In just over three weeks, on March 15, the Victorian recreational duck shooting
season will commence. Eight species of our beautiful native waterbirds will
again be the target of duck shooters, with dozens of other birds killed, either
as 'by-catch' or having been deliberately targeted.
Last year, from just a handful of wetlands, duck rescuers retrieved 110 wounded
birds, 394 dead protected species (including 107 Freckled Ducks) and 219 dead
game species. The following illustrates numbers of protected species shot -
regardless of the Waterfowl Identification Test, which has been mandatory since
1990.
In 2013, dead protected species included Eurasian Coot (223), Black Swan (25),
Red-necked Avocet (11), Blue-billed Duck (5) and 107 Freckled Ducks. Other
protected species shot were Black-tailed Native-hen, Black-winged Stilt,
Darter, Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Long-billed Corella.
Game species retrieved included 116 Pink-eared Ducks, 68 Grey Teal, 11 Wood
Ducks and 10 Australasian Shovelers.
The total of dead game and protected species was 613 - from just a fraction of
Victorian wetlands. In addition, research has shown that at least one in four
birds will be wounded on shooting wetlands. If you are interested in ending
this brutal activity and assisting with the rescue of wounded ducks on opening
weekend, you're invited to join the 2014 duck rescue team by reading the 2014
Information Form:
https://secure1.impactdata.com.au/utils/Pages/511/Duck_Rescue_Information.pdf.
You must also read the Indemnity Form:
https://secure1.impactdata.com.au/utils/Pages/511/Indemity_Form.pdf. This must
be signed at an Information Meeting or when you register upon arrival at the
caravan park on March 14.Then, please fill in and return the Registration Form:
https://secure1.impactdata.com.au/utils/Pages/511/Registration_2014.doc to
Lynn at (Contact Lynn if you have any problems.) It
is important that new rescuers attend an Information Meeting in the South
Melbourne Town Hall, 210 Bank Street, South Melbourne at 7 pm either ·
Wednesday 26 February,
· Thursday 6 March, or
· Tuesday 11 March. Phone Lynn on 0414 816 509 with any queries.
Watching our ducks shot out of the sky and witnessing their suffering is not
pretty. But I promise it will leave an indelible mark which will force every
birdwatcher - and every human being - to re-evaluate their priorities.
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