[TN-Bird] Cranes: Magnificent pests???

Sorry for the delay responding to the crane hunting story in The Tennessean 
(Thursday, March 20, 2008, page 1), but I've been stewing. I live directly 
under the flight path of the migrating cranes and find myself marvelling at 
their magnificence, especially when they fly low overhead (which I fear is 
just temporary).

Alas, I read "Their appetites have been responsible for wiping out food 
supplies planted through a TWRA program for ducks and geese, which are 
hunted" and that " 'They've gotten to a point where we feel it necessary to 
pursue a hunting season,' said Mike Butler, head of the nonprofit Tennessee 
Wildlife Federation, told the TWRA Commission on Wednesday."

I'll not dwell on the silliness of this viewpoint, except to recall the 
fable of killing the goose that layed the golden egg. What really struck me 
is the desire to hunt that which is magnificent (yes, they hunt swans in 
NC!). Won't it be really great when Whooping Cranes get to be a local "pest" 
so they can be hunted, too?

Edmund LeGrand
1631 Leffle Webb Rd.
Crossville, TN 38572
Cumberland County 

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