As a life-long bird lover, and one particularly fond of vultures, I (as I
think we all should) do have considerable sympathy for those homeowners for
whom the local vulture population has decide to roost upon.  We have a
vulture roost in my town, but if it decided to move into the trees in my
neighbors front yard (and within poop range of my wife's new Acura TL), I
would not be very happy at all.  Or when I had to wipe the vulture do-do off
my shoes before coming in the house.  That doesn't mean I still don't love
vultures.

As a wildlife management professional for 20 years, I am well aware of the
damage (feces, habitual tearing of roofing material, pulling at the rubber
between car joints, etc.) that vultures (particularly Black Vultures) can
do.  Imagine you just bought a new car and ever morning it was covered with
vulture excrement?  It is easy to trivialize these concerns from the comfort
of our own homes, but the damage and nuisance is not trivial for those
suffering through it.  I can not speak to the specifics of the situation
described in the article, and this email is not meant to address that
specific situation, only to point out that legitimate concerns can arise
from vulture roosts.  To not address these concerns is not an option for the
governmental entities responsible for wildlife management, both at the
federal and state level.  That is not to imply anything goes, but the
appropriate technical and scientific expertise will be brought to bear
specific to each situation.

Through USDA-Wildlife Service (vulture are a protected species) technical
assistance is given to landowners suffering problems from vultures.
Wildlife damage management is both an art and science, and these
professionals are well versed in the options and alternatives for dealing
with such problems.  Nonlethal methods are always the first option, but in
some circumstances lethal methods are use.  Turkey and Black Vultures may
suffer some PR problems as birds go, but that certainly has not affected
their population status or legal protection.


Mark L Hoffman
Sykesville, MD
Associate Director, Administration
Wildlife and Heritage Service


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Frank Boyle
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 10:31 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Ornithophobia strikes again

Janet, 

I couldn't agree more.  From the article:

 "Before everyone gets into a major tizzy over the bird 'problem,' and
starts blasting birds off the roof, may I suggest that you all take a deep
breath and relax. What harm are they doing?" Lee wrote in an e-mail to the
board. "Get a grip, put away your shotguns, and worry about more important
things."


************************
Frank Boyle

Rohrersville, MD
************************


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Janet Millenson
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 9:02 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Ornithophobia strikes again

Curse you, Alfred Hitchcock!

The front page of Friday's Metro section in the Washington Post has a large
photo of black vultures on a rooftop, with the headline "Ravaging a
Neighborhood's Peace." The subhead is "Columbia Enclave Weighs Its
Nonviolent Options." Makes you envision brave residents comforting their
weeping families and stocking up on canned food and duct tape, doesn't it? 
After all, "ravage" means "cause extensive damage; devastate." Apparently
this avian devastation consists primarily of stomping around, defecating on
cars, and alarming the young and/or foolish by their very presence. The
online version of the article, at http://tinyurl.com/8tf2l ,  tones down the
headline to "Raptors Prey on Neighbors' Nerves," but retains the first
sentence: "Ted Hart isn't too fond of the flesh-eating vultures that live on
his roof."

The rest of the article is balanced and informative, and the drawings of
vultures are nicely done. Unfortunately a lot of people are going to just
glance at the photo and headline, which will reinforce their belief that
there's something inherently threatening about a large gathering of
vultures.

Howard County is full of awesome, dynamic birders. You'd better get to work
on educating those wimps at the Washington Post.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)

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"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot