Power company evicts birds from power line nests

On April 28, 2008, Alison Evans-Fragale wrote:

This is just another iteration of attempts to thwart breeding and to kill off the population.

Of course UI knows that the breeding cycle starts when the hours of daylight are approximately 12.

There will likely be eggs in the nest, so what does UI have in mind to do with the eggs they find? Throw them to the ground?

Before Edgewater Parrots became involved in the rescue of Edgewater’s wild parrots, PSE&G would remove nests at the end of April to the beginning of May. I have some pictures of an embryo in an egg that broke open when it was thrown to the ground during the first week of May a few years ago.

See: http://www.edgewaterparrots.com/nest-teardowns.html

This is cruel and inhumane and could have been prevented by better planning and consultation with wild parrot experts in Connecticut. Then again, I have never known UI to behave in a responsible or humane fashion.

Alison Evans-Fragale RN, MSN, CFNP, CLNC
www.edgewaterparrots.com

On April 28, 2008, Jon McKinney wrote:

I never thought that I would be posting a comment on this topic.. But I have a little story to tell you.
At one point in my life, not too long ago, I was in a place of despair, a place that I was never really equipped to handle. I was in coming out of a relationship, I felt abandoned, I in fact had a trust issue that to this day I still battle with.

One day traveling thru an airport, I met this woman, and life just started to sing, it whispered in my ear and was singing to me.. It’s a beautiful world out here, come join us.

I lived in LA, she lived in NY.. Finally she came out to visit me, and a strange thing happened. That year I moved into a new house, with this tree in the back yard, not in bloom when I moved in, but started the very day that she came to visit me..the next morning, we woke to these sounds of chirping, whistling, singing… beautiful, amazing in that they woke us at the same time, and that we both had never seen what we were about to look at before. In the middle of a city, 30-40 parakeets bombarded this tree filled and lit up with these little red blossems, they started drinking and singing together, just being wild birds.
At that momemt something surreal passed between her and I, we found a look in each other eyes that we had not had before..Connection..to what the world has in the palm of its hands, standing right there before us, always..

Everytime she came to visit, we woke up to the sounds of singing, drinking coffee, the windows open and her and I in utter silence..

I fell in love with Nicola, and soon after that moved to NY to be closer to her.

Those birds, the anticipation that we felt every morning, was and is one of the most beautiful memories that we have ever had.

It would be a tragedy if somewhere in this world, someone was not able to experience what we did… even if it was for a brief second…

The only thing more beautiful than those parakeets, was the look in her eyes when she watched them them come and go…What a smile she…true beauty.

Jon McKinney

On April 28, 2008, Alison Evans-Fragale RN, MSN, CFNP, CLNC wrote:

In this story, Carbone says the breeding cycle is from May through September, but when he was interviewed by the New Haven Independent here:

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/08/uis_birdseye_vi.php

he stated, “We’ve learned that during the breeding season, which is about APRIL to September to leave the nests alone”.

He is not a man of his word is he?

In the same article, he tried to deny that UI had anything to do with the gassing of the parrots. He stated,”We didn’t ‘gas’ them, as some people said, among the hundreds of crazy emails and calls we received. Our role was to work with USDA and DEP and hand them to the bird experts there. True, they were taken to Massachusetts and then beyond, maybe to Florida, and euthanized. But that had nothing to do with UI.”

UI murdered all of the parrots, and now they are trying to deny their involvement, stooping so low as to lie to the public and blame others for their evil deeds.

Stop killing the parrots, UI.

On April 29, 2008, LBJ wrote:

CARBONE and the rest of them and you know who you are are cruel mean men. Heartless people! They could have done this earlier or prevented the nest building to begin with. But NO lets wait till there are eggs and babies in there and then they can kill them. Thats how “sick people” think. UI and the rest of them belong you know where. Thankfully I do not know these people nor would I want them as friends or anything else. Gutless men and have no feelings at all……Yuch!!

On April 29, 2008, Donna Dwyer wrote:

United Illuminating is well aware that the breeding season has begun and that removing nests now will be destroying the eggs and KILLING the embryos. Spokesman, Al Carbone has said publicly in prior interviews that the season starts in April. His statements can be read at
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/08/uis_birdseye_vi.php

I understand that nest maintenance needs to be performed. Nest removal twice a year for a colony this size is appropriate. However showing concern for the lives of these beautiful animals should be part of the picture. The utility company can maintain their equipment and the birds can be free to live. Nest removals need to be scheduled for before the breeding season begins and after it ends not while vulnerable eggs and chicks are in the nests. Those embryos and chicks cannot fly out and get away so they are thrown to the ground and killed.

UI has planned to commit this latest attack on the lives of these Innocent creatures just weeks before the lawsuit brought against them for capturing and killing 179 monk parakeets begins. In 2005 UI captured and the USDA killed nearly 200 living breathing birds and left hundreds homeless in the January 2006 freezing, snowy weather. Planning this removal after the breeding season has begun shows a blatant lack of concern for humane treatment of the birds and the public outcry created by the carnage in Nov.and Dec. 2005.

It is hardly too much to demand that utility companies perform mass nest removals at a time when no birds will be harmed. UI’s customers and all of the concerned residents of our state should demand nothing less.

Donna Dwyer

On April 29, 2008, Alison Evans-Fragale RN, MSN, CFNP, CLNC wrote:

Here’s some text you can use or adapt. Please send to the following addresses:

Al Carbone: albert.carbone@uinet.com
James P. Torgerson: James.torgerson@uinet.com

———————————————————————————————

This is to register my disapproval of United Illuminating’s Monk Parakeet nest removal campaign(during the birds’ breeding season). While I am not a CT resident, I reside in a town that has had a Monk population for over thirty years. The birds are not causing problems, enjoy official support from the town consistent with NJ law, and are accommodated by our utility company, PSE&G.

Additionally, the NJ Assembly has introduced a bill that, if enacted, will give Monks the same protection afforded native species.

Please do the humane thing and postpone nest removal until after the breeding season, as PSE&G does.


PSE&G consults with members of the community who are knowledgeable about wild Quaker Parrots who advise them when it is safe to perform nest tear downs. You should do the same thing to insure the safety and humane treatment of the wild Quakers.

Thank you for your consideration.

Name
Vicinity

On April 29, 2008, allison sloane wrote:

As a person/family that does parrot rescue this breaks my heart, what can we do?

On April 29, 2008, Alison Evans-Fragale RN, MSN, CFNP, CLNC wrote:

In an article found in the New Haven Independent newspaper, Al Carbone of United Illuminating stated, “Birds have issues”.

He complained about the crazy e-mails he had received following the cruel slaughter of over 200 Monk Parakeets ordained by him and his men.

He claimed that UI doesn’t touch the birds-EVER!

He said that UI didn’t gas the birds, but he did say that UI’s role was to work with USDA and DEP and hand the birds to the bird experts there and that they were taken to Massachusetts and then beyond, maybe to Florida, and euthanized. And, at the end of the day, he insists that the killing “had nothing to do with UI”.

He said the breeding season begins in April, and that is the ONLY thing he said that made any sense in the entire article.

The rest is sheer nonsense, with nonsense being a euphemism for a host of other words that actually came to mind, but I expect to put this on the Internet, so I will be polite.

And now for something completely different: Let’s see if we can get Mr. Carbone to tell the truth. Here are a few questions for the psittacine slaughterer himself.

How can you say, “We have nothing against the birds”? You killed over two hundred of them already and will be committing infanticide this week when you toss babies and embryos to the ground. What do you to creatures you do have something against?

Where is/was the 150 pound nest on a transformer you refer to?

When and where did outages occur because of Monk Parakeet nests?

When and where did you try “all kinds of things” to deter the birds from nesting in the poles? Where is the proof that would be your research?

Have you, or anyone that works with or for UI, taken training from anyone on how to handle or control Monk Parakeet populations?

Really, Mr. Carbone-head, it appears you are the one with the issues. Sigmund Freud labeled it “projection”.

What was your relationship like with your mother?

On April 29, 2008, Denise McGowan-Guida wrote:

Dear Mr. Carbone,

I’m very disturbed by your disregard in the matter of nest removal for the Quaker Parrots. I’ve reviewed your comments from various sources and am quite dismayed by your position regarding this wildlife issue. Let me say that describing the correspondence you received as “crazy” is not only insulting to the many upstanding citizens who just happen to really care about wildlife but it makes you look very foolish.

If this nest removal is absolutely necessary to the operation of UI, then remove the nests in a humane way and at the right time of year..not now in their breeding season. There are many knowledgeable people who are willing to help you find a decent and humane solution to this problem.

There is no need to gas these poor birds or tear down their nests during breeding season under any circumstances. This seems like a typical example of shifting blame when it suits you and an unwillingness to accept responsibility for your own actions in this matter. Sure, push off the blame on the USDA or the DEP. That’s the easy way out and a copout as far as I’m concerned.

Would it not be, at the very least, a decent and ethical thing to do to handle this situation in a way that will help your company and this beautiful wildlife at the same time? The option is there and everyone wins. At a time in our history when the environment is so at risk, please take the time to listen to those who care about these birds. How many species can we obliterate from this beautiful planet, that we share by the way, before we totally destroy our ecosystems?

Please reconsider your position. Do not remove these nests now during the breeding season! Work with experts of this bird species who are so willing to show you a better way.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Denise McGowan-Guida

P.S. Now that wasn’t so “crazy” was it?

On April 29, 2008, JoAnn Davey wrote:

Mr. Carbone,

Is it arrogance — because of power —the old “because I can” or ignorance- lack of knowledge- that allows the killing of nature when it collides with man? We should have leaned by now with all the extinct species that man loses when nature loses.

It has long been stated that men that kill or maim animals also beat/molest women/children. Take a better look at yourself and the rest of those “with power” that have chosen to kill, those that have given the orders and those that have followed through with the orders because they are your neighbors/brothers/fathers. How can you look at yourself in the mirror?

The Lord made the earth giving man dominion over the animals…but I am sure He is saddened by how things are handled. We will all die … and whether we believe in Him or not- we will be judged by Him. I would not want what you have done/have allowed to happen “be on my record.”
….

It has been witnessed that you have the arrogance for what you do, why compliment that with ignorance? Invite those “in the know” to talk with you and others in the community. Come up with a humane and decent way to take plan for nest removals.

We have never disagreed that the nests need to be removed, What we find contemptible is how and when you do it.

The people of Ct. want to enjoy the company having the Quakers in their neighborhood brings them. Help those that want to make a difference come up with a humane plan to work together so no one has to have a guilty conscious.

Most sincerely,

Jo Davey
www.quakerville.com

Parrots in The City

On April 30, 2008, LBJ wrote:

Mr. Carbone and others LOOK AT YOURSELF as the person above states. Yes ,people who maim animals also beat/ molest woman/children. Guess you fit right in. Your love of maiming/killing/removing/ these innocent Parakeets is astounding! You and your cohorts are as heartless as they come. What goes around comes around, just remember that.

On May 1, 2008, LBJ wrote:

UI purposely waited for the eggs to be there and then smash them. How malicious of them…