Opposition to the establishment of a rooster relocation park at the former Hawk Missile site here is coming from an unlikely source— the head of the local Audubon birders, Dr. Mark Whiteside.
Whiteside said the feral chickens compete with wild species for food, destroy the environment by digging and may transmit diseases. He said that a rooster and a hen have invaded his yard, adjacent to Little Hamaca Park and are feeding from the droppings from his bird feeders. His family is often awakened at 4 a.m. by the rooster crowing, he said.
Opponents to the relocation park want the chickens entirely enclosed in a pen or aviary. They also favor rounding up the "excess" birds and removing them permanently "to a farm on the mainland," Whiteside said.
Another concern voiced by opponents of the relocation site is that it would attract too many wild flying birds to the Salt Ponds area, which would conflict with the airport use.
The missile site had teen tentatively proposed by Assistant City Manager John Jones as a place where nuisance fowl could be relocated and held. A petition drive is underway, to enlist the support of City Commissioners.
Proponents, including former Wildlife Rescue director Becky Baron Arnold, had envisioned making the park an oasis not only for a permanent flock of traditional Key West gypsy chickens, but also as a valuable "flyways" stopover open to migrating birds of all kinds.
EDITOR'S NOTE: What's your opinion on this issue? Fax: 292-1882. E-mail (no attachments): office@kwtn.com. Mail: PO Box 567, KW 33041.