sole reason for which I am choosing to disclose this information is that I feel people should not be left in the dark as to what is going on behind the scenes.
A couple of months ago, I had received with my check a letter from my employer stating that the U.S. government is urging that people stock up for the potential bird flu pandemic. It stated that food distributors and my company, at the government’s recommendations, are partnering up to stockpile food and water, as well as certain drugs, for future use in the event of a pandemic outbreak. However, what I thought was odd, is that these pallets of food and water have dates on them and warnings that state “Do not break down. Hold in back until further notice”. Here will probably be the only place that you will see actual dates posted, but here it goes:
The first pallet of canned foods arrived shortly after we had received the letter with our checks. It had a date code (which tells when it should be on display) of December, but I can’t remember the year. But, I can tell you that this particular pallet is on the sales floor now with no mention of bird flu as of yet.
Recently, more had come in. Associate protection kits that read something to the nature of “Avian influenza start-up kits” have also arrived. It is said to have vaccines, drugs, face masks, rubber gloves, etc. Along with these kits, more pallets of food and water have come in. The dates marked on the outside of these pallets (beside the notice mentioned above) are July (with a specific day, but I don’t remember exactly) 2007. It does not state that this is when it must be put out on the floor, just date code of 7-some day-2007.
Talking amongst my co-workers, we were joking around about the whole situation. We were talking about how we wouldn’t be made to wear rubber gloves or rubber suits. One of my co-workers asked another what can we do about it (meaning bird flu in general)? His response, “I guess I will have to just stay away from birds. I will have to quit feeding them.” Which got the response back “I guess I’ll have to shoot all the birds off around my house.” I tried to explain to them the REAL agenda behind all of this and that these actions are not warranted. But, I thought to myself, who is going to listen to someone that works in a grocery store, what the hell does he know. His responses also kind of made me wonder. Will others have the same knee jerk reaction to seeing displays in their local grocery encouraging them to stock up for bird flu? Also, the Business Continuity Plan for my company (I may regret this later, but my conscience says let it all out!) also states the pharmacy will be distributing information about bird flu to the general public in the near future. What will this cause? Why are grocery stores going to be the primary source of information for the general public on avian influenza? Kind of makes me worried.
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