Hi Erica
It is dismal. At the risk of being political, below is part of an email
from the National Parks Association (a not for profit group, not associated
with the government National Parks) showing that at least there is some
opposition and that other groups care about the pink-eared ducks in NSW!
Chris
"In the last two years, the NSW government has made a series of alarming
environmental decisions that seriously threaten the future of our national
parks and wildlife. Many of these decisions are based on political deals
made with the Shooters and Fishers Party, rather than credible scientific
evidence.
Nothing illustrates this quite as clearly as the case of the Pink-eared
Duck<http://npansw.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=42506f0673a573cdc6034c9ec&id=6808d64a1c&e=30cd68c91f>.
This beautiful Australian bird has recently been added to the list of
native game species that can be legally hunted on private land in NSW.
According to the Legislation, ducks can only be shot for the purposes of
‘sustainable agricultural management’, primarily to protect rice crops.
However, the scientific literature indicates that the Pink-eared Duck is an
insect eater and doesn't consume rice or other crops. In reality the
Pink-eared Duck serves as a farmer’s friend, preying on insects that are
major rice pests. If left unharmed this unique little duck could even help
reduce pesticide use on these crops.
Based on the species feeding habits, the NPA provided evidence for a
recent private member’s Bill calling for Pink-eared Ducks to be removed
from the list of native game birds. However, despite clear scientific
evidence that the decision to cull this species is fatally flawed, the
government will not support the Bill, claiming that the Pink-eared Duck
associate with other waterfowl species that do harm crops. So for no other
reason than that they "hang out" with the wrong crowd the government has
made it legal to shoot this unique native species.
We use this example to highlight how bad recent environmental decisions
have been in NSW and why we fear for the future. If this was not ominous
enough a serious new threat is now emerging out of the recent inquiry into
the management of public lands, chaired by Shooters and Fishers MLC Robert
Brown, whose recommendations include opening national parks to logging, and
imposing a moratorium on the creation of new national parks.
With the help of our supporters, NPA has been driving a successful high
profile campaign against hunting in national parks that has helped delay
the start of the program. However, as you have just read hunting is no
longer the only major threat our parks and environment face and we need to
broaden our campaign to tackle these new, emerging dangers.
*Please make a donation and help us to protect our national parks **and
unique species, such as the Pink-eared Duck, for future generations to
enjoy."*
On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 11:17 PM, Erica Trinder <>wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was wondering what people think / feel / know about recreational shooting
> of NSW waterbirds?
>
> When I say recreational shooting, that's what it of course is. But it is
> being politically disguised under the "pest management" banner by the
> O'Farrell government. They're calling it a cull! Yet they have now added
> the pink-eared duck to the hit list. Despite the fact they are claiming
> they are doing this cull for the rice and grain farmers (claiming the birds
> eat their crops), yet the pink-eared duck eats insects, not grains.
>
> For more on the latest from the O'Farrell government giving in to every
> desire of the 2 Upper House NSW Shooters MP's, see:
>
> http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/duck-season-puts-ofarrell-in-crosshairs-20130621-2onxa.html
>
> I'm very interested in people's thoughts and comments on this topic.
>
> My interest in this is that I care deeply for all animals, and will fight
> to the death for them. I've been going down to Victoria for many years to
> protect and rescue our native water birds during the annual duck shooting
> season. However, the state of things in NSW is quite possibly a whole lot
> worse, as it takes place on private property all year round, where it can't
> be monitored. I've heard terrible stories of as many as 3000 birds being
> killed (I hate to think how many were not killed outright, but seriously
> wounded) in a single days shooting on a single property. But no one aside
> from the shooters and farmers really knows exactly what's going on...and
> they're certainly not telling. I'd appreciate the thoughts and knowledge of
> people in the bird loving community.
>
> --
> Erica Trinder
> CatRescue Coordinator
> (m) 0416 741 020
> (e)
> (w) www.catrescue.com.au
> (f) Like CatRescue NSW on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/CatRescueNSW>
> ===============================
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to:
>
> http://birding-aus.org
> ===============================
>
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
