Tens of millions of birds disappearing now in North America (CBC video clip)

[SpiralHawk]

This is an absolutely stunning video clip, aired on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) network just two days ago, Dec. 28, 2007.

Tens of millions of birds disappearing across North America

<http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=372>

This compelling CBC video report puts me acutely in mind of the messages spoken by North America's tradition keepers in 1993 at the House of Mica (UN Headquarters in New York City):

http://www.8thfire.net/Day_15.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "In our ways...

"In our ways, spiritual consciousness is the highest form of politics. We must live in harmony with the natural world and recognize that excessive exploitation can only lead to our own destruction. We cannot trade the welfare of our future generations for profit now..."

- the late Chief Leon Shenandoah, Tadadaho, Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, spoken before the world at the House of Mica, Cry of the Earth


Grandfather Shenandoah as he appeared on a poster for a peace festival in upstate New York:

[susu369]

2. Glad you posted this

Personally, I haven't had a yard full of songbirds in months. Whenever I mention this, I'm told that it's just "seasonal." Not convinced.

How I miss the sweet call of the Bobwhites. Have not heard or seen quail in years.

This news, along with the decline of bees, is alarming.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Bee die off is a HUGE issue. UN already warning of dwindling food supplies

UN Warns: World food stocks dwindling rapidly

By Elisabeth Rosenthal – International Herald Tribune
December 17, 2007

ROME: In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday.

more...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/17/europe/food.

[Perry Logan]

3. The grim truth about what Bush & Co. have done to the environment has yet to come out.

I'm sure our lives have been shortened by years since they took office.

[JCMach1]

4. And we thought we had avoided the 'Silent Spring' Scenario

I remember my great grandmother handing me that book at 8 or 9 and being told to read it and never let this happen to our world.

;(

[lonestarnot]

6. One of my silly cats disappeared one on my doorstep just yesterday.

:arg:

[EstimatedProphet]

7. We have a lot of birds here

[Subdivisions]

11. Well, then, I guess there's nothing to worry about here. Moving along. n/t

[EstimatedProphet]

14. Nope, there's not

Are you aware of the fact that songbird populations have been dwindling since the last ice age? The trend is not anything new.

[flashl]

8. Alarms went out b/4 Iraq war warning about the war's impact and bird migration changes n/t

[mod mom]

9. Wow, just before I turned on DU, I was thinking how our cardinal families

are no longer around. :(

[NNN0LHI]

10. Don't they go south for the winter?

Just surmising here.

Don

[flashl]

12. War in Iraq: a bird’s eye view

Both the Iran–Iraq war, which ran from 1980 to 1988, and the 1990–1991 Gulf War were “incredibly” destructive of bird habitat, he affirmed.

“One of the main battlegrounds of the Iran–Iraq War was the Mesopotamian marshes, one of the most important bird areas of the Middle East. Vast areas of reedbeds were burnt and wetlands were drained. Subsequent to the Gulf War, vast areas of what was left were drained. Some 90% of this 15 000 km2 wetland has been ruined, equivalent to an area two-thirds of the size of the Kruger National Park.”

During the Gulf War, the world’s largest oil spill ever also obliterated millions of hectares of mudflats in the Persian Gulf. The destruction of this fragile ecosystem was total, Underhill said.

“These wetlands and mudflats are critically important stop over and refuelling sites for virtually all species of birds on migration through the region. Most of the Middle East is pretty arid, and a lot of it is simply inhospitable desert. The scattered patches which are not desert represent the most productive areas, and hence become both the feeding grounds for the migrating birds and the battle grounds for the armies.”

Underhill maintains that the picture of migration that we should have in our minds is not a continuous route along which birds can feed anywhere that takes their fancy. Rather, the picture should be a series of stepping stones which are linked by “hops” of varying lengths.

Read Full Text

Taking flight: Migration patterns crossing Iraq (shaded area).

[SpiralHawk]

13. Put down that bong right now

and back away slowly.

Reality awaits.

[formerrepuke]

15. Mostly, I only see pigeons and starlings.. both non-native, introduced species..

..and dirty pests, to boot.

[applegrove]

16. Very sad.

[SpiralHawk]

17. "Tweet - chirp chirp chirp" - Canary relatives

"One final tweet and a couple of chirps before We fall silent. Forever. You are next.'

- Canaries in the mine

[susu369]

18. Perhaps what The Audubon Society says on this might matter

http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/cbid/

There is a real problem going on - and I wish the decline was not true.

[SpiralHawk]

19. Yes, the decline of birds and bees is far more than anecdotal

Those who claim it's just anecdotal are member of the Avidya Society of Small-Minded Republicons -- those who cannot bear to face reality, such as global climate change and perilous bird decline, and so who discount facts in favor of their "beliefs."