San Antonio is for the birds. Greater than 9,500 individuals, as of the morning of July 10, have signed onto a petition demanding that town defend its wild birds and unfold extra correct public security data.
In Protection of Animals, a California-based animal safety group, leads the cost. Shaped in 1983, this group has 40 years of advocacy underneath its belt and operates 4 sanctuaries, in line with its web site, in California, Mississippi, India, and South Korea.
Its San Antonio scope, not less than relating to this initiative, is particularly Woodlawn Lake Park and Elmendorf Lake Park, plus a extra common unfold across the metropolis. A press launch accuses metropolis staff and San Antonio Parks and Recreation of justifying hurt by claiming that they’re a public well being hazard; The group says that is misinformation.
In February 2023, town posted a message on its official web site outlining a few of its considerations and objectives in deterring birds from Brackenridge Park, which the San Antonio Present a month later tied to expanded efforts in Woodlawn Park.
On this doc, town largely focuses on chook feces as a degree of concern, stating that they “trigger injury to park facilities together with picnic tables, playground tools” and that “sidewalks grow to be inaccessible to the general public.” When chook feces come into contact with our bodies of water, like ponds and rivers, town cites considerations concerning the potential unfold of illnesses like E. coli.
The doc additionally lists potential deterrent methods: “pyrotechnics, clappers, spotlights, lasers, misery calls, effigies, balloons and drones.”
At Elmendorf Lake Half, town cites the identical considerations, plus extra about birds colliding with plane. It claims its response can be humane and non-lethal, and the above techniques apart from clappers.
The In Protection of Animals launch doesn’t clarify which elements of town’s message are misinformation; CultureMap has reached out to ask for clarification and can replace this story when a response arrives. The discharge does take direct challenge with some or the entire metropolis’s proposed options — particularly the usage of explosives and clappers — saying that they’re “inflicting extra injury and disruption in metropolis parks by harassing birds.”
“Extra will comply with if [city contractors and subcontractors], who’ve been noticed appearing in a reckless and unsafe method by capturing explosives round individuals and households with kids, proceed harassing birds in violation of the Migratory Chicken Treaty Act,” says the discharge.
Metropolis supplies clarify an goal to maneuver the birds somewhat than kill them, particularly to stop them from nesting earlier than they decide to an space. However in lots of instances the birds are clearly already moved in, and advocates level to the important significance of a protected nesting surroundings. Chicks who can not but fly do not need the choice of merely leaving the realm.
“It’s heartbreaking that these birds haven’t been allowed to peacefully nest and lift their infants in San Antonio, and that extra can be misplaced due to the unethical harassment town is permitting,” mentioned Lisa Levinson of In Protection of Animals. “It’s much more disheartening that metropolis officers refuse to take heed to public enter or have interaction in a dialogue that might result in peaceable coexistence, which residents clearly assist. We’ll proceed to push for decision on this challenge.”
One other speaker quoted within the launch factors out that it isn’t attainable to focus on solely sure birds with these methods.
“We now have been watching town’s actions on the birds in our parks for a few years. However not till now can we understand that they’re not simply making an attempt to manage the chook inhabitants, they’re making an attempt to eradicate all birds from our parks,” mentioned resident Ida Ayala. “Absolutely they understand that the board-banging and explosives are an assault on all wildlife within the space, in addition to on the individuals, taxpayers, who go to the park to take pleasure in birds and the pure surroundings.”
Extra data is accessible within the petition, discovered at idausa.org.
