FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] BLACK VULTURE DEMONSTRATION DATE SET AT DUTCH GAP

[Dawn Wilson <dmwcarrot@xxxxxxxxx>]

Public Demonstration Against Dutch Gap Black Vulture Culling, 2007              
            
  When: Monday, 10/29/07, 11:00AM  Where: Dutch Gap (Henricus Park) in 
Chesterfield County, VA   
  We will meet at the boat ramp at Dutch Gap (Henricus Park).  Depending on 
media, USDA, USFWS, and Dominion turnout, we will either stay there or move to 
another, more visible area where we can have a greater impact.  Please come if 
you can!  
   
  Primary message:  Killing of black vultures at Dutch Gap as an effort to 
control the population there has not worked.  This clearly demonstrates that 
this management application is ineffective and should not be used again.
   
  Purpose: 
   
  1)      To prevent (or halt, if they begin to shoot the birds before or on 
Friday) this year?s ?harvesting? of 400-700 black vultures at Dutch Gap.
   
  2)      To educate the general public about the current plight of Dutch Gap?s 
black vulture population.  Media (TV and Richmond Times-Dispatch) have been 
alerted.  I will keep you updated as confirmations come through.  We have one 
so far.
  3)      To voice our concerns to local and federal legislators, Federal 
agencies (USDA, USFWS), and Chesterfield County management.
  4)      It is not known why the USDA and USFWS keep renewing the permit for 
so many black vultures to be shot every year when it is obviously not working 
to curb the number of birds roosting at Dutch Gap.
  5)      To date, no research been thoroughly conducted on this black vulture 
population.  If it does exist, the public has not been made aware of any such 
research.
  a)      We do not know what ecological problems have resulted from taking 
nearly 1,500 black vultures from the area.
  b)     We do not know what culling another 400-700 this year will do.
  c)      We do not know where these birds coming/migrating from and 
consequences on neighboring and regional populations have not been assessed.
  6)      Appropriate non-lethal methods have not been implemented.  Previous 
efforts  (effigies, firecrackers, etc.) have merely scattered the birds within 
the site, not AWAY from the site.  Other, better solutions that have not been 
attempted:
  a)      Moving the boat ramp.
  b)     Moving the birds elsewhere in hopes of establishing a viable roosting 
population at another site.
  c)      Dispersing the birds? night roosts in order to stop them from using 
Dutch Gap during the day.
   

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