[Bristol-Birds] Disturbing information

To all.
Today while conversing with an acqauintance the topic turned to birds.  Not the 
normal way however.  The conversation took place in a sports and gun shop.  One 
fella said he had seen an American Woodcock on his farm.  We talked about the 
differences btw woodcock and snipe a little and then the conversation turned 
for the worse.  I was asked what I thought about the following scenario;  A 
hunter last year reported that his turkey decoy had been hit, picked up and 
carried 15 feet or so by a red tailed hawk.  The man was not keen on red-tails 
to say the least,,, Any thoughts?  I was asked about Hawks in general and their 
relationship with game animals such as quail, turkeys, rabbits and squirrels.  
I tried to relate that any animals taken by the hawks were small in number 
compared to those lost due to habitat destruction,  pollution after effects and 
feral pets.. The group (3-4 men by now) agreed that ferals were taking many 
many animals.  Stories ranged from kestrels taking dov
 es and
 squirrels to red tails taking "all" the quail and rabbits....  I was bothered 
by this, anyone have any thoughts?
Then the conversation turned to great blue herons.  The concensus was that 
herons were killing all the game fish, especially those in fish ponds.  After 
explaining that the herons were not cranes or storks, we agreed that other than 
the occasional fish pond raid, herons were "ok" birds...  
 
I hadn't heard these  ideas in years and had thought that they had become a 
thing of the past.  
 
Bill Cawood, BSG VA

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