Page Al8, August 1, 1979.- North Shore News. Dear Editor: _e wish to comment on the — inaccuracies and misleading _ statements in the article entitled “The crow patrol takes on West Van's black menace” by Chris Lloyd (N.S. News, 25 July 1979, p. A3). I have been studying the species of crow (Nor- thwestern Crow) mentioned in. the article, for three summers as a partial requirement for an M.Sc. degree at Simon Fraser University. Para. 6: Ted. Scott is “quoted--as. saying that the Northwestern Crow has 2 _ “hatcheries” (sic) per year”. The Northeastern Crow per year. A second clutch of. eggs is laid only if the first is destroyed. In my study area, 100 km north of Vancouver, the crows fledged an average of less than 2 fledglings per nest (in nests that hatched at least 1 egg). Only 63.7% of “the nests hatched 1 or more eggs. _ Crow sto good...”. I would like to see the evidence that this statement is based upon. Of aesthetically ‘this is true e but ' ecologically it may be un- sound. Also, there are many 53 £ en from nestling crows in my study area the most common: items, in descending order, were Littlenéck clams, Shore crabs, blennies (a fish), blackberries, spiders, Red rock crabs, caterpillars, and other | invertebrates. Although I have no data on the. food eaten by West Vancouver crows my ob- servations indicate that they feed on similar items. ‘Para. 9: “Crows,..., are dangerous”. The “dive- bombing” behaviour of the crow is an effective method .of keeping people (and owls, raises 1 brood of~nestlings.~ hawks, Cats, €tc.) away from their nests-_or- fledglings. I question-the-statement that crows scrape the heads of people. I was mobbed regularly but never touched by a crow while visiting their nests. Para. 11: — complaints about crows Stealing songbird eggs but few hard data. Crows do take other birds eggs and young when given the chance but a far bigger nest predator is probably the Steller’s Jay. (Strangely, most people like Steller’s Jays because they are blue and less noisy than crow!) In my study area (a ' seabird colony where eggs abound), gull eggs were seldom taken. Cormorant- eggs were eaten more often but this occurred mostly when humans, ironically, disturbed the nesting birds: People often complain about ~ ‘ducklings or nestlings being ‘eaten by crows but it is the predators that cull the animal populations and keep them healthy. Several studies have shown that the removal of predators created an -unhealthy prey population which resulted in (and plant) "populations generally produce an excess ‘of ‘young to compensate for the losses that naturally occur. . B I well _ understand the dislike of crows by the public but-I wonder if some of the disfavour is due to a lack of . understanding.. I am not certain that the crow population has increased dramatically in West> Vancouver over the past 7 years (when I- first made roost counts). Some of the apparent increase may be ' due to the large influxe of young that visit Ambleside Park each evening at this time of year. If the crow population is doing well I think that it may be a result of the. large amount of food in our garbage dumps which allow many crows to survive the winter. Shooting crows may be, I'm afraid, an attempt to Now the crows are a noisy menace! Continual com- plaints! How very selfish we humans are becoming at the expense of the varied life ‘around us. We appear to overlook the ‘ noise. and pollution we humans are responsible for. ° As I watch the crows from my much which has amused and touched my heart. I quietly giggled as I watched a stately seagull keenly watching a young crow as it edged very slowly towards him. A fews days window, I have: seen” both | efens @ | crows” later I noticed that they were | standing close roerther! | Had they made friends? a! Surely, we must learn to live with nature as best we can, and recognize. and respect the difference, for unless we do, we must be numbered among those who - are helping to exterminate — all wild things. Also, let us not. forget that the fewer — birds we have around the more insects will eventually invade our gardens and our homes. Gaile V. Campbell (Mrs.) — West Vancouver Doesn't need ered thee Ty ee Para. 7: “They do more destruction than they do are good. ; e . “It’s the BOpulahor I ! cure rather than prevent a Sun Province destruction they do to the eath by starvation, disease, _Problem. Z “This” statement vic. / 8 , a er at that time will assumes that more songbirds We must stop an- RobButler Dear Editor: . your paper at i ha time wil Perhaps *hropomorhizing. Animal Graduate Student ‘Enclosed, please find, a _ they received, and will Blackmail’ tactics by tough Victoria Dear Editor: The 7.5 per cent restriction placed on hospitals by the Minister of Health, ostensibly because of “tough times”, shows the utter hypocrisy . of the provincial government when compared with the 48.7 per cent increase in total ex- penditures and a 64.5 per cent increase in capital costs approved for the Highways Department. These vast increases for highways are not even in- directly going towards a much needed Rapid Transit - Lower System in the Mainland, for which there might be some justification, but for. more roads to ac- commodate more cars. an a ae a eee vs No. - eat & OO ae By oy ne cae WROTE Victoria's real sympathies lie and it provides a pretty good example of their level of understanding of present day transportation needs, especially against the dackground of the current energy Crisis. Co ec weay es Lions Gate Hospital, especially the Children’s- Ward, are the local examples as to how this warped sense of priorities affects the communities. The fact that local Organizations and _in- dividuals have risen to the occasion and have or will have raised the money to update the Children’s Ward is beside the point. In the case of the generous grant made by North Vancouver City Council, it is not just an act of mercy but also an act of courage. . Unfortunately that is what Victoria wanted all along; their policy of “black- mailing” has paid off. They can now attempt to put an f¥en. greater, burden on the sho-Sdors as of the municipalities, using this as evidence that local taxpayers can afford it. North Vancouver City is _ undoubtedly aware of these pitfalls and that they have, nonetheless, risen to the occasion is far more than a ~gesture of goodwill and a sense of responsibility. Their contribution is even more remarkable since, unlike the Council of -the District of North Vancouver, which last year alone took in 6.5 million dollars from the sale of land (with the possibility of even more to come in 1979), the City’s income from this source is virtually nil. Needless to say, District Council refused to make a grant towards the Children’s Ward, proving that they can be /just as “tough” as their friends in Victoria. Ernie Crist North Vancouver SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS for the mailman were left on this mailbox on Bellevue Strect in West Vancouver. (Terry Peters photo) Twin Towers THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE This building for adults aged 55 years or over is filling rapidly There are now only bachelor suites available Come by soon and see the tenants’ tacilities. tearoom, social room, pool room, crafts room, library (1000 books) The tenant committee has organized daily teas, regular bingo games, bridge, cribbage and craft nichts, as well as a newsletter, dances, socials and group outings Open for viewing at 172 € 2nd Street, North Vancouver, Tuesday to Saturday 10'am to 5 pm Sunday 12 noonto 3p.m Office phone 988-0611. -~L cheque for $20.00. the sum of Iam voluntarily sending in a subscription for one year. I feel you should’ be com- mended on the super job done during the time of the Pacific Press strike. Your paper certainly filled our needs and it would be hoped that the firms advertising in continue to support you. We have found that with your paper and the T.V. news we can do very well without the Sun or the Province. Many thanks. (Mrs.) Evelyn Donovan North Vancouver At least she’s free! Dear Editor: As a long time reader of the North Shore News, I am constantly appalled by the semi-nude pictorial displays of your Girl of the Week pictures. It seems a decent Christian cannot find a family newspaper any more without being deluged by oversized, overexposed bosoms and buttocks. If it weren't for the fact the paper comes free, I would cancel my subscription; J. Caplette North Vancouver ago Retailers: expand your shop window! 133.232 people on the North Shore could see thia message it could be your ad Call display advertising 980-0511 THE SUMMER HEAD START PROGRAMME. ANY SUBJECT. ANY GRADE. Our qualified teachers will help your child strengthen language skills, English composition or basic mathematics. 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