Tomorrow, 19 March 2011, marks the beginning of what could be the biggest massacre of the native duck populations on record. Victoria is one of the last states to allow this cruelty to our native wildlife. (written by the RSPCA in yesterday's Newspapers) If "you" want to help the ducks,email your opinion to :
! The ducks need your help!!
Maybe I should have mentioned, just in case someone doesn't know, what I'm talking about, it's the "Duck Shooting Season"
M-L
i already emailed ted ballieu araminta because i also think it is shocking allowing ducks to be shot and also their numbers will plummet further.
its horrible isn't it. trust policticians to do something like that.
Cheers, Owen.
Sadly, if we were to suggest a "politician slaughter" season, we would be dismissed as extremists!
:-/
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
@Soakes: man that's just too bad I was really looking forward to it.
Good on you Araminta for raising this. This is sick.
And this article rasises some pretty interesting stuff on this issue: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/duck-rescuer-hit-by-pellets-as-hunt-begins/story-e6frf7jx-1226024513661
Taz
What ducks do they shoot?
Is it only Pacific Black ducks? or do they shoot other things like Magpie geese and Musk ducks?
Either way it is still a terrible thing to be doing but I don't think Ted is going to listen to a 13 year old. I can always try.......
Morning all,thank you Tazrandus, for the link to the Heraldsun's article! I hope everyboby is going to read it. I'm appalled by the majority of people voting for duck shooting? QLDBird, they shoot at anything that moves, and look at the birds later. I applaud the young people for caring, and I think especially young people like you can make a difference! Thanks for caring!!
M-L
I don't know what their rules are QLDBird, but my memories from NZ are that when there is a gun in their hands they get a bit indiscriminate and trigger happy. The breeding season info makes you wonder about it all doesn't it Taz.
Oh and obviously it is a waste of time doing anything to help unless something can be eaten.......
Sunshine Coast Queensland
So right Araminta....anything that moves.... I have known of people back in NZ to take out native Wood pigeons (Kereru) because they were within firing distance. Unfortunately to rural people this will always be like a kind of "right of passage" and the two sides will always clash.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I have been googling!
http://www.sheppnews.com.au/aapArticle.aspx?aapID=16176
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Im appalled to hear that the shoot everything. No wonder Victoria has a problem with Magpie Geese numbers. If the governemnt really cared about the conservation of the Geese (especially in victoria where i believe the spend a fair bit of money on the consevartion of it)
they should ban it all together or at least have some restrictions!
Hi,this is one of those subjects that will always stir up emotions,I'm not condoning duck shooting but to say it's a indiscriminate free for all blowing away anything that moves is just not true, the shooters involved have to prove they can identify all species in flight by sitting a test and there is a "bag limit"on how many and what types of duck they can take,the penalties for shooting protected species are very sever and it is heavily monitored by the RSPA DNRE parks vic police and VFAG.
I would prefer no ducks got killed !
But i live the real world and know this will never be the case
the animal libers would have you believe that stopping duck shooting season would mean the end of duck shooting,if only it was that easy!
In NSW for instance they stopped the annual duck season and everyone thought the end to duck shooting in that state WRONG!now they have a"rice season" and crop protection permit system now so long as you have a crop to "protect"shooters with permits can just blast away no bag limits no one looking over there shoulder that's not what i want to see
in Victoria!
Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't
Yes sparrow, it is an emotional subject. You will find strange arguments to defend the shooting, like: it brings the generations together. Grandfathers teaching the young how to shoot. (Wow, how good is that!?) The killing has been going on for far to long, more than 20 years ago, my son and I were part of a group laying endangered birds, banned from beeing killed on the steps of the Vic Government. There were even 2 black swans. Not only do people shoot endangered birds, but also MANY insured birds are not picked up, and only found much later by walkers. Those birds have suffered for a very long time. Not all shooters hit kleen,how can the pain and suffering of insured birds be justified? The shooting of the native birdlife HAS TO STOP !
M-L