I think lost among the debate on farming practices is the progressive loss of hedgerows in modern farming practices - newer farm equipment plows/chops every field edge these days, both by accident and intentionally. Same thing has happened to hayfields up here and bobolinks and other field birds. Too bad, even a few acres of field edge might help significantly. There are even subsidies available for those postponing mowing to offer a financial incentive for conservation.
I suspect the monarch population might most be related to steady destruction of their fragile winter habitat - a an entire continent's population wintering in a few mountain zones is perilous. 2 years ago I had hundreds of monarchs in my yard, nurtured on a small milkweed patch next to the barn. Last year I had about a dozen. I am hoping population will be better this year.
Sarah
From: bbartrug@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:26:55 -0400
Subject: [Maine-birds] Article re: disappearing tricolored blackbirds
To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
--
Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein
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I suspect the monarch population might most be related to steady destruction of their fragile winter habitat - a an entire continent's population wintering in a few mountain zones is perilous. 2 years ago I had hundreds of monarchs in my yard, nurtured on a small milkweed patch next to the barn. Last year I had about a dozen. I am hoping population will be better this year.
Sarah
From: bbartrug@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:26:55 -0400
Subject: [Maine-birds] Article re: disappearing tricolored blackbirds
To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
Here's the article Norm Famous was referring to yesterday concerning the remarkable reduction in numbers of a west coast blackbird: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2014/06/23/bye-bye-tricolored-blackbird/. Dying off because of grain grown to feed dairy cattle in California's central valley. We're such a lovable species; seen any monarch butterflies in recent years? You won't because grain farmers in the plains states are using GMO corn that doesn't die when sprayed with Roundup. But the milkweed does, and so the monarch's never make it this far north anymore. We're such a lovable species. (I said that.)
bab--
Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein
--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
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