I’ve noticed a change in the distributions here in Toronto. A couple of years ago the city started a composting program: all food scraps, tissues, greasy paper, etc. are supposed to be put into a separate plastic bin with a lid for separate collection. Since then I have noticed a big drop the number of raccoons in Toronto and an even more drastic drop in sparrows, starlings, house finches, pigeons, and other city birds. I suspect that the raccoons were spilling garbage and ripping open plastic bag and that they and the birds were feeding on the garbage.
No one else has mentioned it. It’s hard to notice a lack, but fewer sparrows means fewer sparrow hawks, and so on.
Lesson: You can’t do just one thing.
Monday, 5 January 2009 at 06:57
Very interesting! I would think the movement to compost using compost bins rather than piles would also have the same effect. Now that bears have started coming to bird feeders, I wonder how the decrease in people feeding the birds will effect wild populations.
Monday, 5 January 2009 at 06:58
I hope you don’t mind but I have added a link to your blog on my website.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 at 11:25
I think that’s great! Thanks for the link.