Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 17:21:10 -0600 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: marty cribb Subject: MUTE SWAN article Baltimore Sun MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I hope many of you had the opportunity to read Tom Hortons article in = the Baltimore Sun Maryland section page 2b on Friday January 5, 2001. = The article dealt with the population explosion of Mute Swans in the = Chesapeake Bay watershed since an accidental release of 5 birds back in = the 60's. I would be curious to hear some reaction to this article = discussed in MDosprey by the subscribers. I have very strong opinions = about this subject which I have attempted to share with numerous folks = (non-birders) with a great deal of hostility. In an area Im familar with = in Southern Md the damage that this species has caused to native = vegetation (SAV'S) and to native species of waterfowl has been extremely = devastating. During the spring staging prior to the breeding season I = have seen on small tidal creeks around the Point Lookout area as many as = 40 birds in a very small area driving off other waterfowl and completely = destroying what vegetation has returned to these very sensitive shallow = water creeks. Should we as concerned environmentally concious citizens = become more involved in this issue. I hope this forum is the appropiate = place to discuss this subject and if it is not please let me know and I = will slink away quietly. Marty Cribb, Smith Island, Md ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================