Paul Mocko,
Only yesterday did you say, "Hunting is an emotional topic and not
appropriate for VA-Bird. Do not post any more pro or con emails
about this topic....EVER. This site is a refuge from politics, rants
and arguements."
Let's get back to hunting and off vulture persecution. ;-)
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria
On Jan 20, 2007, at 8:16 PM, IE Ries wrote:
With all due respect Margaret,
We were both there, and I will NEVER EVER forget how I was treated when I respectfully brought up that issue at the meeting. It's why I left the chapter for several months and only returned late in the year.
I don't care about "credit," what I care about is that there WERE members in chapter who wanted more done, and for the chapter to take a position. That didn't happen. And why not? Did you ever stop to think about why things happened the way they did? I have, I do, and I don't want more vultures persecuted in other places. I hope that kind of culling won't be repeated again.
Kindly,
Irene-Eva Ries
heron329@xxxxxxx wrote:
I must come to the defense of the Richmond Audubon Society. I don't think our "Friend of Vultures" is aware of the phone calls that were made and the letters that were written on behalf of the Black Vultures. Sometimes it is better to work behind the scenes to achieve one's goals. As my father used to say, "It is amazing how much you can accomplish if it doesn't matter who gets the credit." In this case, members of RAS worked hard and deserve credit, not criticism. Furthermore, I don't think that kind of negative message belongs on this list serve.
Margaret O'Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: feathermom_chirpling@xxxxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 2:19 PM
Subject: [va-bird] Re: vulture roost
I have some "background" on this.
In Chesterfield County (metro Richmond), there was a flock of Black vultures that hung out near a park (Henricus boat landing). As it turns out, people fishing and throwing around fish remains, along with their trash from their cars, initially attracted them. But that wasn't the only reason. All around the area, the vultures' roosting trees were being cleared for suburban sprawl. So, they now went to the high structures of the electricity plant...which happened to be right next to the park.
Vultutres were complained about. At first, noise cannons and other things were used. The vultures went across the river for part of the day, but they came back to the parking lot to roost at night, and rest during the day. More complaints. The poor, poor people parking there got bird droppings on their cars or a few scratches in their paint. Some say the birds even pulled off some of the rubber around windows and doors. Evidently, the vultures were criminals for daring to annoy humans, so in early 2006, out came the US Dept of Agriculture who lured them into cages that contained dead animal bodies. Then, at close range, they "humanely" shot the birds in the head. All in view for the public to see.
Be careful about joking over "I'm surprised no one has complained yet," because it won't take long. And because the vultures aren't pretty wood warblers, they will be villified and persecuted with impunity.
If that happens to this flock, I dearly hope someone in your area will defend them since the leadership (at that time) of the Richmond Audubon chapter couldn't see fit to lift a finger in the birds' defense. You know, a CONSERVATION cause.
I know this from personal experience, unfortunately.
Irene-Eva Ries, friend of vultures
CRHuff55@xxxxxxx wrote:
there is now a huge, huge vulture roost in great falls, va at the end of springvale road at beach mill road near the restaurant, L'Auberge Chez Francois - it started a few weeks ago and has now escalated to the point of being about 400 vultures - mixed black and turkey - every afternoon around 4pm, they start coming in - the sky is filled with them - and this morning at 7am, they were up and starting out - there are now always some roosting during the day in the pine tress near the restaurant - i am surprised that there hasn't been a big outcry from someone around the area about getting rid of them - if anyone has any insight in to why this is happening, i would love to know - have lived here for almost 23 years and have never seen anything quite like it - christie huffman
"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all." --Emily Dickenson http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheParakeetPerch/
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