Gathering Support for Blackbirds

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

We set up shop at the Milford Wildflower Festival on May 24 to gather signatures for our Letter to Hold Market Basket Accountable for Destroying Nesting Birds.

Not wanting baby birds to be run over is a bipartisan issue, and support for the blackbirds was overwhelming. Almost everyone agreed with the campaign, and we gathered more than 150 signatures in addition to those collected online.

Choose Coexistence

While the blackbirds were our focus, we also promoted our other wildlife protection programs at the festival:

  • Free No Hunting Signs
  • Grants for Living with Beavers
  • The Turtle Brigade
  • Let Go and Let Nature Be
It’s not every day we get a visitor with a parasol.

Did someone say paper mache?

In promoting our wildlife programs, we had help from some whimsical paper mache animals made of “found objects” (i.e., trash), including a red-wing blackbird named Harrison.

Thank you!

Thank you to the Wildflower Festival organizers for inviting us, and to everyone who stopped by to sign our letter!

Promoting safe mosquito control

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Campaigns

The world is losing nature at a remarkable pace, and New Hampshire is no exception. The crisis spares no creature — mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and even the tiniest invertebrates are disappearing.

Contributing to the loss of species is widespread pesticide use. Yet companies promising to rid your yard of mosquitos are popping up everywhere.

Seen a yard sign like The One Below?

Text the address to us at 781-281-8174‬.

We will mail a polite postcard from NH Animal Rights League explaining the dangers of mosquito spraying and offering the homeowner nature-friendly alternatives. Your name will not be mentioned!

What’s wrong with mosquito spraying?

Homeowners may be told that the mosquito treatment is “organic” or “natural,” but substances found in nature can still be toxic to bees, fireflies, dragonflies, butterflies, and many other insects. Often the active ingredient in “organic” mosquito treatments is pyrethins, a byproduct of the Chrysanthemum flower. This may sound harmless, but in high concentrations pyrethin is toxic and will kills insects on contact.
Bees are particularly sensitive to pyrethrin, with lethal doses as low as 0.02 micrograms. Because of this sensitivity and the decline in pollinators, applicators are advised to apply pyrethrins at night when bees are not active. (Note: Some mosquito control companies do offer a truly safe option, typically a garlic-based repellent; however, this approach is generally mentioned down the list and therefore probably less popular.)

Nature-friendly alternatives to spraying

Here are some simple, inexpensive options for dealing with mosquitos:
  • Remove standing water in your yard.
  • Turn on a fan.
  • Apply insect repellent or cover exposed skin.
  • Create mosquito-free spaces with mosquito curtains or an umbrella mosquito net.
  • Landscape to invite mosquito predators, such as bats, frogs, and dragonflies.
  • Make a DIY bucket mosquito trap (video below)

Southern-Style Vegan Banana Pudding Parfaits

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Recipes

Dessert or breakfast, you decide! Cashew cream, fresh bananas and cinnamon oats all come together to make this dish absolutely fantastic! Cashew cream is often considered better than milk for several reasons. It’s naturally creamy without the need for additives, it’s versatile in cooking and baking, it’s free from lactose and cholesterol and it doesn’t contribute to the needless suffering of dairy cows.

Southern Style Vegan Banana Pudding Parfaits

Rallying for Pigeons

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

On July 20, 2024, we hit the streets of Portsmouth for the first ever World Day for the Defense of Liminal Animals, doing our part to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and “liminal animals.”

Liminal animals, such as pigeons, rats, and squirrels, are integral to our urban lives, yet their rights are often disregarded. This year’s focus was pigeons.

We held signs, shared information, gave out pigeon stickers, and had conversations with passersby.

A Song About Pigeons!

An animal activist from the band No Planet B wrote a beautiful song about pigeons — The Animals Among Us (or Les Animaux Parmi Nous, since World Day for the Defense of Liminal Animals was created in France).

Poison, gassing, or other lethal methods should never be used to control pigeon populations.

There are ethical and effective ways to coexist, such as using birth control for pigeons!

Pigeon Quiz

We shared a quiz about pigeons.

Along with some “fun facts.”

Thank you!

Thank you to our volunteers, supporters, and everyone who stopped by to learn about peaceful coexistence with pigeons.