Whimbrel being tracked for two years by scientists shot by hunters

[malaise]

http://worldwaders.posterous.com/machi-a-shorebird-tracked-by-scientists-survi
<snip>
Scientists at the Center for Conservation Biology learned today that a whimbrel that they had been tracking via satellite for 2 years as part of a migration study had been shot by a hunting party this morning on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (French West Indies). The bird named “Machi” had just flown through Tropical Storm Maria and made landfall on Montserrat before flying to Guadeloupe. Machi had been tracked for over 27,000 miles (44,000 km) back and forth between breeding grounds in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of Canada to wintering grounds on the coast of Brazil. The bird was tracked on 7 nonstop flights of more than 2,000 miles. During the spring of 2010, Machi flew more than 3,400 miles directly from Brazil to South Carolina. Machi serves as an example of birds that interact with many landscapes and cultures throughout the year and a reminder of how international cooperation is required for their continued existence.

Guadeloupe, Martinique and Barbados continue to operate “shooting swamps” some of which are artificial wetlands created to attract migrant shorebirds for sport shooting during fall migration. It is estimated that tens of thousands of shorebirds continue to be taken annually by hunting clubs on just these three islands. This practice is a throwback to more than a century ago when gunners hunted shorebirds throughout the Americas. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed, in part, to protect dwindling numbers of birds that migrate across country borders. Operated as a French overseas department, both Guadeloupe and Martinique are part of the European Union and are not party to the Treaty. Barbados, once a British colony is now an independent state and also not party to the Treaty. The last Eskimo Curlew known to science was shot on Barbados in 1963. Shorebird hunting within these areas continues to be unregulated to the present time. Conservation organizations continue to work toward some compromise that will reduce pressures on declining species.
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Fugg these scumbags!

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[malaise]

3. It's just sport to the fugging scumbag

tourists and the governments of these islands have bowed to the tourist interests - I hate these people.

[graywarrior]

2. Grrrrrrr

[villager]

4. when animals can shoot back, then -- and only then -- will it be a "sport"

n/t

[RebelOne]

9. Agreed. That is my philosophy. It is a sport when

both sides are equally armed.

[a la izquierda]

19. I just bought a great shirt that says...

"Arm the Animals."

[malaise]

28. I want one of those

:hi:

[Drale]

24. So war is sport?

[Abin Sur]

5. Yawn.

A bird which is a member of a species that is not endangered in the slightest (as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whimbrel) was legally shot.

Big deal. Tag some more.

[malaise]

6. Because killing for sport is so much fun

:puke:

[Abin Sur]

7. It is for some people

Not my bag of tea, although I certainly enjoy eating wild game when I'm lucky enough to have one of my friends who does hunt give some to me.

Elk...yummy!

[RebelOne]

11. Many hunters get off on killing.

Believe me. I know. I was a copy editor for 34 outdoors magazines. And the first-hand stories from some the hunters would turn my stomach.

[villager]

13. Killing for sport isn't the same as killing for food.

People who aren't ennui-riddled commentators generally realize that.

[Abin Sur]

15. While there is certainly a difference

I couldn't care less how much someone got off on killing a deer if I wind up getting some venison roasts because of it.

If they want to kill Bambi just so they can put his head on their wall, that's their prerogative.

[villager]

17. No, you "couldn't care less." that is abundantly evident from your posts

n/t

[Abin Sur]

18. Why should I care?

After all, the degree to which someone enjoys killing an animal doesn't affect the taste of it in any way.

I'd feel the same way if I found out that the trout I'm about to eat (should be ready in another 5 minutes or so!) was caught by a fisherman who really enjoyed the experience. Why should it make the slightest difference?

[a la izquierda]

20. I, sir, will shrug...

if you get a bear paw to the face (though I don't wish it).
Will this get deleted? Eh, maybe. It's certainly not very Buddhist of me, but I'm having a bad day and I've had the great displeasure of seeing a lot of animal abuse today.

Your callous indifference to animals irks me and is precisely the reason our planet is in such peril.

[Abin Sur]

32. Animals are a valuable commodity

And should be treated as such. I fully support laws protecting endangered species, and efforts to increase their numbers.

I'm not indifferent to them as a whole, but the legal killing of one non-endangered bird is no more a tragedy than the cutting down of a stalk of wheat. It's a replaceable resource.

As for your indifference towards my being mauled by a bear (though you don't wish it...thank you so much for that!), you may rest assured that I do not feel the same towards you. As a speciest, I value human life (yours included) above that of any other animal.

[villager]

21. apples and oranges: killing for food vs. killing solely for bloodlust

But - why would you care?

[RebelOne]

35. The majority of hunting is killing for bloodlust.

As I stated above, I was a copy editor for hunting magazines throughout the U.S. and the majority of the hunters got off on the kill.

[villager]

37. I'm sure many do; having friends who only hunt food, however (I don't hunt)

...their philosophy/approach would seem to be different than the "stuffed heads only" crowd...

[Abin Sur]

40. I don't.

It's your prerogative to do so, of course.

[JanMichael]

29. I guess the fire would burn of the spewage from the orgasmic shooter before you eat the charred...

...remains. No muss no fuss I guess. I wouldn't like the fisherman to fuck my salmon then sell it though. That's creepy right?

[Abin Sur]

41. Well done...way to keep it classy!

[Paladin]

30. Why Not Use A Rocket Launcher, For A Little Sport? (n/t)

[Abin Sur]

42. Because it ruins too much of the meat, you silly.

Besides, have you priced rocket launchers lately? Even the army's lightest rocket launcher (the M136 AT4) costs almost $1,500 a shot! Even premium rifle ammo only costs a couple bucks per round...

[Odin2005]

38. It's fun and you get meat out of the deal. What's the problem?

[cui bono]

8. Thoughtlessness isn't endangered either. n/t

[Abin Sur]

10. I don't think I'm being thoughtless in the slightest.

I will admit to being indifferent to the plight of this particular bird...

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Abin Sur]

43. Oh, I freely admit to being an asshole at times.

What of it?

[Octafish]

12. A beautiful creature. I can't understand why anyone would want to kill it.

Amazing that something that looks so fragile can fly farther than most jets, non-stop.

Fugging scumbags.

[malaise]

23. You know my view

:fistbump:

[Drahthaardogs]

14. IF they ate the thing, who cares.

If you eat meat, something must die. It is just that simple. I do not parse between a chicken or a woodcock. If they shot it and let it lay to rot, it is a pity.

[DeSwiss]

16. K&R

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[malaise]

26. Don't go there

Sure losing your brother was hard - I lost my favorite cousin to bullets, but I've met as many stupid humans as you have met stupid birds and the birds have been way more harmless.

[Beaverhausen]

27. some of us can have compassion for all living things who are killed needlessly

[JanMichael]

31. That kind of numbness to the wellness of other living creatures is really cool!

Not. Same for humans. Not cool.

[Auntie Bush]

33. This is very upsetting news! How sad!

Also such a loss to science.

[malaise]

34. And the bird survived Tropical Storm Marie

as well

[malaise]

36. I forgot to ask about favorite flowers

Guess I'll find an appropriate dirge...for the bird :rofl:

[Abin Sur]

44. Don't get too upset.

The loss of one non-endangered bird doesn't exactly strike the death knell of ornithology.

[Odin2005]

39. I see this thread has brought out all the folks that think us hunters are evil barbarians.