G Huxley Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 Its easy to forget we're only one species on the planet... http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/06/19/pol-one-in-eight-birds-threatened-with-extinction.html?cmp=rss Quote
waldo Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 The main culprits are unsustainable agriculture and climate change. how long before someone responds suggesting this is simply natural selection... "survival of the fittest"! That there is no problem here... cause... adaptation rules!!! Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 More bird species have gone extinct before mankind ever existed. Big deal..... Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Moonlight Graham Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 how long before someone responds suggesting this is simply natural selection... "survival of the fittest"! That there is no problem here... cause... adaptation rules!!! How about: 99% of all species that have ever existed have gone extinct, so nothing to see here! Where are you TimG??? Quote "All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.
guyser Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 Does it include Canada Geese? I sure hope so. Quote
The_Squid Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 It's not the issue of extinctions that should concern us; it's the rate of extinctions due to mankind's activities. Quote
GostHacked Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 It's not the issue of extinctions that should concern us; it's the rate of extinctions due to mankind's activities. This is the perspective that is needed. Quote
Shady Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 I'd say that 7 out of 8 bird species not being threatened is a pretty good percentage. Quote
GostHacked Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 I'd say that 7 out of 8 bird species not being threatened is a pretty good percentage. You need a perspective scale, there are thousands of bird species. 1 in 8 is close to 15 % of all bird species is a very significant number. Bee populations in decline, bird population in decline, something is going on with our environment. Quote
Guest American Woman Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 I've read that a big threat to birds is - cats. Seriously. At any rate, I agree that cutting down forests and replacing them with new species of plants is going to have an effect, and it stands to reason that it's a negative effect. I don't think most people care, though; especially if it's happening outside of their/our 'world,' such as it is. So we will, ultimately, all pay the price - because a loss is a loss, it's as simple as that. Furthermore, if everything has a place and purpose in nature, in our world, there could be side effects that we are not yet aware of - and some that we are, but refuse to acknowledge/take seriously. Quote
The_Squid Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 God post AW... agree 100%. It's a very poor mentality when when people don't care about conservation of species. I don't understand it. It might be a bit of a generational thing. Hopefully, as young people get older this mentality will go away and something more will be done for conservation of species and the environment in general. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 All species cannot be preserved forever. Habitat destruction and extinctions are naturally occurring events. That's why they are called...fossil fuels! Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Guest American Woman Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 Not all extinctions are due to 'natural occurrences,' though. Quote
guyser Posted June 20, 2013 Report Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) I've read that a big threat to birds is - cats. Seriously. Correct! Apparently to the tune of 1.4 to 3.7Billion a year {housecats and feral cats) Thats a lot of birds....and also just the US . So I guess we are 140M to 370M a year. Edited June 20, 2013 by Guyser2 Quote
GostHacked Posted June 21, 2013 Report Posted June 21, 2013 I've read that a big threat to birds is - cats. Seriously. What kinds of cats? Over populated domesticated cats we humans have taken on as pets? Or can we count wildlife as well? Quote
guyser Posted June 21, 2013 Report Posted June 21, 2013 What kinds of cats? Over populated domesticated cats we humans have taken on as pets? Or can we count wildlife as well? House and feral cats of the kitty cat gender. I doubt Lynx and Cougars are big bird eaters. Quote
Guest American Woman Posted June 21, 2013 Report Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) What kinds of cats? Over populated domesticated cats we humans have taken on as pets? Or can we count wildlife as well? Both if you consider feral cats, born in the wild, as wild cats since they are not pets. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded a three-year study by the Smithsonian's Conservation Biology Institute to estimate the number of birds killed by predators, chemicals and by striking windows and wind generators. They're interested because about a third of the 800-some species of birds in the United States are endangered, threatened or in significant decline, according to the American Bird Conservancy. It turns out tabby is the biggest culprit. Everyone knew cats were natural predators, but researchers were shocked by the carnage recorded by cameras attached to 60 cats turned loose during a 2012 University of Georgia study. The issue is controversial, of course. There are 84 million pet cats in the United States in addition to 30 million to 80 million feral cats, and not everyone is a cat lover. http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1936365.html Edited June 21, 2013 by American Woman Quote
Wilber Posted June 22, 2013 Report Posted June 22, 2013 (edited) We've noticed a big decline in the number of song birds in our area over the past 20 years or so. Spring mornings used to be alive with singing birds around our home. Not so much any more. The variety of different birds using our feeders in winter has also declined. I think a lot of it had to do with the increased number of cats prowling our neighbourhood. Edited June 22, 2013 by Wilber Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Guest American Woman Posted June 22, 2013 Report Posted June 22, 2013 Where I live, there are a lot less cats prowling around the neighborhood; more and more, cats are becoming either indoor pets or they are put on leashes. Cats used to roam all over when I was young; now it's rare to see a cat wandering about, and when we do see it, we assume it's lost or homeless. Quote
Bryan Posted June 22, 2013 Report Posted June 22, 2013 1 in 8 bird species threatened with extinction world wide. Name them. Quote
Wilber Posted June 22, 2013 Report Posted June 22, 2013 Where I live, there are a lot less cats prowling around the neighborhood; more and more, cats are becoming either indoor pets or they are put on leashes. Cats used to roam all over when I was young; now it's rare to see a cat wandering about, and when we do see it, we assume it's lost or homeless. Wish that were true here. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Guest American Woman Posted June 22, 2013 Report Posted June 22, 2013 Wish that were true here.I don't blame you. I don't know why dogs are required to be under control while cats aren't. As far as I know, Delaware is the only state that requires cats, as well as dogs, to be kept indoors or on leashes, but it is definitely the trend where I live. Quote
Wilber Posted June 23, 2013 Report Posted June 23, 2013 Most effective cat control around here is coyotes. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
The_Squid Posted June 23, 2013 Report Posted June 23, 2013 Name them. You can start here: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct1/SearchResult_e.cfm?commonName=&scienceName=&boxTaxonomic=2&Submit=Submit Quote
cybercoma Posted June 24, 2013 Report Posted June 24, 2013 Name them. Here's a list of all 2122 endangered bird species. http://www.earthsendangered.com/search-groups2_sB.html Quote
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