Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Bye, Bye Birdie
Yet another precious little place that makes New York special might shortly be at risk of disappearing.
The Hua Mei Bird Garden in Sara Roosevelt Park is a magical little sanctuary where older Chinese men bring their birdcages each morning so that their tiny melodious birds might sing amazing songs to each other. Many people stumble upon this place and can’t believe their eyes, and especially their ears.
On Thursday evening of November 8, at 184 Eldridge Street, the Sara Roosevelt Dog Owners Association will present a proposal to the Parks Committee of CB3 to establish a dog run very close to the bird garden. A similar proposal was made in 1996, but rejected by the community.
Given the natural enmity between dogs and birds, there is a concern that dog barking and other dog activity might scare the birds into silence. Then the bird garden would be no more. Bird owners have one view; dog owners another.
Perhaps the scientific community could help provide an answer. I wonder if the Parks Department and CB3 might consult with local ornithologists, for example, professors from Columbia University’s E3B department, to discuss the minimum preferable distance between the proposed dog run and the garden to help ensure the viability of the bird garden
RIMA FINZI-STRAUSS
New York, N.Y.
Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, by facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.
