I wouldn't say hate, but I shoot them on sight, both on my property and the farms where I do pest control. They compete with native birds for nesting sights and food. On the farms, well, if you've ever seen a barn where a couple hundred of them have taken up residence it can be quite messy. They also eat grain intended for livestock and they poop on literally everything. At my residence they chase away the native song birds we greatly enjoy watching. Coincidentally, we spend over $1500 a year on the birds.
I have been a bird watcher since I was a little fellow. My grandmother introduced me to the hobby as a very young child, and I can identify many species that frequent my area, by flight characteristics alone. I love birds, but not all birds, and this subject is at the heart of the very reason I got back into airguns.
Since I have reimplemented the shoot on sight policy for English Sparrow and Starlings, I have seen a great increase in the amount and diversity of or native species. We live in Western PA. We are now seeing species like the White Throated Sparrow, Baltimore Orioles,, Cedar Waxwing, Rose Breasted grosbeak, and have even had Scarlet Tanangers visit the property, although they don't use the feeders.
But yes they beneficial if your a bird manure producer or you can't stand the sight of a dropped french fry in the parking lot at the local fast food joint.....Lol.
