Re: [CT Birds] Survival of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher
A question, mainly for the folks who feel "nature should take its course."
Would you feel any differently if you knew that Fork-tailed Flycatchers
were showing up in the US because of human impacts on the environment? I'm
not saying this is what's going on--there seem to be a lot more reports of
them than there were when I was a kid, but I don't know how much of this is
the result of greater awareness and an increase in the number and
sophistication of birders. But given how pervasive man's impact has
become, to the point where many scientists have decided we've entered into
a new age, the Anthropocene, the possibility is not easily dismissed. And
if we are the reason these birds are showing up, and we're the part of
"nature" that's responsible for this bird being here, is it "nature's"
course to let it die, or to rescue it?
I also wonder about the distinction between healthy and injured birds. In
theory, I agree that as long as the FTF is healthy, we should let it ply
its wares, but birds are so quicksilver..how often have we seen a bird that
seemed to be OK literally disappear overnight (e.g. if there's a cold snap)
before giving any indication that it needs to be rescued?
Tom de Boor
Northford, CT
One way to look at birds which are off-course is that they can be, figuratively, examples of nature's experimentation. If there is pressure on the birds in their natural habitat, as Tom surmises, and some genetic variation leads a bird to a new and SUCCESSFUL migration path, then it might be the start of a new population. Such adaptations have been ongoing as long as there have been birds; contemplating how our Connecticut birds became established since CT was under a mile of ice just 10 thousand years ago is something I find endlessly fascinating. I, for one, think that nature's track record at adapting successfully is better than man's track record is for trying to intercede.
Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT
If Mother Nature has a Mother-in-law it is us!
Phil Asprelli
From: Roy Harvey rmharvey@snet.net
To: CT Birds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Survival of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher
One way to look at birds which are off-course is that they can be, figuratively, examples of nature's experimentation. If there is pressure on the birds in their natural habitat, as Tom surmises, and some genetic variation leads a bird to a new and SUCCESSFUL migration path, then it might be the start of a new population. Such adaptations have been ongoing as long as there have been birds; contemplating how our Connecticut birds became established since CT was under a mile of ice just 10 thousand years ago is something I find endlessly fascinating. I, for one, think that nature's track record at adapting successfully is better than man's track record is for trying to intercede.
Roy Harvey
Beacon Falls, CT
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It is likely that some of the hummingbirds that show up here are due tangentially to man interfering at the mexican wintering grounds. I still think its up to the birds to sort this out in a way that they can live with and that is in their nature.
Mark
On Dec 10, 2013, at 5:21 PM, Tom de Boor tomdb2@aol.com wrote:
A question, mainly for the folks who feel "nature should take its course."
Would you feel any differently if you knew that Fork-tailed Flycatchers
were showing up in the US because of human impacts on the environment? I'm
not saying this is what's going on--there seem to be a lot more reports of
them than there were when I was a kid, but I don't know how much of this is
the result of greater awareness and an increase in the number and
sophistication of birders. But given how pervasive man's impact has
become, to the point where many scientists have decided we've entered into
a new age, the Anthropocene, the possibility is not easily dismissed. And
if we are the reason these birds are showing up, and we're the part of
"nature" that's responsible for this bird being here, is it "nature's"
course to let it die, or to rescue it?
I also wonder about the distinction between healthy and injured birds. In
theory, I agree that as long as the FTF is healthy, we should let it ply
its wares, but birds are so quicksilver..how often have we seen a bird that
seemed to be OK literally disappear overnight (e.g. if there's a cold snap)
before giving any indication that it needs to be rescued?
Tom de Boor
Northford, CT
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org