This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Chicken Feed For Crows?
Corvid Cleaning has advocated a novel approach for removing cigarette butts from Swedish streets (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/01/swedish-crows-pick-up-cigarette-butts-litter). Circa 1 billion cigarette butts are dropped around Sweden each year. These account for 62% of all litter on Swedish streets. The costs of street cleaning are very substantial. For example, the town of Sodertalje near Stockholm spends around £1.6m per annum. The Corvid Cleaning owner intends to train crows in Sodertalje to pick up cigarette butts. When a crow returns with a butt, it will receive a small food reward. Corvid Cleaning estimate that this will reduce the costs of removing cigarette butts by at least 75%. A number of questions remain. Firstly, how will they ensure the crows do not become poisoned by the toxic materials in the butts? Secondly, is there not a danger of some smokers deliberately throwing down their butts, to watch the crows retrieve them? Thirdly, what's to stop these intelligent birds 'fishing' butts out of waste baskets to boost their rewards? Fourthly, will nearby bird feeders disincentivise the work force?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Too Greedy To Change Course?
George Monbiot suggests an 'all-seeing eye' (a god?), looking at the Earth, might be intrigued to spot 'A species that knows it...
-
Garden plants in France, The Netherlands, The UK and Sikkim (NE India).
-
Common toadflax ( Linaria vulgaris ) contains a moderately toxic glucoside.
-
The UK's Deputy Prime Minister has been advising Brits on how to 'better prepare for future pandemics, disasters and cyber attacks&...
No comments:
Post a Comment