Hi Edwin,
I totally agree that a petition is a great idea. Is anything being done
regarding apprehension and charging of the individuals who are responsible for
these vicious acts? I suppose that as with other acts of cruelty towards
animals, the offenders will get off with a warning or, if they get a “hanging
judge” perhaps 2 weeks of community service…
Darrell
Dr Darrell
A Price, FRACP
Consultant
Paediatric & Adolescent Physician
Suite 8,
Level 4, Pacific Private Clinic
123
Nerang Street
Southport,
Qld 4215
Australia
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-----Original
Message-----
From:
[On
Behalf Of Edwin Vella
Sent: Tuesday, 20 January 2004
2:44 AM
To:
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Little Tern
Protection
I must
congratulate Jill Denning, Terrill Nordstrom and other birdos regarding
their suggestions for ways to save the Little Terns and
nesting shorebirds. Certainly the more presence of birders around the Little
Tern nesting areas will help even if for a few hours at a time. I for
one have spent a number of hours (not just for a couple of hours)
during the past months around these Little Tern nesting areas. Though spending
a lot of time looking at both shorebirds and terns at the nearby sandspits
or the shearwater wizzing past the beach, I've also got my eyes on the
lookout for anyone causing potential trouble to these poor birds and other
shorebirds that nest there (so far I have not witnessed any trouble as yet but
have come across people stopping to read the Little Tern nesting area signs and
walk away). I also plan to spend more hours in future over the next few
weeks around these areas. If I lived close to the coast, I would be even
spending more time. I believe that fellow birdos like Darryl McKay have
done a tremendous job in devoting a lot of their time in attending these
breeding colonies and are doing a very important job for Australia
(Vote Darryl McKay for Australian of the Year!!!). However, we may also
need our presence at these sites at night, when few people are about on the
beach and at a time when such vandalism toTern and shorebird
breeding colonies could happen.
Maybe
we also need some secret surveillance cameras around the colonies? and
have warning signs around these nesting areas stating that they
are under 24 hours surveillance, 7 days a week and to report any offenders
to.....
I am
also in the process of writing a letter to the government in the meantime in
relation to this matter. Maybe we should even get a petition going addressed to
the government to lobby for more funds towards Beach nesting Bird protection?
Edwin
Vella
