Now I feel bad about not liking "bully birds"

It's in the nature of some birds to be bullies. It's just survival instinct, right? Still, I have this urge to see the cowbirds and redwing blackbirds out of my bird feeder to make room for the gold finches, indigo buntings, and black-capped chickadees. Now I read this article, and I realized that I'm a bio-bigot! I only like the aesthetically and morally pleasing birds.

I'm not a good person. :P

Here's the article from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/science/29angi.html

I don't think it makes you a bad person at all, KaylyRed. I bet if you took a poll most birders have felt the same way but we tend to forget that it is due to our mismanagement of our natural resources that has caused birds and other wildlife to have to adjust their habits in order to survive. We don't have to like them but we can't blame them either.

We are all disposed to like or not like certain birds just as we are w/people. Sometimes there are very valid reasons. The farmers really hate the red wing black birds.They eat the seed as fast as they can sow it. Produce growers from veggie to fruit growers really hate the mocking birds as they can decimate the harvest. For whatever reason we all have likes and dislikes so I'm just as much a bio-bigot as you. Long may we live!
Ann

Non native, invasive plants,birds and animals still will get my bad side. I grew up batteling kudzu and honeysuckle and 40 years later the war has not yet been won. The invasive birds and animals probably have lots of non-fans too...

I guess when we mess with nature's delicate balance, nature has a way of fighting back!

I have just accepted that if I feed the birds I am going to have to take the good with the bad. When I see the cowbirds in the feeder I just pretend I don’t know what they do to other birds. Imagine my surprise when I researched the cute little bird that moved into the bird house closest to my vegetable garden and discovered it was a House Wren. I like his pretty little song and every time I am gardening he is right next to me singing along. I just hope he leaves other birds nests alone.

I know what you mean. I used to shoo away the cowbirds from my feeders. Shame on me. I used to dislike grackles too but now I have one who comes right up on my porch every day to eat corn and peanuts. I've never had them at my feeders before and they are kinda pretty .

We all have them...the birds we don't like. For me the non-native top the list...Starlings and HOSP.

The cowbird thing does upset me and I think sooner or later there will need to be some management of their populations. It is Michigan, I think, that already has a program. Let's just hope it is not to late for the song birds before states decide to manage them!

I'm a bio bigot - I admit - starlings and HOSP's get on my nerves.

But I have to reign that in, as my DF (designated fiancee?) reminds me, Humans have NO right to complain about the actions of other animals. We've proven ourselves over and over again to be the worst ones of all.

(But I still secretly cheer when our dog barks at the Starlings to scare them, and leaves the woodpeckers alone). :)

This message was edited Jun 5, 2008 1:55 PM