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Re: Monks, Tundras, etc.



Dear Monk lovers (and others),

Monk Parakeets have been on the East Coast
for many years. As far as I know, they have never sustained a stable
breeding population anywhere
north of Florida. They'll make a nest or colony of nests for a few years,
then subside. I guess they're
not hardy enough for severe winters. So there
is probably little chance of their numbers growing
large enough to be an agricultural problem
or putting any pressure on endemic birds.

If you really want to study them in healthy numbers
(where they are outstanding in creating a persistent racket), go to Tampa,
Florida.
They have a lot of nests right at the entrance to Busch Gardens.

I think we all agree that we want a healthy
and balanced biodiversity. The question is, how can we all support and
promote this diversity?
I think the Monks are just a pleasant curiosity
(or noisy Gypsy). Enjoy these squawkers while
you can, I say, and worry about habitat loss
perpetrated by those who never saw a forest
or a marsh that wouldn't look better as a subdivision or abhorent shopping
mall.

For the Birds,
Steve Compton
Summerville,SC
mailto:scompton@sc.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "mjwestphal" <mjwestphal@unca.edu>
To: <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 4:57 PM
Subject: Monks, Tundras, etc.


> Whatever reasons there are for keeping exotic species around, I sincerely
hope
> one of them isn't just so that listers have another bird they can add to
their
> list.
> Marilyn Westphal
> Hendersonville, NC
> mjwestphal@unca.edu
>