Gosh, it is always interesting to get answers to a question one didn't even ask. But I find those interesting to read.
Joey said, "...but birds have migrated through Colorado for thousands of years prior to man living in Colorado. The birds have evolved over the years migrating through this area and individual birds have been "selected" by nature to survive these brief spring storms. Those that perish did so because they were not the "fittest" and will not pass on their genes. Those that built up extra fat reserves, found sources of food, water and shelter will continue on to the breeding grounds and pass on their excellent genes." ---I certainly agree with those statements. And, " but this is how nature works." --- gee, I think it indeed did work that way for thousands of years but I base my beliefs on the work of well known and mainstream scientists who have been telling us that Climate Disruption (aka Change, etc) - "Climate change is here, and the effects are already being felt across the US" from New Scientist, May 6, 2014 - "Introduction-As the world has warmed, that warming has triggered many other changes to the Earth's climate. Changes in extreme weather and climate events, such as heat waves and droughts, are the primary way that most people experience climate change." from National Climate Assessment<http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights> - "Change in Other Storms-Winter storms have increased in frequency and intensity since the 1950s,<http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/report-findings/extreme-weather#>and their tracks have shifted northward over the United States." fromNational Climate Assessment<http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights> Just a quick note before I get flamed for drawing a scientifically unsound conclusion that this recent late winter storm was caused by Climate Disruption because I am not. I would not be making a scientifically sound statement to that that effect just as others could not make a scientifically sound statement that this recent winter storm was not caused or made worse by Climate Disruption. I am saying that I believe that Climate Disruption (not even throwing in all other anthropomorphic impacts on birds) is creating undue stress on bird survival due to weather changes that are well beyond what has been natural for thousands of years and to which birds (and other creatures) have had little time to adapt. I believe there is sufficient scientific data and predictions to support that including the following: - "Climate change over the past, 30 years has produced numerous shifts in the distributions and abundances of species1,2 and has been implicated in one species-level extinction. Using projections of species' distributions for future climate scenarios, we assess extinction risks for sample regions that cover some 20% of the Earth's terrestrial surface. Exploring three approaches in which the estimated probability of extinction shows a power-law relationship with geographical range size, we predict, on the basis of mid-range climate-warming scenarios for 2050, that 15-37% of species in our sample of regions and taxa will be'committed to extinction'. excerpted from Letters to *Nature* January 8, 2014 by a long list of credible scientists including Lee Hannah.Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, Washington, DC 20036, USA and A. Townsend Peterson.University Distinguished Professor.Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Biodiversity Institute, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, USA Let me add that the Raptor Education Group, Inc, which is a member of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, recently made the following recommendation about assisting migrating birds<https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152517355661019&set=a.257720256018.173109.30180201018&type=1> : - "A quick reminder to folks that live in northern climates...many warblers and other neo-tropical birds are moving through our area at this time. Fortunately our weather is beginning to cooperate but remember you can supplement feed many of these sensitive species. Hummingbirds are arriving with few natural flowers in bloom. Hummingbird feeders are important now. ... Warblers will appreciate insects such as mealworms, wax worms or crickets. Orioles will delight you by cavorting on oranges cut in half and held securely by a non-toxic nail or screw to either vertical or horizontal surfaces. Orioles also enjoy grape jelly this time of year and insects as well. Enjoy the jewels of the bird world as they travel to their summer home all while supporting them and their journey." Given these implications I intend to do whatever I can, even it is no population impact, to assist birds downed by such fall-out conditions. I do thank you for the opportunity to express my views on this important conservation issue. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 2:57 PM, Joey Kellner <vir...@comcast.net> wrote: > Not to sound unconcerned or uncaring, but birds have migrated through > Colorado for thousands of years prior to man living in Colorado. The birds > have evolved over the years migrating through this area and individual > birds have been "selected" by nature to survive these brief spring storms. > Those that perish did so because they were not the "fittest" and will not > pass on their genes. Those that built up extra fat reserves, found sources > of food, water and shelter will continue on to the breeding grounds and > pass on their excellent genes. > > I know it sounds cruel by our "human" standards, but this is how nature > works. Ultimately nothing we can do by feeding a few birds will affect the > population as a whole. I could provide food to partially feed 100 Lark > Buntings at Chatfield (and teach/imprint upon them how to depend upon > people for food), but I suspect that the other 10,000 Lark Buntings in the > area will survive on their own (at least most) and will pass on their > superior survival genes. > > Birds are AMAZING at dealing with the things that man and nature dish > out. They will figure out this one, short-lived spring storm on their own. > > My humble opinion. > > Joey Kellner > Littleton, Colorado > > On Tuesday, May 13, 2014 10:39:56 AM UTC-6, SeEtta wrote: > >> I have found 8 Gray Flycatchers just in one quarter mile of. Canon City >> Riverwalk. The one local pet store is out of mealworms til 1 pm. I got >> their last 40 small crickets that I am placing at locations they use. Any >> other ideas to help them get nourishment to continue their migration? >> >> I have thrown out seed for seedeaters but have not seen the numbers >> reported in northern front range. >> >> SeEtta Moss >> Canon City >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Colorado Birds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/bad41241-1510-4b30-9a16-ccfe6dac969c%40googlegroups.com<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/bad41241-1510-4b30-9a16-ccfe6dac969c%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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