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I've listen to the over population thing for more than 30 years. However as more and more Walmarts are built and people keep trying to outrun suburban malls these confrontations will happen. Here in Syracuse, NY there is one Rite Aid on one corner and the old vacant one right across the street. As long as we the citizens keep letting our politicians, county and town leaders give permits and variances to big corporations, which by the way are funded by our 401k's, people will keep moving further and further into the rural areas in an effort to find peace and quiet. If only we could get big corporations to "restore" the area they decimated back to the woodlands it once was. How many people do you know who when purchasing their home said "I'd like one next to the Great Northern Mall? Finally since I hate people who only point out the problem w/o offering a solution here's what I propose. The next time your city, town, village, county proposes a zone change from rural to residential or corporate speak up collectively and tell them no. Try to establish a trust of some sort to keep woodlands and agricultural areas as they are and not let them become filled w/ Walmarts and Target stores. Force them to reclaim the vacant Rite Aids of the world. I think you get the idea.
Good for you. Thank you for those great examples of what people can do if they want to help stem the tide of habitat loss and consequent human/wildlife interactions of the negative kind. One simple thing is to join or volunteer for a local land preservation nonprofit. Myself, these days I run an environmental nonprofit that educates and advocates for sound planning and for land preservation and have previously worked many years in the legislature, governor's office and state and federal departments focusing largely on same (we've made great progress on some things but there's a long way to go). Hence, my pitch to get involved when development proposals are put forth. We can make a difference and we can stop some of this development. Usually when a community does the math, they will come to find out that they will save a tremendous amount of money by letting the land stay in its natural state. Development almost always raises property taxes, and brings with it the wildlife problems the OP is experiencing, along with countless other expensive troubles such as water contamination and traffic. Presented with the "math", i.e., presented with the facts re: the tax increases that most often will result, nowadays communities sometimes opt not to develop and to preserve the land instead. Will development stop? No. But it can be a lot more sensible and scaled back than it has been if folks demand it. Can't tell you how many planning board and town council meetings I've been to where these decisions are being made and almost no one is in the audience.
Anyway OP, to steer back to your situation now, I really hope Mr. or Ms. Bear will find someplace else to 'play' and that you and your birds stay safe. Be well.
JJ
