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Birds & Blooms MagazineEarlier posts on this topic are probably found under the specific topic covered in the magazine (e.g., Paul Carrier Slant Box.) From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net]
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 5:33 PM Subject: Bluebirds in March Issue of Birds & Blooms Birds & Blooms asked if they could use an edited version of my Why We Get Goopy Over Bluebirds. http://www.sialis.org/goopy.htm. I figured anything to help the bluebirds….... The article will be in the March issue of Birds & Blooms Extra, which should be coming out in early February. Bet from CT From: Cher [mailto:bluelist"at"localnet.com] Bet, Congratulations on being published in such a widely-read magazine. Maybe Birds & Blooms is finally taking baby steps toward being truly informative not just entertaining. It's a step in the right direction, anyway ~ asking someone who's obviously educated about Bluebirds to contribute something to their publication. Let's hope they keep it up. Cher ~ Finger Lakes region, NY State From: Sheila Rogers [mailto:sheilarogers"at"charter.net] Why do you all "Dislike like " Birds & Blooms" magazine... They have Great Photos, maybe their articles? Not the right advice ? If you don't like their advice...then post an article:) Birds & Please no private e-mails to me...sent it to the list:) .... Sheila From: Snoopy [mailto:snoopy"at"wmis.net] Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 10:42 PM Subject: Re: Birds and Blooms Magazine? Sheila, Joy in Cedar springs From: Mary Beth Roen [mailto:mbroen"at"hotmail.com] Hi all, I have subscribed to "Birds and Blooms" magazine in the past, but will not renew my subscription. There was an article in it, about a man who kept abandoned baby Bluebirds and fed them earthworms! I wrote to the editor to inform them that it is illegal to keep protected baby birds without a rehabber's license and that earthworms are not appropriate diet for baby Bluebirds, but they did not even publish my letter. Right then I decided I could not support a magazine promoting actions like this. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI From: Cher [mailto:bluelist"at"localnet.com] Sheila, Just to add to what Joy and Mary have said - we don't *hate* Birds & Blooms. In fact, I subscribed to it for quite some time. But I can't count the times I felt like throwing the magazine across the room after seeing photo after photo of ridiculous "cutesy" nestboxes mounted in dangerous locations, or reading letters from readers that were filled with disinformation, without a word of correction or caution from the magazine's editors. I think the straw that broke the camel's back for me was a letter to the magazine, printed without editorial comment, from a woman who told about seeing Bluebirds in her yard, and how her husband went online and educated himself about what kind of nestbox was best, and how and where to mount it - and she was just laughing up her sleeve at her "stupid" It would be like the editors of a parenting magazine taking advertising from companies that produce unsafe child furniture, or printing photos sent in by readers of their children in dangerous situations with captions like, "Isn't this cute?" If the editors ever figure out there's more involved in building safe birdhouses than having a vivid imagination, and begin consistently offering truly useful and educational information, I'll subscribe again. Cher ~ Finger Lakes region, NY State From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] I think Cher's analogy to a parenting magazine is apt. I'm concerned about promoting decorative nestbox designs that are basically unsafe - too deep for nestlings to exit; do not provide enough protection for nests and eggs in terms of weather proofing, roof design, and paint color; mounted in such a way as to afford easy access to predators, and can not be monitored or cleaned out because they don't open. Birds & Blooms printed an article about the Carrier (Slant box) design that suggested that the boxes are sparrow proof, which is incorrect. I saw a letter about how cute it was to see a chickadee feeding a giant cowbird baby without any explanation. (See http://www.sialis.org/cowbirds.htm for cowbird info.) I feel an obligation to provide factual and complete (sometimes boring to death) information to people (and really appreciate the corrections people send me for my website.) I struggle to provide information in a balanced light, and am NOT always successful. And like other organizations or birding stores that want to appeal to everyone and avoid offending anyone, and don't want to get attacked by PETA or the Humane Society of the U.S. or be referred to as a Nazi, Birds & Blooms does not address the house sparrow issue. I'm certainly not dumb enough to suggest they should talk about active controls, which are not for everyone in any case. Passive controls are clearly more broadly accepted, and I am very eager to discover passive controls that really work. And the reality is that some people enjoy house sparrows and are not concerned about their competitive nature (and of course others are unaware and might take action if informed of the risk.) Birds & Blooms does have great photos, and sometimes good articles and suggestions. They are promoting awareness and interest in the outdoors, nature and wildlife, which is extremely valuable. I think those who are interested in cavity nester conservation have to be careful about alienating people who have an interest and can do more good than harm, by taking the "my way or the highway" approach. We also need to recognize that not everyone is willing or able to put the same amount of effort into conservation. We need to offer options that enable the many, as opposed to the few, to participate. (I remember how I used to hate hiking with a friend of mine who was a total purist - he only wanted to go up hills that were at a 90 degree death-defying angle and required blood sweat and tears to summit. I just wanted to go for a walk in the woods....) Unfortunately, some people do have to learn the hard way.... But we can offer them an opportunity to avoid disastrous and upsetting experiences by providing information about how to do what is in the best interest of the birds, based on lessons learned by others. I'm guessing B&B used an edited version of my bluebird article because of the goopy slant. They did leave out the parts that might be more controversial, such as references to sprawl and competition with invasive species. But I figured you have to take what you can get, and every little bit helps as long as it is factual. They are going to include a link to my website (a foot in the door?), which offers info on nestbox design, proper mounting etc., so maybe some people will come away more informed. Bet from CT From: denisefarmer"at"comcast.net [mailto:denisefarmer"at"comcast.net] HI Bet, Congrats again on the B&B contacting you and I am so glad they are going to put up a link to your website. That as you say will help get some people on the right track and more can follow later. Denise Farmer From: Snoopy [mailto:snoopy"at"wmis.net] Bet, Joy in Cedar springs From: Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana [mailto:yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net] The mag also promoted onion bags as suet holders. This is definitely a no The onion bags of yesterday were made from some kind of fiber and tore I haven't seen your article yet Bet but congratulations anyway! I'll be Dottie, Hickory Hollow From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 8:14 PM Subject: Re: Birds and Blooms Magazine and philosophy Working in a statewide organization, you do have to proceed with care especially when teaching and guiding people on methods of control.
We have exactly the many types as Bet describes below.
I am reminded of one member that sends in a report every year for her year's nesting summary. It has "O" by all the native cavity nesters and it had "5" House Sparrows fledged. She apparently had rather fledge the HOSP's than do anything to help the others nest. All we can do is present both methods.
I think that folks on both sides of the issues that use their methods are pretty well set in their ideas about it. It means getting labeled "my way or the highway" many times.
We have people that use "passive control" that think it is their way or the highway and same for aggressive control.
If you read on Birds & Blooms Bird Watchers forum, the ones that are trying to raise native cavity nesters will tell you in a heartbeat that it takes aggressive control to be successful.
Then, there is a group that goes berserk when someone mentions aggressive control. They are usually the ones that are just looking out the window at the birds and watching them eat in their yard. Many of them state they have HOSP's in their yards and just can't get any other birds to nest.
Now, mind you, these groups more or less stay in their own little threads. Once in a while I answer a question on the thread where people are trying to raise cavity nesters, but I mainly just read to see how a lot of folks think and how they perceive going about being involved in conservation. Some of it is mind boggling.
I don't have to use either so far going into my tenth year. No HOSP's for me so far. If I ever do, I will choose the method that saves the most lives for me. That is how I see it.
LBBS has one project that they have done nothing but fight HOSP's for 3 years and that is on a school yard trail. They have spent their time taking out HOSP's nests and eggs and not one single native cavity nesting bird has been able to nest. We plan to take the trail down this year.
Evelyn
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