_thoughts on bird feeders and feeding wildlife in general:_
-Bird feeders and wildlife feeding concentrate populations and species
not normally associated and foster spread of disease and pathogens such
as fungi. They are messy and unsanitary and attract vermin and other
animals compounding the problem. e.g. cats, rats, raccoons, squirrels,
insects, etc.
-bird feeders and feeding wildlife in general is an unnatural and
temporary resource for them. Unlikely to be what the species evolved to
eat. In fact it is probably skewing natural selection. Take it away and
then what?
-more troubling in the holistic sense is the idea of wildlife as "better
than TV" as one poster noted. The idea of wildlife as a resource to
serve human-kind. (blame the bible?) We are in the midst of one of the
very few mass extinctions in the history of the planet and the first
directly attributable to one species. We need to change this attitude or
risk following the other species down the black hole.
Solutions:
Well, maybe not a total solution but it will help and you will get the
"wildlife channel" on steroids. Most home landscapes are ecological
wastelands that encourage "weed species". Just look at the burgeoning
populations of some ungulates . Plant native wildlife friendly shrubbery
etc. and provide water. Certain species flock to the crab apple, others
like the hawthorne, etc. The foliage deters the predators, at least
makes them work for it. And the raccoons go fight over the compost pile.
Man they can make blood curdling screams.
Mike
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