I haven't read all of the posts on this issue, and perhaps what I am
about to say has already been said, but here goes.
Hunters and especially those who hunt waterfowl contribute a tremendous
amount of their own money and time to the preservation of waterfowl,
habitat and wildlife in general. Can we as birders say the same. Sure
some of us put in some of our time, but how many do or are willing to
spend a lot of our own money towards that end. I am not talking about a
few bucks here and there. In new York State alone over 1.5 million
hunters who regularly contribute over $745.2 million dollars a year on
licenses and stamps. If you add up all of the funds involved with
hunting, fishing and trapping, the total sports contribution is well
over $3.7 billion dollars. Ask your self, have we even come close to
that both in terms of numbers of participants, let alone that much money?
If I were a hunter, I'm not, but if I were I would ask you to put your
money where your mouth is. It's a nice sentiment we seem to have, but
how much do we really contribute? Shire we count birds every year, and
this is good for knowing how our habitat is going, but again how much
do we really contribute. I know I don't contribute very much either
scientifically or monetarily. So given where the money for conservation
comes from do we really have the right to criticize or ban others from
what they are contributing a whole lot more than we are? Plus we
actually benefit from what they do. Do you really think we would even
have so much to watch if not for those we would oppose?
Now getting off my soapbox.
Carl Steckler
"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will
never know" Unknown Marine Khe Sahn, Vietnam
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
