What Can You Do to Help Stop the Songbird Slaughter?

Thank you for reporting on this. We donated money to CABS, and I hope other people will too,  based on what we learned from this horrific story. I hate to know that some of the birds in our yard (including our beautiful orioles) may face other humans who who would sensely torture and slaughter them like this. Thank you for continuing to educate us, and for making people care.

I felt nauseated upon reading this article--yet grateful that it was so graphic. What is described is symptomatic of problems worldwide that place the lives of humans and animals typically kept as pets above those of wild animals.  In terms of the comment regarding killing of birds in the U.S., I concur that it is objectionable.  It is, however, not comparable to what was described by Mr. Franzen in that the killing of so-called nuisance birds in the United States is not indiscriminate.  A greater problem in the United States is the protection of feral cats, which have a tremendous and indiscriminate impact on native bird populations. Because cats are kept as pets, their lives are placed above those of the native species upon which they prey. I say this as a former cat owner who appreciates the unique role cats have played in the lives of people.  I strongly endorse the tactics of CABS--fight fire with fire.  Another approach is to make the preservation of these remarkable denizens of the air economically beneficial to those who now prey on them. I experienced an example of this firsthand in Brazil in July 2000 when I visited a small eco-village that had been set up through the collaboration of macaw biologist Charles Munn and a former native macaw poacher.  The poacher was now able to feed his family by providing simple cabins and viewing stations where visitors from abroad could see various species---particularly endangered hyacinth macaws.  I'm not sure precisely how this might be applied in the circumstances described by Mr. Franzen, but such an approach might be one effective tool in the fight against this horrific and senseless slaughter.  Ultimately, stopping the human decimation of songbirds (and other wild creatures) requires education, a raising of consciousness,  sustainable economic development, and intellectual honesty. It is emotionally easier to turn away than to confront and attempt to overcome such practices.

Can we also stop mass killing of birds and other animals taking large proportions in the USA since 1970s? The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, 16 U.S.C. §§ 703–712 is overruled by regional ordinances once the birds are considered a “nuisance” by local authorities resulting in mass killing of large flocks of birds, including those overwintering in rural areas, using chemical poisons, not uncommonly by means of areal spraying from aircraft. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals...s/avitrol.html

The Euro community must unite to stop this slaughter, but that won't happen until the economic climate improves. Innocent people, animals and so on are often the victims of anger about the economy.

How very sad. Society is at its lowest in just about everything in life.