I first learned about this nonsense being planned at A D.C. Birding Blog in Friday's Loose Feathers. What's happening is a large retirement community in Northern California decided to plop their little village down in the middle of Acorn Woodpecker habitat. Then, in an apparent stroke of brilliance - not - built said homes of some material in which woodpeckers can, well, peck holes. Now, I expect if it was just a matter of pecking out a nest here and there, it probably would be no big deal. But Acorn Woodpeckers peck out lots of little holes in which to cache acorns. Having tried several methods to scare or otherwise deter the woodpeckers from engaging in somewhat normal behavior (if you remove most of the trees, they gotta find somewhere to store food), each deterrent method having failed, now it looks like they are going shoot them to take "care" of the problem.I guess it goes without saying that "the plan" doesn't exactly meet with my approval.
Late Friday I got an email from faithful reader Mary to an online petition, Stop The Acorn Woodpecker Killing at Rossmoor. If you haven't already done so, please hie thee on over and help the sponsors reach their target of 1,000 signatures - it seems to have stalled a bit and they could use some help. Thanks!
Hi Kevin,
My Aunt used to live at Rossmoor unfortunately she is long since dead but, I sure that she will go back and haunt them over this. :)
Hi Rick, Out of curiosity, was she at this one up north or (and I think it was the original) in Seal Beach (near my old stomping grounds)? There's some good birding near Seal Beach . . .
Kevin, thanks so much for posting about it. I sure do hope every one of your readers will sign the petition. I cannot imagine any of us (birding) bloggers would just shrug it off thinking that their signature won't mean much. I feel there are better alternative solutions. Besides, these woodpeckers will continue on even if part of their family members are shot and killed. In an amusing way, what if the tables were turned? Birds vs humans -- news flash -- "Birds (woodpeckers) attack humans carrying guns!" ;o) Now, would any human carrying a gun (to shoot the woodpeckers) be able to sleep at night? Besides, is it so morally right to try to get rid of a species because humans have "moved into" their "neighborhood?" My feeling -- they are getting what they deserve! And if they don't like the consequences, then it's time to sell, and move elsewhere! (Sorry for the soapbox rant.)
Ah, Mary - No need to apologize for the rant. I'm with ya! Besides, I've been known to rant and rave about this kind of madness once in a while myself. Let's just hope sanity prevails and they realize it is nothing more than a short term solution.
Hi Kevin,
No she lived at the one out by Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County. I do not know about Seal Beach. I grew up in Berkeley and have no recollection of that place. Talking about great birding my mother lived in Inverness and that is where I got started birding--it is a whole lot more interesting than North Dakota. Here you can drive 200 miles and get maybe 100 species in the spring--out there maybe 10 miles or less for twice as many species.
Rick - Never knew that there were actually 2 places called Rossmoor "Leisure World" in California - learn something new every day.
Looking at a map (I confess had heard of Inverness, but didn't know exactly where it was), it looks like there would be a lot varied habitat in a very small area. Snooping around I found an article that said the 2008 Point Reyes CBC had 200 species - if I remember the numbers correctly, that's around 40 more than the highest species total in Florida's CBC's. I just might have to go birding there someday . . .
Hi Kevin,
The Point Reyes area is really cool. It catches mega vagrants because extends west so far. If you do get out there let me know I can put you in touch with
some of the birders I know out there.
Rick,
I will keep that in mind - don't we'll get out there. Is winter best? I would imagine that one might find some great shorebirds if you hit it at the right time of year.
I think Fall is probably better than winter late fall is may be better than early fall. I'll have to check with my guru on that. I'll get back to on it. :)
Thanks Rick! I'll obviously be wanting to do photography and will have to plan some vacation time somewhere along the way. For someone who lived more than half his life in CA, I've not really been north of San Fransisco on the coast . . .