Comments on: This one's for the bird brains http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:00:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: KIm http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634884 KIm Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:18:13 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634884 "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone...paid paradise put up a parking lot "but we gotta save the birds. "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone...paid paradise put up a parking lot "but we gotta save the birds.

]]> By: Anita Roll http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634850 Anita Roll Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:05:49 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634850 How can everyone help with this problem. Do we need to set up habitats for the suffering species. I know with all the building going on many trees are brought down. I worked in Florida on a new subdivision and several species of large cranes kept wandering through the houses and making a lot of noise. They were not happy at all that their nesting grounds were gone. How can everyone help with this problem. Do we need to set up habitats for the suffering species. I know with all the building going on many trees are brought down. I worked in Florida on a new subdivision and several species of large cranes kept wandering through the houses and making a lot of noise. They were not happy at all that their nesting grounds were gone.

]]> By: ezlnwv http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634823 ezlnwv Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:01:27 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634823 I'm afraid that the Bush years will have an irreversible effect on our environment. Finally there is compassion in the White House. I'm afraid that the Bush years will have an irreversible effect on our environment.

Finally there is compassion in the White House.

]]> By: KatchProFILMS http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634728 KatchProFILMS Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:52:32 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634728 Native Americans consider birds our true brothers (to man) because they, "... share our religion". Native Americans consider birds our true brothers (to man) because they, "... share our religion".

]]> By: marcello http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634695 marcello Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:59:54 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634695 Very interesting article, like many others you write Thank you. Very interesting article, like many others you write
Thank you.

]]> By: Edward http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634684 Edward Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:21:29 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634684 Until humanity realizes that we are but ONE species on this planet and the vital importance of ALL life, we will continue to get ourselves, and the world into trouble. It is a pity that humans have developed the sheer arrogance to think we are the best and brightest. We're hardly that. We must respect all life on this world and come to live in peace and harmony. Until humanity realizes that we are but ONE species on this planet and the vital importance of ALL life, we will continue to get ourselves, and the world into trouble. It is a pity that humans have developed the sheer arrogance to think we are the best and brightest. We're hardly that. We must respect all life on this world and come to live in peace and harmony.

]]> By: John-Paul http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634672 John-Paul Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:51:51 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634672 Why must our reason to respect bird life depend on what birds can do for us? Why must information about birds' brains be valued primarily because it teaches us about our own brains? It seems people need some self-centered justification, such as human brain research, not to rip out the finest pages in the book of nature and erase them for all future generations of creatures, to borrow a phrase from Thoreau. Why must our reason to respect bird life depend on what birds can do for us? Why must information about birds' brains be valued primarily because it teaches us about our own brains? It seems people need some self-centered justification, such as human brain research, not to rip out the finest pages in the book of nature and erase them for all future generations of creatures, to borrow a phrase from Thoreau.

]]> By: Randy http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634656 Randy Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:50:59 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634656 We need to increase our emphasize of science education of as many people as possible, throughout the world and certainly in the U.S. It is common for a large percentage of Americans, especially those with a "Right-Wing" mentality to be clueless about concepts such as the ones which Anderson Cooper writes about in this article. How many times have we heard the uneducated say something like, "it is a waste of our money to be spending" [X dollars] "to study" [fill in the blank, some science concept]? Scientists are great and our country and our world would be much better off if instead of spending as much as the rest of the world COMBINED on military and being the world's bully, we took perhaps half of that and diverted it to science and infrastructure, low-cost housing, etc. We need to increase our emphasize of science education of as many people as possible, throughout the world and certainly in the U.S.
It is common for a large percentage of Americans, especially those with a "Right-Wing" mentality to be clueless about concepts such as the ones which Anderson Cooper writes about in this article.
How many times have we heard the uneducated say something like, "it is a waste of our money to be spending" [X dollars] "to study" [fill in the blank, some science concept]?
Scientists are great and our country and our world would be much better off if instead of spending as much as the rest of the world COMBINED on military and being the world's bully, we took perhaps half of that and diverted it to science and infrastructure, low-cost housing, etc.

]]> By: Maia http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634655 Maia Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:49:38 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634655 The root of most of our most serious problems is something that people don't talk about much, and when they do it's usually an attempt to rationalize rather than seriously explore solutions. The root cause is overpopulation and the philosophy of endless growth. Human overpopulation causes habitat loss; pollution; excessive energy use & concomittant release of greenhouse gases; economic strains and imbalances; and political & military conflict as populations vie for living space and resources. The bottom line is that the philosophy of endless growth is the philosophy of the cancer cell, and the virus. It is irrational. We must, through education and worldwide birth control programs, reduce the human population to a level that is sustainable and in balance with what the natural world can provide. If we do not do this deliberately and intelligently, nature will reduce our population for us, through population crashes due to disease, starvation, environmental degradation and war. Are we, indeed, the most intelligent species? We're clever tool users, but not all that bright in the greater scheme, perhaps. The root of most of our most serious problems is something that people don't talk about much, and when they do it's usually an attempt to rationalize rather than seriously explore solutions. The root cause is overpopulation and the philosophy of endless growth. Human overpopulation causes habitat loss; pollution; excessive energy use & concomittant release of greenhouse gases; economic strains and imbalances; and political & military conflict as populations vie for living space and resources.

The bottom line is that the philosophy of endless growth is the philosophy of the cancer cell, and the virus. It is irrational. We must, through education and worldwide birth control programs, reduce the human population to a level that is sustainable and in balance with what the natural world can provide. If we do not do this deliberately and intelligently, nature will reduce our population for us, through population crashes due to disease, starvation, environmental degradation and war.

Are we, indeed, the most intelligent species? We're clever tool users, but not all that bright in the greater scheme, perhaps.

]]> By: Mary http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634654 Mary Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:45:06 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634654 Thank you for bringing awareness to the issue of species extinction due to habitat loss, and its potential devastating effects for humans. Unfortunately, I don't believe that humans are smart enough to appreciate this and will eventually destroy themselves as a species by destroying the world around them. Thank you for bringing awareness to the issue of species extinction due to habitat loss, and its potential devastating effects for humans. Unfortunately, I don't believe that humans are smart enough to appreciate this and will eventually destroy themselves as a species by destroying the world around them.

]]> By: Marty Auer http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634653 Marty Auer Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:43:49 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634653 Anderson: thanks for your 'bird blog'. I mourn civilization's headlong rush to grow in ways that push all other life off of the planet. While, at the same time reveling in automobile ads that tout the glories of nature and the benefits of wide open spaces. My wife and I are faculty at Michigan Tech University, seeking to instill the ethic so nicely stated in your blog in the souls of the next generation. Our son is a soon-to-be M.S. graduate of Penn State, who is 'on the ground' in the bird and habitat loss battle. We all appreciate your well presented perspective on this issue. I'll be getting AC360's contribution into the classroom at the first opportunity. Anderson: thanks for your 'bird blog'. I mourn civilization's headlong rush to grow in ways that push all other life off of the planet. While, at the same time reveling in automobile ads that tout the glories of nature and the benefits of wide open spaces. My wife and I are faculty at Michigan Tech University, seeking to instill the ethic so nicely stated in your blog in the souls of the next generation. Our son is a soon-to-be M.S. graduate of Penn State, who is 'on the ground' in the bird and habitat loss battle. We all appreciate your well presented perspective on this issue. I'll be getting AC360's contribution into the classroom at the first opportunity.

]]> By: Henry Miller, Cary, NC http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634642 Henry Miller, Cary, NC Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:56:10 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634642 "The great sparrow massacre" is a fabulous example of the way governments work in general--ignorant people doing stupid things and creating catastrophes, usually followed by wild over-compensation by equally ignorant people doing even dumber things creating even greater catastrophes. The size of the catastrophes is directly proportional to the size of government. If Mao had been mayor of small town, only that town would have had an ecological meltdown. The current financial crisis was caused by government, in the 90s, decreeing that there would be, by law, no such thing as as a mortgage loan to risky to be made. Economic idiocy on a par with Mao's ecological idiocy but with a far greater ensuing catastrophe. Just keep that in mind when you consider giving any government more power--the power to govern is the power to destroy. "The great sparrow massacre" is a fabulous example of the way governments work in general–ignorant people doing stupid things and creating catastrophes, usually followed by wild over-compensation by equally ignorant people doing even dumber things creating even greater catastrophes.

The size of the catastrophes is directly proportional to the size of government. If Mao had been mayor of small town, only that town would have had an ecological meltdown.

The current financial crisis was caused by government, in the 90s, decreeing that there would be, by law, no such thing as as a mortgage loan to risky to be made. Economic idiocy on a par with Mao's ecological idiocy but with a far greater ensuing catastrophe. Just keep that in mind when you consider giving any government more power–the power to govern is the power to destroy.

]]> By: profart http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634641 profart Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:49:57 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634641 Around here, people think nothing of cutting down trees, en masse. They buy wooded lots, then promptly clear them. They buy homes and store with centuries-old oak trees, and hack them down. Nothing wrong with the trees- just in their way, or they fear a dropped branch or a windstorm (they get cheaper insurance rates if the tree is gone). Then people wonder where the birds have gone. Why the summers seem drier and we have more local drought (fewer trees means less water locked into the local ecosystem). Why the air is poor quality (did you know trees generate oxygen???) Ah, progress. I'm not against progress. I just think the way people think about and design stores, homes, and property these days is all for the quick buck, instead of long-term profit and quality of life. Around here, people think nothing of cutting down trees, en masse. They buy wooded lots, then promptly clear them. They buy homes and store with centuries-old oak trees, and hack them down. Nothing wrong with the trees- just in their way, or they fear a dropped branch or a windstorm (they get cheaper insurance rates if the tree is gone).

Then people wonder where the birds have gone. Why the summers seem drier and we have more local drought (fewer trees means less water locked into the local ecosystem). Why the air is poor quality (did you know trees generate oxygen???)

Ah, progress. I'm not against progress. I just think the way people think about and design stores, homes, and property these days is all for the quick buck, instead of long-term profit and quality of life.

]]> By: Sue http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634541 Sue Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:34:39 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634541 I wonder if your bird experts that gave you the info on this article can tell us what we can do to help birds prosper. I have a bird feeder that I keep full all year long. I live in Massachusetts so I make sure to keep it full in winter since so many birds stick around. Am I doing the right thing or does that keep them around to die of exposure in the snow and cold. I feel since they are around I have to feed them to help them but I have often wondered if that if I didn't they would go south with the other birds, and I wonder where do they go to keep warm in the cold New England storms??? A story on one of your shows on birds and how to help them prosper what we can do in our neighborhoods would be great for I love the sound of birds chirping waking me up in the morning and I have noticed the variety of species of brids coming around gets less and less every year despite my having plants and berries they like and sunflower seeds and other bird food in feeders and those bird food bells. I even put those man made nests high in trees to help them out... what else can we do to help birds prosper? I wonder if your bird experts that gave you the info on this article can tell us what we can do to help birds prosper. I have a bird feeder that I keep full all year long. I live in Massachusetts so I make sure to keep it full in winter since so many birds stick around. Am I doing the right thing or does that keep them around to die of exposure in the snow and cold. I feel since they are around I have to feed them to help them but I have often wondered if that if I didn't they would go south with the other birds, and I wonder where do they go to keep warm in the cold New England storms??? A story on one of your shows on birds and how to help them prosper what we can do in our neighborhoods would be great for I love the sound of birds chirping waking me up in the morning and I have noticed the variety of species of brids coming around gets less and less every year despite my having plants and berries they like and sunflower seeds and other bird food in feeders and those bird food bells. I even put those man made nests high in trees to help them out... what else can we do to help birds prosper?

]]> By: Levenah http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634500 Levenah Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:00:53 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634500 It is absolutely crucial that we protect these endangered birds. It's amazing that even the smallest creatures could hold the answers to some of the most serious medical questions out there. We also don't know what the long term effect of loosing all these animals could be on the eco-system once they are gone. If we loose many, we could see serious changes in the climate system! It is absolutely crucial that we protect these endangered birds.
It's amazing that even the smallest creatures could hold the answers to some of the most serious medical questions out there. We also don't know what the long term effect of loosing all these animals could be on the eco-system once they are gone. If we loose many, we could see serious changes in the climate system!

]]> By: Melanie http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634472 Melanie Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:19:59 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634472 One more reason we are well rid of the anti-conservation Bush. One more reason to be glad Obama is there as his GREEN attitudes may be able to save many species from extinction. One more reason we are well rid of the anti-conservation Bush. One more reason to be glad Obama is there as his GREEN attitudes may be able to save many species from extinction.

]]> By: Lawrence http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-634465 Lawrence Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:16:23 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-634465 My friend Chicken Little came by the house today. Guess what he said? "The sky is falling!!!!" Then we both forgot what we were talking about and went bowling with some Special Olympics kids. They kicked our bird butts! My friend Chicken Little came by the house today. Guess what he said? "The sky is falling!!!!" Then we both forgot what we were talking about and went bowling with some Special Olympics kids. They kicked our bird butts!

]]> By: Karen http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-633813 Karen Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:56:16 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-633813 I feel like my neural cells are malfunctioning! Say what??? I feel like my neural cells are malfunctioning! Say what???

]]> By: Maria http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-633769 Maria Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:08:22 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-633769 Happy evening Anderson, Can birds old memories deleted without local surgery, for example remote sensing? This help to define the exact malfunctioning neural cells. Happy evening Anderson,

Can birds old memories deleted without local surgery, for example remote sensing?
This help to define the exact malfunctioning neural cells.

]]> By: Annie Kate http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/20/this-ones-for-the-bird-brains/comment-page-1/#comment-633758 Annie Kate Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:55:17 +0000 http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/?p=31790#comment-633758 Its astounding to think that study a small bird like the sparrow or chickadee could lead to advances in Alzheimer's and new leads on repairing damage from strokes and head injuries. It makes you wonder how much else is out there in endangered status that could potentially hold the key to a cure for other human maladies. Just goes to show that we and the rest of nature are highly inter-related; what effects the other species can have a direct or indirect impact on us - hope that in knowing this we will work harder to save our endangered species. Its astounding to think that study a small bird like the sparrow or chickadee could lead to advances in Alzheimer's and new leads on repairing damage from strokes and head injuries. It makes you wonder how much else is out there in endangered status that could potentially hold the key to a cure for other human maladies. Just goes to show that we and the rest of nature are highly inter-related; what effects the other species can have a direct or indirect impact on us – hope that in knowing this we will work harder to save our endangered species.

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