Hi everyone, The past couple of days I have noticed that the hunters at the south end of Cayuga Lake have been using a boat to chase and flush the flocks of Redhead, scaup and other waterfowl. I was amazed that you could drive a motorboat up and down the lake to flush flocks of resting ducks . . . repeatedly. Such actions have energetic costs that extend to the entire flock. I decided to do a bit of sleuthing, and it turns out that it is illegal.
The following is all taken from the NY DEC web site. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/wfregsguide11.pdf PROHIBITIONS ON METHODS OF TAKE No person shall take migratory game birds: • From or with the aid or use of a car or other motor‐driven land vehicle, or any aircraft, except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may, with a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation, take from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor‐driven land vehicle. “Paraplegic” means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs, usually due to disease or injury to the spinal cord. • From or by means of any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or sail furled, and its progress has ceased. Motorboats and sailboats under power may be used to retrieve dead or crippled birds; however crippled birds may not be shot from such craft under power except in the Special Sea Duck Area described in the Hunting Seasons Table. • By driving, rallying or chasing birds with any motorized vehicle or any sailboat to put them in the range of hunters. Reports from citizens are vital for effective enforcement of New York's environmental laws. There are more than 300 Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators in New York State, each patrolling an average of 400 square miles. You can help by reporting every Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) violation that you observe or suspect. TIPP DEC is a 24-hour telephone hotline that is also referred to as Turn in Poachers and Polluters. It is answered by live dispatchers. The TIPP phone number is 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332). Callers may request to file a complaint anonymously. Citizens can also report a violation online: http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/393.html Best, Chris Wood -- 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/ --
