The hunt will indeed harm the birds otherwise what would be the purpose?
To the Expositor:
I read with interest the story about the United States report that says establishing a Sandhill crane hunt will not harm the bird’s population (‘US report shows that establishing Sandhill crane hunt will not harm population numbers,’ October 22, Page 1).
But the hunt will indeed harm the birds and what would be the purpose of such a barbaric hunt?
I understand farmers are frustrated with the birds’ arrival during the spring and fall migrations and they have to protect their livelihood. What damage do the birds actually create?
I have been photographing these birds for years now and what I see is they fly in after crops have been harvested in the fall and before crops are planted in the spring.
Where is the crop degradation that would justify this hunt?
Just because the population of a species is plentiful does that mean they should be hunted?
If over 6,000 Sandhill cranes could be hunted down in Northeastern Ontario, without impacting the over population of the birds, what would be the purpose of said hunt?
Would all the birds be used for food?
Because the buffalo is regaining its population would we then open a hunt on them? How about the trumpeter swan populations that are finally being stabilized in Ontario and which were hunted to near extinction for their feathers that were sold to European fashion houses.
Because Sandhill cranes have slow reproductive rates they are vulnerable to over-harvesting.
The idea of a hunt lacks an ecological justification. Surely there are many non-lethal ways for preventing crop damage, the main reason for hunting these beautiful, wild birds.
A great deal of work has been done in this province to protect and promote wetlands and thankfully bird populations are being stabilized due to that advocacy.
How can this hunt be acceptable? Are humans losing their humanity?
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Nielsen
Cobalt, Ontario
