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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 19:42:03 11/08/07
In Reply to: rock................. posted by kurt d.
The reason why there are so few Smooth-billed Anis is that there is hardly any habitat left. Anis like overgrown weedy lots and fields, no one likes to have a messy field next to their house. Most cities have laws to keep messy fields mowed which is bad for Anis. If you go anywhere in the West Indies, Smooth-billed Anis are very abundant because there are weedy fields and lots everywhere.
There are likely more reasons why the Ani numbers have gone down, being preyed upon by raptors could be part of it. If we had enough habitat for the Anis, then there would be more of them. If a hawk took a few here and there it would not matter that much, because they could loose a few. Pesticides may play another role in the loss of birds, only a detailed study could find that out.
Smooth-billed Anis may be listed as endangered soon, I believe that an agency is working on it.
Larry Manfredi
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