Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 15:14:18 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Wilkerson, Jordan T." Subject: Raptor issues [was: What a difference on the other si de of the pond] Comments: cc: "Salvini, Karen" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain MDOsprey, I just returned from a weekend rock-climbing-while-squeezing-in-some-birding trip to the Phoenix area. I was not exactly plugged into the local birding community, but even the non-birders we spent time with recognized a raptor issue out there. What I heard was third-party and I haven't confirmed the base story. So many people are moving out there from the Midwest and, of course, they are bringing their pets. There seems to be a public outcry about their pets becoming lunch for the raptors. In fact: almost all of the raptors we saw there were in the suburban areas. We saw very few out in the wilderness. There is certainly an increase in rodent population near "house farms", but the locals are claiming the hawks are eating their pets. At least somewhere the raptors are standing their ground (and gaining --for now) against the human virus and its parasites. Jordan, PS I'd be happy to participate in the Starlings/House Sparrows homecoming event. When can we start? ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================