Another possibility is to loosen the law protecting native birds to allow 
selective removal of cowbird eggs from nests when found.  I personally would not 
be opposed to picking off cowbirds wherever they are found.

John Newman




________________________________
From: Gerald & Laura Tarbell <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, May 25, 2011 9:01:19 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] wood thrushes etc.

All,

The one factor I don't see anybody talking about in the loss of Wood Thrush
(and others) is Cowbird predation. There have been numerous studies on this
subject appearing ad nauseum  in journals (Auk, Condor, Wilson Bulletin,
Journal of Field Ornithology, etc) to the point that one can hardly pick up
an issue without seeing some article about Cowbirds. I think one of the
things that has come out of it is that small woodlots suffer the worst
because the forest edge is never far away. Most of us live near a small
woodlot. and that's where the song of the Wood Thrush comes from if we hear
it at all. Down across the creek behind the lake we still have them.The lot
betwen us and the next court up the hill had them last year, but this year I
am not hearing Wood Thrush.

Historically cowbirds were not numerous in the east because it took a while
for our beloved pioneers to open up enough farmland to interest them. Prior
to that they mainly followed buffalo herds.

About the only way we can change the course is larger wood lots. Might have
to tear down a lot of houses to do it but that's progress. I'm sure nobody
would complain about losing their house for the benefit of birds. Right?

Jerry Tarbell
Proposing the absurd in Carroll County

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