During my penultimate hike without dog temporarily [I’d thought our followup visit with the vet was tomorrow, but it’s Tuesday], I got to thinking about the dispersion of critters around the globe—in particular birds. An not, of course, for the first time.

Here along the Wasatch Range, the birds I see daily nearly always include a few so-called “invasives.” Today, for instance, there were four: California Quail (brought here from California), Eurasian Collared Dove (a fast-growing population from overseas), European Starling (released to Central Park in 1890), and Rock Pigeon (settled here about the same time as the Pilgrims).

Invasives have an effect on native ecosystems when they arrive at a new place, of course. But it’s not the birds’ (or mammals’ or insects’ or plants’, etc.) fault that they found themselves having to make do in some strange locale. It’s the fault of Homo sapiens—who somehow tend to blame the newcomers.

Rather than “invasives,” maybe then need a less judgmental name. Say “immigrants”—which is basically what they are.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
3. California Quail (v)
4. Black-billed Magpie*
5. House Finch*
6. Dark-eyed Junco**
7. Canyon Wren (v)
8. Downy Woodpecker (v)

Elsewhere
9. Eurasian Collared Dove
10. European Starling
11. Song Sparrow
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
13. Lesser Goldfinch
14. Rock Pigeon

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere