birding-aus Save the Sparrow: Really??

["Paul McDonald" <>]

Hi All, 

I cannot believe my eyes! Save the sparrow, the mynahs, the rock  doves of this world, what next!!

I can see your point, the quote about what do we preserve is a  good one and often cited, but really there is an obvious line to take.  Pre-European arrival is the sensible and most, (not necessarily is!)  realistic goal. As to why we should remove exotics, which primarily  put here to make migrants feel more at home, one only has to look  at the ecological disaster area across the Tasman. I think we are  secure enough as a people to identify with endemics as opposed  to ring-ins. 

I would personally rather have Superb Blue Wrens, Red-browed  Finches, Peaceful Doves and the like than Sparrows, blackbirds  etc. Incidentally, as an Australian I have always thought the Turdus  genus name is particularly apt!

Cheers, Paul

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