Yesterday I went for a walk around one of those suburban “man-made lakes” to look what turns up . There was a White-faced Heron sitting quietly on a branch reasonably close to me. I took my time to focus, but just when I was ready. He flew off. What had happened? Three bl….y boys in their early teens stood behind me and opened their umbrellas to chase the bird away. Then they ran away laughing. Funny??
The Heron sat down at a fair distance, who could blame him? When I had a look at the photos on my PC, I noticed the bird only had one leg. I’m not suggesting anything here, but sometimes it’s not such a good idea to encourage wildlife into the suburbs, I know that none of the Swan’s signets have survived in my local area for three breeding seasons. Interested to find out what you are thinking???
A rather tricky one, Araminta. However, given that surburbia is so often such a lifeless, ecological desert & given the importance of biodiversity in the survival of Homo sapiens I come down on the side of protecting & restoring natural habitats in suburbia to attract wildlife.
Yes, there will be vicious people sans frontiers who will attack & injure wildlife but the number of these pest animals can be reduced long term with appropriate education & cultural change in which habitat protection & restoration can play an important part. E.g, I was heartened when taking a gander at the TV news recently to see motorists on a Sydney highway slowing down for some geese & their goslings. I doubt that would have happened 30 years ago so cultural change could well be in the wind. Besides, I wonder if far worse is done to wildife through habitat destruction than is done by Ning Nongs Against Wildlife.