I think that our laws should change regarding protected birds some birds are so abundant that a few permits granted each year wouldn't hurt one little bit,say one permit per person per year for only those species that are abundant.About 10 bucks a permit....Lloyd
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Lloyd, the problem with opening that can of worms is that while some species are abundant in some ecosystems, they may be rare or endangered in others. Originally the Federal Laws, such as the Migratory Bird Act of 1923 and other regulations were passed to stop slaughter of waterfowl by market gunners or to halt the slaughter of wading birds, such as egrets for plumes used as hat ornaments.
As the wildlife sciences expanded, it was discovered that most birds fill a unique and specific niche in the environment and play numerous beneficial roles as insect controllers, and the like. That is not to say that nature doesn't produce surpluses in most species in an attempt to provide sufficient numbers to insure breeding successes. One study, I believe in Michigan, was conducted to test the theory of territory and dispersal of cardinals. Male cardinals in a controlled square mile area were shot by researchers prior to the nesting period. Although all male cardinals in the plot were shot on sight, studies showed that the same number of nest sites were present as had been recorded in previous years.
The study showed that there was an abundance of surplus males that set up territories after the removal of resident males. It is known fact that for every successful mating by male birds, a large number of males do not mate due to one reason or another. The problem with the studies is that no one can define the exact number of song birds that are required to elicit response and territorial establishment to allow for stabile population dynamics. To that end, ALL native birds are protected unless that protection is exempted due to predation on crops as is the case with red-wing black birds and grackles in some areas.
The intense management of our North American waterfowl stocks has led to a fragile stability of their population numbers within certain parameters, but recent declines in some species would indicate that regardless of the billions spent on waterfowl management involving just 41 species of fowl, the population dynamics are poorly understood.
To expand that management concept to 500 species of birds would be a staggering task if not impossible. To whom would your theoretical payment be made, and for what purpose would the funds be used? Who would control the management and record keeping? How much money would be required to do the nesting surveys and population counts? What agencies, both Governmental and private, would be tasked with control and facilitation of your concept? What would stop game hogs from eradicating small pockets of the most desireable species?
Better to let sleeping dogs lie, so they say. I can appreciate your desire and understand your concept - even agree that total controls are a bit ridiculous, but they are the only controls that can be facilitated in a practical and cost-efficient manner.
In addition, confusing birds like fall warblers and the many sparrow varieties would require intensive study and identification prowess by the thousands who would apply for such a permit. To kill and mount an endangered bird by mistake could cost one many privileges, not to mention the loss of finance and possible loss of freedom. One would have to be a skilled ornithologist just to identify one's target. Hell, I know folks who have hunted ducks for decades and still can't tell a mallard hen from a pintail hen until it is dead and at hand. My vote is for staying right where we are in regard to the MBTA.
Lloyd, were you at Piedmont, if so, I could not find your web site when I got back home. Was just wanting to check it out after seeing it in Ken Edwards, computor class seminar. rw,
oh yeah, I agree with you, the Black Cormorant is becomeing a nuisce along with the sea gull.
I don't know if the Lloyd above is the same Lloyd you met at Piedmont, but here is his website: http://www.masterswildlifeservices.com
I posted the initial question,I just thought there are so few owls and such a large number of gulls that get hit close to dumps,woodpeckers fly into windows also grosbecks and waxwing birds.We allow owls and hawks to be mounted with permits why not other birds as well....Lloyd Nipawin