HOSP article....

[DornCounty]

Don't want to stir things up.. but this merits some attention as I suspect some of their donors are on here.

Feel free to delete if this is too much.


"House sparrows are often one of the only birds willing to live in inner cities. Would we be better off if these places were empty and lifeless? Let’s accept these naturalized citizens and deal with the conditions we control to minimize problems"

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/sp ... rrows.html

[KathyF]

Groups like this are beneficial to a lot of our animals, but they are sorely misguided on this topic. I had to laugh at some of the language used in the article; "edging out native species" and "perceived crime". No mention in the article of how they kill the other native species and that's why they're not found anywhere in town.
And put up TWO nestboxes, so the BB and the HOSP can each have a house to themselves? That's laughable. I'd love to invite the writer out to observe just what a HOSP will do, even with 3 empty nestboxes from which he can choose, but nooooo, he chooses *that* one with the tree swallow nestlings and decides to kill them.
I've been concerned for a long time that some organization such as this one would start up a campaign to make it illegal to kill HOSP. This approach of soft-pedaling the message of "the cute little brown birds aren't so bad" into everyone's psyche is the first step.

P.S. I'm going to share this on the bluebirders' forums and watch their heads explode.

[John Miller]

Suggest we disagree but not laugh at the views of others. It only causes resentment.

John Miller

[KathyF]

[DornCounty]

Suggest we disagree but not laugh at the views of others. It only causes resentment.

John Miller

I don't know what you mean by laugh, but at some point you have to take a stand against something. Not saying that the point is now, but important to keep misinformation from spreading.. which this is in this case. It's at best poor research/writing and at worst and attempt to "save the sparrow." And to make it worse it's from a very "credible" organization.

[chickadee]

house sparrows are one of the most widespread animals on this planet. Likely this is because they are excellent at taking advantage of the opportunities we supply. this is the only thing in this article I agree with. but I could not read anymore when it says they are not the cause of native bird decline??????? well I ran ot and let all my trapped sparrows out. (just kidding) it says to put up a box for what birds we want to attract. we do that. but sparrows evolve and use any hole any box anywhere. did they miss that part? taking advantage of things we supply?

[Louise Chambers]

I think John means, and I agree - be respectful of other folks feelings, don't come off as brutal, etc, towards HOSP and need to euthanize/control them.

I think sharing information to educate others is very important. It's not the fault of HOSP or starlings that they were brought here. We want to control them humanely - sometimes people get carried away and forget that, and I think it's an important part of educating people about the harm done by these two introduced species.

[KathyF]

It's at best poor research/writing and at worst and attempt to "save the sparrow." And to make it worse it's from a very "credible" organization.

That is the part that's disturbing - the "credible" org. It would have been nice if they were honest about the HOSP and the damage they do, but instead they printed some very misleading information which, if anything, it will serve to undo the education efforts both by the PMCA and other birding organizations. It's already hard enough out in the field to convince people they are not just "cute little brown birds".

[JL Murray]

I believe that everything has its place in this world and it is unfortunate that the sparrow was misplaced from theirs and into the world of our species of birds to have to compete with them for survival....

I take measures to control and eliminate sparrows from my Martin housing for the good and well being of my Martins but i by no means enjoy it....

I too found the article to be misleading but i do respect that they care about a creature that is what i consider to be a victim of circumstance due to human interference by bringing them from Europe and releasing them here in North America....

[Louise Chambers]

You've expressed that well, JL

[JohnT]

Suggest we disagree but not laugh at the views of others. It only causes resentment.

John Miller

I don't know what you mean by laugh, but at some point you have to take a stand against something. Not saying that the point is now, but important to keep misinformation from spreading.. which this is in this case. It's at best poor research/writing and at worst and attempt to "save the sparrow." And to make it worse it's from a very "credible" organization.

I would submit that the Humane Society of the United States is not a credible organization. Do your own research and don't buy into it because of what I say, but they are fairly radical and are associated with the extremely radical organizations. The HSUS is not the organization that operates local animal shelters.

[MamaBruff]

I believe that everything has its place in this world and it is unfortunate that the sparrow was misplaced from theirs and into the world of our species of birds to have to compete with them for survival....

I take measures to control and eliminate sparrows from my Martin housing for the good and well being of my Martins but i by no means enjoy it....

I too found the article to be misleading but i do respect that they care about a creature that is what i consider to be a victim of circumstance due to human interference by bringing them from Europe and releasing them here in North America....

Well said! I feel exactly the same way!