I'll be the first to admit that the sight of a bald eagle swooping down low is a pretty impressive thing. They are such a majestic bird that its easy to overlook WHY they are circling so slowly ... which is of course that they are on the hunt for their next meal.
Unlike humans, they are not killing for sport ( although the topic of how sporting it is when only one party has the gun is a separate subject for another day). The eagles, along with every other raptor around here, are simply looking to survive.
A bald eagle... or a red tailed hawk ... or a golden eagle .... does not attach a sentimental value to an animal. For them, a rabbit is a cat is a small dog is dinner. Straight, sweet and simple.
Nor is the buffet limited to the little animals. I've lost track of how many times an eagle or hawk has swooped into my bird feeders to scoop up their next meal. This time of year its much worse for the little birds ... not only do they have to battle the cold, but with all the leaves down there is much less natural habitat protection to conceal them from the raptors.
Last year, when I was feeding Dora ... and then Oscar , I took quite a bit of flack from a couple of my neighbours about stray and feral cats. Like me, they are avid birdwatchers. Unlike me, they are convinced that stray and feral cats represent the biggest threat to the wild bird population.
They are not alone in that .... one of the biggest reasons that TNR has had such a hard time getting out of the gate is the misconception that it represents a great risk to the wildlife population. In spite of studies to the contrary ( http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=324) , educated people still believe they are protecting wildlife by opposing TNR.
I love living in the Valley, but even so I find it has really changed since I first moved here twenty odd years ago. At that time, there were five subdivisions in and around the Greenwood area.... now there are at least twelve. The "big" expansion of the local mall has been overshadowed by the arrival of both Sobey's and the Superstore a few years ago. Not to mention the huge acreages of gravel pits that have been excavated to support all this growth and development.
All those houses and all those streets and even all the new big stores and fast food outlets ... each and every one of them is located on a spot that was either formerly a wildlife habitat and/or traditional farmland ( the subject of how conveniently laws to protect agricultural land from development can be suddenly sidestepped in pursuit of the almighty tax dollar is an interesting subject for a blog with another focus )
But I am wandering afield here. If you are reading this blog, odds are you don't need to be convinced about the merits of TNR. Odds are also pretty good that you also see Nathan Winograd as one of your heroes.
"Some people believe that feral cats lead “short, miserable” lives and that for this reason, TNR programs should not be implemented. On the contrary. As most caregivers can attest, feral cats frequently lead long, healthy lives. And while feral and abandoned cats may face hardships, death is not better than a less-than-perfect life. Many animals, such as raccoons, foxes, flied mice and others, face similar hazards and do not live extraordinarily long lives, yet we would never consider killing them “for their own good.” All animals, including feral cats, deserve compassion and protection for their entire lives—no matter how long that might be." Nathan Winograd
What time is it ... its time to remember that each individual can make a difference for feral cats by contacting their MLA's (Members - Constituencies) and Councillors (http://www.unsm.ca/membership-directory/) to let them know that there is real support for TNR and that there is opposition to the ineffective concept of catch and kill.
I know I say it all the time ..... that the way ahead is always, always paved by voter feedback ... but that's only because its a true story.
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