Horrible Article In The Newspaper Today Front Page

[andinla]

Hi everyone please read this article written up on the front page of the Daily Breeze regarding pigeons, birds.


City Code - Lawndale, California Resident is told to stop feeding birds(pigeons) after years of doing so in her driveway. Their last free meal was a week ago when the city shut down the buffet, Charging Herrera's with public nuisance.

The city is protecting the residents against health threats, especially as bird flu fear increases daily, Ramos said.

But David Dassey, a medical epidemiologist for the county Dept of Health Services, said Lawndale might be getting ahead of itself with the bird flu concerns. "That's novel use of this concept," he said "There's no highly pathogeni bird flu in the western hemisphere to our knowledge. I'm not concerned about feeding birds on the street for that reason." At this point, Dassey is more concerned that Herrera's hobby would proliferate salmonella or fungal infections, that are easily communicable for people with immune disorders than spread bird flu.

"A lot of people enjoy feeding birds," he said. " Is there a difference between a golden finch and a pigeon? One is pretty and yellow and sings, and the other isn't. Healthwise , they're probably not that different from each other."

Bird flu aside, local bird experts advise against feeding pigeons. Bob Shanman, president of the Audubon Society, said the birds are aggresive , dominant and pestilent, and take over other birds nesting habitats. Keeping pigeons around only irritates people possibly willing to take extreme measures to remove them, Shanman said. "I'm alway's oncerned about that," he said.

They'll put poison out to get rid of the pigeons, and they die a horrible death. We've had several incidents of this, whih is not fair. It's mand acting stupidly."

Which is pretty muh what people for the ethical treatment of animals told Herrera. She approached the group for assistance but had no luck.

Herrera isn't sure what to do next. She's waiting to hear back from a lawyer, but worries in the meantime that her birds are going hungry. Shanman's advice? Take it out back. " continue feeding birds in your backyard, but don't feed the pigeons, he said "i'd like to see pigeons gone."

I can't believe PETA again, and the guy from the Audubon Society what a jerk. I wish he was gone. Whats that about taking over other nests from other birds. I never heard of pigeons stealing nests from other birds, oh and they are so aggresive ha! he knows his stuff.....people yuk!!! please write if you can to help the pigeons.... thanks , Andi D.

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[TAWhatley]

Here's a link to the article: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1831446.html

Terry