Investigative Case - "European Starlings and Woopeckers"

Despite protests from environmental groups, the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife has decided to go ahead with the sale of riparian woodland acres in Pratt County. Wichita developer, Sam Morrison, hopes that the transaction will end a fifteen month long legal battle between the state and environmental groups over the Arkansas River site. The development, to be known as "River View", will be subdivided into two and three acre lots with water access. Previously the land was part of the state owned Cottonwood Wildlife Refuge, known for its biodiversity of birds and one of the last virgin stands of timber in the county. Sewer lines and road construction will begin next month. Says Morrison, "We have no intention of cutting down all the trees however the woodland will be fragmented". The gallery forest has been a favorite spot for local birders and an outdoor classroom for area schools.

Audubon chapter president Dorothy Waugh reports that various woodpecker species are unusually scarce or absent this summer. This conclusion is based on reports by club members who have monitored the species diversity in the area through the spring and summer. Attention has focused on the continued development of the River View housing area started in 1997. Says Waugh, "When the River View riparian zone was a refuge it provided a niche for healthy numbers of woodpeckers typical for that climax habitat. Downy, Hairy, and Red-headed Woodpeckers were always well represented. We would even find a few of the rare Lewis' Woodpecker's nesting in old snags". Weekly counts since early May have documented only three pairs of Downy Woodpeckers and none others. However species of other birds have remained at carrying capacity with the non-endemic European Starling increasing.

Local feedlot owners have noted a sharp increase in numbers of blackbirds among their cattle pens. While blackbird flocks are a common occurrence within feedlots due to the availability of feed, the large late summer increase has caught managers off guard. Says Ray Crockett of Poky Feeders; "In the past we just put up with them and accepted the grain loss but this year we'll have to do something different. Killing them all would be the quickest solution, but I don't know if these birds are protected by federal law. They just ignore the plastic owls and air guns that have worked in the past." Crockett estimates there are over 10,000 birds scattered over the feedlot at any one time and most are starlings.