NaPM April 17, 2018

[dukealien]

Early birds


Ornithologists
charting the health of sparrows
in urban parks
noted differences to rural data
in hatchling survival rates,
attributed to fewer
lice infestations.

The city birds wove
cigarette butts with their
nicotine burden
a noted pesticide
into the walls of their nests.

Beautiful (and apt)!  One is moved to wonder if the starling explosion from Central Park in the late 19th century had aught to do with the prevalence of cigar butts in that time and place.  Though it's said they might have had to compete with (human) foragers seeking raw material for the lesser brands of stogie.