It is almost impossible to picture the current New York City to be full of the incredible assortment of birds that previously existed here. The chapter talks about a particular anecdote about how one hunter could kill eighty ducks in a pond in one day, which just shows how abundant birds were in the city. This previous abundance makes the current lack of birds here even more shocking. With the exception of pigeons, on average, you very rarely see any bird life. Even out in Queens Village, where I like, different variety of birds are not often seen. What is strange to consider is that not all of these species of birds were hunted down. Not all died out or migrated because those that came to the new world hunted them. Many probably died out because of the simple fact that their habitats were destroyed.
This is particularly troubling because it means it is nearly impossible to restore bird life back to its previous state (or even a better state) here in New York City. As the author notes, “What has been destroyed can never be created again.” Considering this idea, you have to wonder what New York City can do to improve bird life or at the very least, protect the remaining birds that remain within the city. Hunting is obviously not a modern concern for bird life and even in the few locations around the city that has hunting areas, most people are not looking for birds to kill.
The problem with recreating the bird population and bird biodiversity within the city is the destruction of the previous natural habitats. One potential solution for that would be to recreate these habitats in different locations within Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs. These recreated habitats do not even have to be forest areas but simply green areas with open roofs. We previously talked about how falcons have found their new homes in the city by relocating to the top of skyscrapers. While this is not replicable for all birds, there are surely alternative habitats in the city that the remaining birds of New York can adapt to.
When it comes down to it, it is for the most part impossible to undo the destruction of New York City bird life. However, the consequences of these actions can serve as a warning to the future with regards to how humans interact with nature. It seemed that in the past, destroying the environment was not just about necessity but simple human pleasure and apathy. People did it simply because they could. While the decline of bird life in the city has not resulted in monumental consequences for humanity, even our continued destruction of nature will lead to severe problems for us.
