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16858
From: ryan, [DNS_Address]
Subject: wind power and birds...
URL: https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2020/jan/12/growing-old-ungracefully-bird-killers-cats-or-wind/
| not much of an issue it seems... |
Responses:
[16863] [16864] [16860] [16865] [16868] [16869] [16861] [16859] [16862]
16863
From: ShakyD, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Any bird stupid enough to get killed by a windmill is
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doing it's species a favor by eliminating itself from the gene pool. |
Responses:
[16864]
16864
From: Mitra, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Let's see how tired you are after flapping your arms for weeks
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Those are migrating birds. |
Responses:
None
16860
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Getting rid of cats can backfire
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I have a colleague in a town where they put a leash law into effect and picked up all the outdoor cats that weren't taken indoors. Because of cats' impact on song birds. Here's what happened: 1. The rodent population skyrocketed. The town developed a rat problem it never had before. Rats can and do eat baby birds from low nests. Squirrels quickly went up in number. Squirrels absolutely enjoy raiding nests for eggs and baby birds. 2. The snake population skyrocketed. Snakes climb trees and delight in eating bird eggs as well. ***1 and 2b. Basically, an increase in smaller, more limber, faster reproducing animals that could easily access nests and found both babies and eggs delicious meant that the songbird population dropped lower than it ever had been under the cats. 3. Rabbit population skyrocketed: Bye bye gardens. 4. Rural town, now missing one of its apex predators and with a high population of delicious prey animals. Foxes and coyotes moved in, but they weren't really enough to affect the the rodent population in any meaningful manner. However, they found the small dogs, trapped on outside leashes delicious. The coyotes also grew brazen enough to start approaching small children. 4b. Not only were people obsessed with keeping their pets and kids safe, there was also a rumor (false) that the foxes had rabies. Small rural midwest town. People shooting guns in town. There were instances of property damage when people accidentally hit houses or windows with their fear- driven bullets. 5. The leash law is no longer in effect, but while the coyotes and foxes don't touch the rodent population much, they still find the slower- reproducing cats and dogs tasty, so the feral cat population never has recovered. The song bird population has stabilized, but never reached its original numbers before the leash law was put into place. Conclusion: While it probably doesn't happen in every case, taking out one apex predator can cause a cascade effect, and in this case the removal of cats also struck a critical blow to the bird population, as well as increasing general nuisances overall. |
16865
From: Mitra, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Instead of cats
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We have snakes, possums, coons, bobcats, weasels, foxes, coyotes, hawks & other raptors. While I wouldn't want to wade through rats while people became accustomed to living with the variety of wildlife space occupied by cats, I enjoy sharing space with cat alternatives. (Note: I don't raise chickens or other livestock.) I have total faith that given time, a few years at most, balance would be reasserted. Larger snakes eat smaller ones, foxes and coyotes are everywhere and will move in given the opportunity. We have no rodent problem, excessive or lack, from voles, gophers, mice, rats, rabbits. All seen and appreciated. |
16868
From: Awen, [DNS_Address]
Subject: I agree, but unfortunately....
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...most humans who aren't already accustomed to such things and moved to an area without...fear the "new" and refuse to become accustomed. |
Responses:
[16869]
16869
From: Mitra, [DNS_Address]
Subject: That's true. And they compete by raising bait livestock.(NT)
| (NT) |
Responses:
None
16861
From: DebbyS-AbqNM, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Getting rid of cats can backfire
| Good report, Awen! I've come to the conclusion that it is not easy for a cat to catch a bird. The bird only has to see the cat (and birds do indeed see them) and fly out of the way of even the best jump a cat has. Heck, I've seen birds laugh at roadrunners climbing up into trees to try to catch a snack (for RRs also eat small birds [snakes, rats and bugs, too]). Cats are not helpless though. I have seen cats watching hummingbirds. Some cats have learned how to look dopey/stupid/dense, and bossy hummers approach closer and closer to try to drive the cat away ("You didn't show me your papers! I didn't give you permission to be here!"). Close enough... cat will grab the hummer. But! Hummers have a defense: they can play dead. Cat drops the catch to play with it, bird doesn't move, cat loses interest for a moment -- bird escapes. If the cat is well fed anyhow, no great loss except to cat's pride. Mice, bugs and similar prey are easier to catch. Oh, and pigeons and doves offer a lot of meat, but they see cats coming, too. Also, hawks (great hunters) love pigeons and doves -- for dinner. Cats have to beware of coyotes and owls. It's a big circle if we pay attention and don't try to manage what we don't understand. |
Responses:
None
16859
From: Jeff/Lake Almanor,CA, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: wind power and birds...
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The way I see it, it's a three to one chance. The odds depend wind speed, bird speed, and size of the bird. Enjoy your electric car, it's a killer. |
Responses:
[16862]
16862
From: DebbyS-AbqNM, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: wind power and birds...
| Perhaps return to smaller windmills and surround them with a light-weight fence of chicken wire or a similar barrier to ward off birds. Smaller wind generators can be more neighborhood friendly, too. Humans can be smart about this. |
Responses:
None
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