[obol] let's wage a dialogue not a war.

[LammergeierEyes at aol.com]

As much as many of us can't bear having the heated discussion, a meaningful  
debate and small measure of soul searching on how to approach the invasive  
species issue needs to be had within the community of conservation and  wildlife 
adherents. The important thing to remember, I think, is that each  species 
and each problem that results from the presence of a given invasive  within a 
native ecological community must be viewed and judged on  a case by case 
analysis. For example, I ask, where are all the Starling  cullers in the Barred Owl 
debate? Humans are virtually as responsible for their  explosion into the 
traditional habitat of Spotted Owls and their hybridization  with said species, as 
we are for the importation and inadvertent support of  European Starlings. Yet 
I see know enthusiastic Barred Owl lynchings taking  place, and rightly so. 
Compared to Starlings, Barred Owls present a more narrow  conservation 
challenge, and are, after all North American natives, even if they  are non-native to 
the now fragmented Fir forests into which they are  exploding. Many of us do 
not feel the crises as it is would warrant  the moral affront of killing a 
creature as aesthetically endearing and  comparatively rare and attractive as a 
Barred Owl.
 
In Western Europe the round up and extermination of non-native Ruddy Ducks  
looks largely to have saved the White-headed Duck from extinction-there  
hybridization between native and imported congenitors threatened the very  existence 
of the native species. Ruddy Ducks, though, are attractive and  endearing 
creatures-was the slaughter warranted? I think so. Yet I don't think  an 
equivalent slaughter of Barred Owls would be warranted where the Barreds  are 
relatively new invaders into N. Spotted Owl territory, perhaps because  it is unclear 
that any good would come from it. Even given the absence of Barred  Owls it is 
unclear how the N. Spotties would fare given the condition of NW  conifer 
forests. 
 
We all know well that Cowbird extermination programs have helped with  
certain songbird rehabilitation projects. What do we do with the   non-native 
Eucalyptus which has displaced an oak, but which provides fodder for  migrating 
Warblers?
 
And indeed what of the Starlings? These are intelligent, sociable, and yes  
attractive creatures, but in some cases their presence in an area may present 
an  insurmountable challenge to the persistence of certain cavity nesters. Here 
 humane culling may well be justified-or even morally required. Judging the  
best course, in my view, will require not just a species by species  analysis, 
but also a site by site analysis. There may be instances in which the  
slaughter of Starlings is essential to preserving a particular population or  
species. Yet there may be other times in other areas which are naturally [or  
artificially] void of cavity nesters in which the killings would be senseless,  and 
indeed where Starlings may fulfill ecological functions long left  unfulfilled 
by creatures extirpated by man. 
 
In the end subtle, sensitive reasoned thinking rather than emotional  
responses in either direction, will be the most fruitful for humans and animals,  I 
think.
 
Best wishes,
Blake Matheson
Carmel California & Portland Oregon
 
 



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