Good afternoon all, First of all, to the site manager, if you do not wish to
post this, just let me know please.
To all the people who feel differently about his than me, I mean nothing
personal and believe that all you are doing as far as banding and all
activities that go along are doing what you do with a good heart and mean no
harm, only help. I would imagine that what I have to say may not come off as
nice, I just think this whole process of banding must is wrong and the capture
and handling process is cruel and must stop. I won't speak anymore after this
post about this subject and don't want to start a big whoopdedoo, just tell you
how I feel.
I imagine that some out there agree with me (I hope so) on banding. On a post
from 08/06, it was stated here that at South point marsh, there were 553
pelicans and 7 Crested Cormorant chick banded, 95% of the Pelican chicks
captured and banded, 95%! thats just a shame. I would imagine that there were
no nets, you just had a colony of chicks scared as one by one they get picked
up. In July some banders captured 1190 Royal Tern chicks. I am no expert in
birds but once again the Terns were probably sitting on their nest (if we can
call it a nest) for you guys to pick up one by one. 1,190! Did you happen to
notice their parents above not to happy with you guys handling their chicks? My
guess would be yes. Now today the Kiptopeke station has opened. 49 years now! I
ask everyone to go to this website for this activity,
http://www.cvwo.org/songbirdResearch.php lets just look at the picture that ;
this site put up, first picture is of a young lady holding an innocent bird
that has probably been trapped in a net, being held in place so another person
can stick a camera, pretty doggone close if I may say so, in its face and take
a picture, this picture demonstrates to me where your priorities lie with
respect to the birds you capture . I would think this just scare the birds even
more. Scroll on down, there in a clear plastic box is some poor bird stuffed
head first in a tube, for weight? You guys and gals down there have set up
25-30 mist nets, in your own words. How can you possibly check all those nets
every 30-45 minutes? You guys have it in your minds that this whole activity
has no ill effect on the birds that you capture, I disagree, Just being caught
in a net, struggling the whole time just to get free has to be physically a
drain on every bird you capture. This is something that anyone of you would
tolerate this, for even 5 minutes if it were you and had any choice in the
matter. Do any of you wonder why most birds fly away from humans as they do?
Or if you point a camera in their direction, they are gone, why, because people
like you are scaring the crap out of the birds that you capture. Birds are far
smarter than given credit for, but the word gets passed in their world, fear
Humans. They get captured like this all over this country, all the time, it is
to me impossible for the birds you capture to suffer no ill effect, then you
stick a band, aluminum, nylon ties what ever it is that you choose to every
birds leg. Did you know that a nylon wire tie that rubs back and forth on a
piece of steel wears away the steel not the nylon. I don't believe that this
practice causes them no problems, a nice shiny or brightly colored flash of
light for old Mr. Hawk to spot. If you think in your intelligent mind that this
causes no harm to the birds you capture, every time, you need to step back and
take another look at what you are doing. Almost every time I see any article or
website about banding there is also some sort of photo holding the prize catch.
Banding must stop. How much more information can you possibly get? Let's be
honest here too, on this website, it is stated that all captured birds are
subjected to whatever it is you do and release in "a minute or two" . You are
kidding no one but your selves.
I would like to issue this challenge to all who think that banding does not in
any way cause harm to an innocent bird, ever. How about you getting a band,
(sized to scale) and wear on your ankle for the rest of your life, or even 1
month, see how you feel about that. I would bet that none of you would enjoy
this, and if treated or handled the way you handle these poor birds, just
minding their own business, you would all cry foul, and not let anyone treat
you like you treat them.
For the good news, i had my first pileated visit the backyard this year, quite
a thrill. The Hummers finally have shown up and seem to enjoy chasing each
other!
With respect,
Bret Goddard
Manassas Park, Va.
