Red-masked conure — shot in Point Loma at Talbot Street and Gage Drive in Point Loma — succumbed to its injuries on February 24. Photo from San Diego Reader.
Mainstream Media Miss Total in Numbers Game of Deaths
The two dead parrots found Easter Sunday at a church in Point Loma bring the total of dead parrots found in the OB and Point Loma area since February 19th to 9. The 2 on Sunday, March 27th, were found at the All Souls’ Episcopal Church on Catalina Boulevard. A parrot expert stated that it’s rare to see two dead parrots in the same area – so human causes are highly suspected.
Somebody continues to kill these local parrots, some of which are endangered species, and so far, authorities have not publicly stated that they have any suspects.
In the meantime, our local mainstream media are seemingly avoiding publicizing the true total number of parrots that have been found dead since mid-February.
We perused the local media reporting of this OB and Point deaths of the latest deaths, two near-threatened red-masked conures, and found that the most useful articles were by Julie Stalmer for the San Diego Reader; also see Debi Baker at the SD Union-Tribune
Stalmer wrote:
While it’s too early to tell if these are the latest parrot sniper victims, according to Brooke Durham of SoCal Parrot, it’s rare to find two dead parrots at the same location without some sort of human involvement.
Necropsies are underway to determine if these latest 2 were killed by pellets or other causes. NBCSanDiego reported:
In the last month, seven parrots, identified as endangered Lilac Crowned Amazons and Red Masked Conures, have been found dead in neighborhoods in OB and Point Loma. Five of those were killed by BB’s and pellets fired from air guns.
But it’s worst than everyone is reporting.
We attended the OB Town Council meeting on March 23rd, where SoCal Parrot gave a presentation of the recent spate of parrot killings. At that meeting Brooke Durham stated that up to that point, the number of parrot deaths stood at 7.
Two plus seven is nine. This has been confirmed by Brooke Durham of SoCal Parrot. Can’t anyone add?
So why the numbers game? It’s probably because everybody is quoting San Diego County Animal Services Deputy Director Daniel E. DeSousa, who has downplayed the totals. At the OBTC meeting, Durham said that Animal Control didn’t want them to report on two others that had not been confirmed as killed by projectiles – something that SoCal Parrot contested.
Even Stalmer got it wrong by reporting that the latest were the 6th and 7th victims. Fox5 said 7. Ch10News implied seven. 7SanDiego also reported seven. And the U-T got it wrong.
At any rate, people are asked that if anyone finds an injured parrot, to leave them there and call the Department of Animal Services 24-hour hotline at 619-236-2341. There are a total of $6,500 being offered in rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the parrot hunter. PETA put up $5,000 and the OB Town Council offered another $500 for a total reward of $6,500.
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Brooke Durham of SoCal Parrot has just confirmed that there now 9 deaths. Also, she and her group are putting on a forum on wild parrots April 11th at OB Rec – .
Now getting national attention!
For the record, there were five confirmed shootings when I wrote the latest article. I mention in at least one of the three articles that I wrote that there were two additional parrots found dead but the bodies were too deteriorated to confirm the cause of death.
I’m with you though – considering the other confirmations, it’s hard not to connect the dots and claim the others as victims of the parrot sniper as well.
I worked closely with Durham on all three articles.
Julie – of all the media reports about the parrots yours was the most accurate and complete. Thank you.
Thanks. It’s probably because I really do care. It kills me that someone is doing this.