Posted on 05/25/2007 9:09:50 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
Pigeon Fans Charged in Deaths of Raptors
ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 25, 2007
LOS ANGELES – Pigeon fanciers in California and two other states were accused of shooting, clubbing and gassing federally protected hawks and falcons, authorities said yesterday.
A 14-month undercover investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led to charges being filed against a Texas man on Wednesday, three Oregon men on Monday and seven Southern California men earlier this month.
The men were accused of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by taking or attempting to take a protected bird. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison.
Six of the Californians were arrested on Wednesday, and the seventh surrendered yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns said. The men were associated with clubs for enthusiasts of Birmingham roller pigeons. Because of a genetic defect, the birds do backward flips while in flight, making them attractive prey for hawks and falcons. “This is a group of hobbyists who selectively inbred a genetic defect that attracts predators,” then seemed to “feel entitled . . . to engage in the wholesale slaughter of these predators,” Johns said.
Among those arrested was Juan Navarro, 44, of Los Angeles, president of the National Birmingham Roller Club. He was released on bond, authorities said.
Investigators estimated that roller pigeon groups in Southern California have killed up to 2,000 hawks and falcons annually.
You might just consider putting these whales to the “tortoise in the dessert” test.
Imagine you are walking out in the dessert and you come across a dessert tortoise that is turned upside down and he is quite alive. The tortoise cannot move, and he cannot up end himself back into his normal prone position. The tortoise will eventually die if he is left in this position.
What do you do?
Do you “interfere” and put the tortoise right side up or do you just walk away and let nature take its course?
Personally, I would give the tortoise a helping hand since it is a minimal action.
Maybe these “save the whales” people are just using this tortoise test, but they are taking it to an extreme.
I wouldn’t move Heaven and Hell to save the dessert tortoise, and these “save the whales” people should quickly realize that some whales just have a death wish.
And, if the dessert tortoise repeatedly performed the same action that put him into his dire circumstance, then I think it is time to let nature “cull the herd” so to speak.
Circle of life, Simba...circle of life.
You wamt to get rid of birds and not kill them?
Go to birdbuffer.com
“No, this story is NOT about some sports hooligans who are dedicated to a sports club named “The Pigeons” and who attacked a rival club named “The Raptors.”
It might be soon if the raptor fans start taking it out on the pigeon fans.
Raptors rock, pigeons poop everywhere and are annoying.
Carolyn
Among the delicacies served are shark's fin and fillet of garoupa, and, of course, roast goose and pigeon.
A small falcon that feeds primarily on birds up to about the size of a dove.
I used to wonder why there were hawks all around but not right where I live. It was because there were merlins around and they don't tolerate other raptors. There were hawks for a couple of years, and early this year, but they bugged out when a merlin moved in.
Cool birds if you don't mind then eating the birds you feed. :-)
Carolyn
Pesky prehistoric pigeons...
AKA squab.
Is there a video of this on YouTube? It would be a hoot to watch!
I have heard pigeons taste good, is that true?
Well...
I’m sure that to the raptors, pigeons taste a lot like chicken!
: )
I loathe pigeons because I must have thirty of them living in the eaves of my house. The home builder must have deliberately designed the house that way. We also have hawks in our neighborhood and I cheer them on whenever they nab a filthy pigeon. Sometimes I come out of the house and find a pigeon wing or a ripped off pigeon head and nod approvingly. Every morning I have to power hose the pigeon droppings off my vehicles before I can go to work. If it weren’t for the fact that San Francisco would probably hit me with numerous felonies for silently assassinating pigeons with a high powered air rifle, I’d be zapping them in the head constantly until they got the message that living in my neighborhood meant certain death. I just wish feral cats had wings or there were lots more hawks in the area.
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