dog

Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, is a 585-acre area of forests, bike trails, and a lake.

One would think that all would be peaceful in this scenic space.

Well, one would be wrong, since we are talking about Brooklyn.

Via NY Times: In Prospect Park, Dog Owners and Bird Watchers Fight for Space

….Prospect Park’s 585 acres have always been a marvel of urban ecology, a delicate balance not just of flora and fauna, but also of children, joggers, mountain bikers, weekend racers, Frisbee players, sunbathers, and, of course, dog owners and bird watchers.

But this time of year, between the throngs trying to glimpse the prothonotary warblers, the yellow-bellied flycatchers and other migrants making their way up the coast, and the Brooklynites trying to give their corgis and springer spaniels a few moments of freedom and fresh air, it has been difficult to find a middle ground.

The conflict, at its root, is about basic animal nature: Dogs distress birds and can trample the delicate underbrush where birds feed and nest. Bird watchers say they have been answered with exclamations of “Nazi!,” “creep!,” R-rated curses and, occasionally, “I’m going to kill you,” when asking dog owners to respect the laws, which permit untethered animals in three meadows only after 9 p.m. and before 9 a.m….

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Well, since I do not live in Brooklyn, I do not own a dog, nor do I do “birdwatching,” I am gonna weigh in here:

I have two words for the birdwatchers:

Central Park!

Yep, pack up your binoculars and take the subway to Manhattan’s Central Park.

It’s much nicer than Prospect Park, and you will see all sorts of interesting creatures.

Some of whom will be birds.

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3 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. mdannyg says:

    I’m not a birdwatcher, but someone who does not feel comfortable around loose dogs (especially ones I don’t know). I find it amazing that people not only break the laws, but also harass others who object.

  2. Kitten says:

    Hey, it’s a jungle out there. Only the strong survive. Like any species, there are jerk doggies, who chase after the birds to do harm, and there are jerk birdies who would poop on you if they had better aim.

    Just last week I watched my little Gigi in the backyard from the kitchen window. She was chasing after a little bird that was trying to fly away, but could only get as high as 3 feet off the ground. I ran out to stop her from hurting the bird, but could see she was only curious, not trying to harm it. By the time I reached the deck, there were 2 other birds squawking and flying low to the ground in order to distract Gigi away from the baby bird. Guess what, it worked. The baby bird was able to get through the wooden fence to the other side, to safety. I knew what the birds were doing, and it was amazing to watch. So yeah, Gigi went running off to chase the other birds up into the tree, barking her disapproval at them for invading her yard and making all that noise, while the baby bird got to safety. Nature has a way of taking care of its own.

  3. Cathode Rays says:

    The people with dogs are breaking the rules and don’t have a leg to stand on.

    Exacerbating this is a sense of entitlement to break the rules and I’m sure they view the birdwatchers as an effete group not deserving of respect.

    Either change the rules or enforce them. Dog park or birds.

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