Enviromental meets Human Social
I am a birdwatcher, actually I think I have decided not to use that term any more.
It is not accurate. I am a naturalist.
I love nature, not just birds. And when I go out in non-human altered environment, I observe all the wildlife and plant life, not just the birds.
I am concerned not just about the footprint I leave, but the impact human beings have on the environment and species diversity.
Human activity makes it very difficult for other species to survive, sometimes it is the things we do not do, which has an even greater impact.
We remove the predators so we will feel safe and our domesticated animals will be safe.
But our domesticated animals escape and devastate native species.
They are called feral, and nuisance, but for many species on the verge of extinction feral domesticated animals are not a nuisance they are a death sentence.
We turn loose a feral cat or dog if it enters the wild areas, then its prey will be things it can catch, probably nestlings where possible.
We see these faces we emotionally attach the word pet to, and it is just too hard to think of the cruelty to the animal to run free in an environment it really is not overly suited to, or the impact on native species.
Feral hogs destroy plant life, they don't just graze, they uproot everything in their path. I have seen marshes utterly devastated, to the point they appeared plowed by feral hogs. The plant life in the America's did not evolve with this type of harvest, so the plants do not survive this type of grazing. They die.
The animals and birds dependent on those prairie grasses and marsh plants die for lack of food and shelter destroyed by feral pigs.
Feral animals are just ignored by most people. They are one of those things, most people do nothing about.
Living on the fringe of the city has made me more aware of this of late as I watch the impact on the woods around me by developments that mow down whole tracts of trees and fill in ponds. The uncared for pets dying on the roads, and hunting in the woods that are left.
I am concerned about this an the impact of camping in our nature parks. but I have recently realized this is not something shared by all birdwatchers.
Most birdwatchers are listers, or as they are known in Europe ...twitchers.
Doesn't matter the impact on the bird, long as you get close enough to identify it and count it on your list. Doesn't matter if you disturb the nesting area, doesn't matter if the bird is dying from lack of food, or destroyed habitat, just matters that the "twitcher" can count it. If it is breathing,...twitching...then you can count it.
Nope, I am not a birdwatcher.
I don't care if I see the last Ivorybill Woodpecker, I am content to know that somewhere, there is a few still alive.
If serendipity should bring my binoculars upon one, I shall be extremely pleased to list it. But I will not invade the last vestige of hardwood forest that gives it a chance at life. I will not disturb its quite peaceful existence.
Maybe if life is given a chance, my kids or grandkids will get a picture of a live Ivorybill in the wild.
To that end, I am a naturalist.
It is not accurate. I am a naturalist.
I love nature, not just birds. And when I go out in non-human altered environment, I observe all the wildlife and plant life, not just the birds.
I am concerned not just about the footprint I leave, but the impact human beings have on the environment and species diversity.
Human activity makes it very difficult for other species to survive, sometimes it is the things we do not do, which has an even greater impact.
We remove the predators so we will feel safe and our domesticated animals will be safe.
But our domesticated animals escape and devastate native species.
They are called feral, and nuisance, but for many species on the verge of extinction feral domesticated animals are not a nuisance they are a death sentence.
We turn loose a feral cat or dog if it enters the wild areas, then its prey will be things it can catch, probably nestlings where possible.
We see these faces we emotionally attach the word pet to, and it is just too hard to think of the cruelty to the animal to run free in an environment it really is not overly suited to, or the impact on native species.
Feral hogs destroy plant life, they don't just graze, they uproot everything in their path. I have seen marshes utterly devastated, to the point they appeared plowed by feral hogs. The plant life in the America's did not evolve with this type of harvest, so the plants do not survive this type of grazing. They die.
The animals and birds dependent on those prairie grasses and marsh plants die for lack of food and shelter destroyed by feral pigs.
Feral animals are just ignored by most people. They are one of those things, most people do nothing about.
Living on the fringe of the city has made me more aware of this of late as I watch the impact on the woods around me by developments that mow down whole tracts of trees and fill in ponds. The uncared for pets dying on the roads, and hunting in the woods that are left.
I am concerned about this an the impact of camping in our nature parks. but I have recently realized this is not something shared by all birdwatchers.
Most birdwatchers are listers, or as they are known in Europe ...twitchers.
Doesn't matter the impact on the bird, long as you get close enough to identify it and count it on your list. Doesn't matter if you disturb the nesting area, doesn't matter if the bird is dying from lack of food, or destroyed habitat, just matters that the "twitcher" can count it. If it is breathing,...twitching...then you can count it.
Nope, I am not a birdwatcher.
I don't care if I see the last Ivorybill Woodpecker, I am content to know that somewhere, there is a few still alive.
If serendipity should bring my binoculars upon one, I shall be extremely pleased to list it. But I will not invade the last vestige of hardwood forest that gives it a chance at life. I will not disturb its quite peaceful existence.
Maybe if life is given a chance, my kids or grandkids will get a picture of a live Ivorybill in the wild.
To that end, I am a naturalist.