[Hey, You!] Breaking the Circle of Life

I was walking back to my car after eating lunch at Wahoo’s. You were the freakish blond woman with head-to-toe augmentation (fake breasts, bad nose job, oversized swollen lips, unnaturally tan skin, probably an eating disorder) who caught my attention by waving your arms around and saying, “Shoo! Shoo!” Not knowing what had just happened, I went over to see if you needed any help. What was the emergency? A hawk had just attacked a pigeon. It was just doing what it naturally does: hunt. The pigeon was a goner, bleeding pretty badly. And yet you took the side of the overpopulated, disgusting pigeon! That poor, majestic Cooper’s hawk. He sat up on the light pole waiting for you to leave. All he wanted was to eat what was rightfully his. I don’t know what was more of a spectacle: nature taking its course, or you, the crazy lady with a newfound cause in life. You actually wanted someone to get help from the Petsmart store in front of where the incident took place! I should have asked you if your plastic surgeon was close by; he could have given the pigeon a Botox injection to help put it out of its misery.

 

Matt Bors

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Send anonymous thanks, confessions or accusations—changing or deleting the names of the guilty and innocent—to “Hey, You!” c/o OC Weekly, 2975 Red Hill Ave., Ste. 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or e-mail us at letters@ocweekly.com.

 

 
  • Paul Laguette 03/06/2009 10:20:00 PM

    Please read the following report: Trichomoniasis in Cooper's hawks from Arizona. You�ll see doves are the catalyst to this problem Members of the family Columbidae are hosts for the sarcomastigophoran, Trichomonas gallinae, the causative agent of trichomoniasis. Birds of prey are susceptible to the disease when they ingest infected prey. Doves are a major dietary component of urban nesting Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) in Tucson, Arizona (USA). During the breeding seasons of 1995 and 1996, we clinically evaluated 89 breeding age and 223 nestling Cooper's hawks from urban and exurban (i.e., undeveloped natural area) areas for infection of T. gallinae. There was no difference in the rate of infection between breeding age Cooper's hawks in urban and exurban locations; only one bird tested positive for T. gallinae. However, prevalence of T. gallinae was significantly greater among urban nestlings (85%) than exurban nestlings (9%). There also was a difference between the prevalence in breeding age and nestling Cooper's hawks in urban areas, but not in exurban areas. Trichomonas gallinae was present in at least one nestling at 98% of urban nests tested (n = 51), but only 13% of exurban nests tested (n = 23). The patterns we found probably are caused by three factors; doves are hosts for the parasite, they are present in large numbers in Tucson, and they are the primary prey of urban Cooper's hawks at that locality. Written by CW Boal, RW Mannan, and KS Hudelson This report can by found at: http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/abstract/34/3/590 What is trichomoniasis? Go to: http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/sexual_health/sti/trich.htm

  • John 03/06/2009 10:12:00 PM

    Raptors are federally protected and are innocent victims of avian malaria and west nile virus and can�t be blamed for the spread of these or any avian viruses. You sound like a raptor hater. Harm a raptor and go to jail! Wild house sparrows, starlings and pigeons (all wild sub species) are non native and under the law are classified as agricultural pest. These non natives steal nest sites from native birds and are a nuisance. Raptors help eliminate these bird and other ground pest and should be held in the highest regard and NOT harassed by people despite their good intentions. Let the coopers hawk have it�s meal. How would that women feel if the hawk swooped down and stole her lunch? Everyone should spend time educating themselves about this circle of life. Learn about how nature really works so they are not offended by nature doing what nature does.

  • James 03/01/2009 4:04:00 AM

    Hey You! Breaking The Circle of Life, Missing-Out on Love. Your shallowness is all over this one Anonymous. My apologies to Matt Bors and any Editors if this was the best letter of last week. The Pigeon is actually Columbia livia, and also known by the common name Rock Dove...ahhh much nicer already. They're originally from the cliffs of England, so they love tall buildings. LAWEEKLY ran a story a few years back about abatement services for these non-native species of animals. Accipiter cooperii love to eat birds, and their populations are also on the rise. Since birds live outside they are all reservoirs for mosquito-spread viruses. Poor Hawk is sounding less majestic already. Homo sapiens sapiens seem to have the gift of sentient thought, love and care for esoteric ideals, and respect for all life regardless of outward appearances. Your Blonde Woman was expressing her love of life beyond the fundamentals of predation in the animal kingdom. Join our species some time and share some love. I promise it's not disgusting!

  • Friend of the Cats 02/27/2009 12:50:00 PM

    Wow, I had almost the same experience. A poor kitty kat had been run over, and this woman was crying and crying about the poor thing. So, I held her and comforted her as long as I could. I would have held her forever to comfort her, but unfortunately, I had only paid for an hour.

 

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