Echoing Skip, Thank you for the fact base reporting.
Folks make assumptions, broadcast them and it takes digging to get a fuller picture of what has occurred before a virus of misinformation spreads further. This type of article reinforces continuing to financially support local (and national) journalism.
Yes, solid reporting, but in this case clearly biased. The photo you included is not at all what it looks like now. That shows fully-built nests, which take many weeks of work. Most years they wash them off, and yet I see no signs of visible damage to the building from many years of them rebuilding. Couldnt power washing damage the wall more than dried mud? I hear the parasite argument, but if they don’t destroy their nests, and they reuse them, why should we intervene? Sounds like yet another example of humans playing God, thinking we’re better than the rest of nature. I say just let them be.
I see your point. I meant to indicate on the photo that it was from a previous year and just forgot to add that. I thought of taking a photo of the current situation, but it literally doesn’t look like anything just barely visible lines of mud. I also tried to reach the other biologist involved in the project, but was unable to make contact.
Thank you again Laura for your dedication to local reporting and for your quick response to my comment. As you say, currently there are only just barely visible lines of mud.
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Here’s an excerpt from US Fish and Wildlife Service
Nest or bird removal applications must be justified with strong, compelling reasons such as a health or safety hazard towards humans and/or birds or damage to property.
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I’m texting with Veronica Bower this and feel a need to understand what are the “strong compelling reasons” in this specific case. Has there been any documented damage to the cliff swallow colony on the back of the Annex due to parasites? It seems to me that it’s a huge amount of work to rebuild the nest every year, no? Why can’t we just leave them alone?
Once again, solid reporting and details. Thanks.
Echoing Skip, Thank you for the fact base reporting.
Folks make assumptions, broadcast them and it takes digging to get a fuller picture of what has occurred before a virus of misinformation spreads further. This type of article reinforces continuing to financially support local (and national) journalism.
Great article to clear up a concerning issue.
Thank you
Yes, solid reporting, but in this case clearly biased. The photo you included is not at all what it looks like now. That shows fully-built nests, which take many weeks of work. Most years they wash them off, and yet I see no signs of visible damage to the building from many years of them rebuilding. Couldnt power washing damage the wall more than dried mud? I hear the parasite argument, but if they don’t destroy their nests, and they reuse them, why should we intervene? Sounds like yet another example of humans playing God, thinking we’re better than the rest of nature. I say just let them be.
I see your point. I meant to indicate on the photo that it was from a previous year and just forgot to add that. I thought of taking a photo of the current situation, but it literally doesn’t look like anything just barely visible lines of mud. I also tried to reach the other biologist involved in the project, but was unable to make contact.
Thank you again Laura for your dedication to local reporting and for your quick response to my comment. As you say, currently there are only just barely visible lines of mud.
—
Here’s an excerpt from US Fish and Wildlife Service
https://www.fws.gov/story/nuisance-swallows
Under the section Legal Status:
Nest or bird removal applications must be justified with strong, compelling reasons such as a health or safety hazard towards humans and/or birds or damage to property.
—
I’m texting with Veronica Bower this and feel a need to understand what are the “strong compelling reasons” in this specific case. Has there been any documented damage to the cliff swallow colony on the back of the Annex due to parasites? It seems to me that it’s a huge amount of work to rebuild the nest every year, no? Why can’t we just leave them alone?