Shotguns used to wipe out exotic purple swamphens in Broward, Palm Beach counties

Sunsentinel ^ | 9-8-07 | Mike Clary

[Fawn]

Cradling a loaded shotgun, Daniel Castillo stood in the bow of the airboat when a dark form burst from a clump of reeds.

As the wildlife biologist shouldered his weapon, he had only an instant to decide: does it fly like a duck, but look like a long-legged, iridescent chicken?

[Fawn]

I know how much the Florida WIldlife COmmission LOVES to kill things....but birds? What about the gators? They requested to kill the feral cats (one guy was tape recorded saying how he couldn't wait to get out there and blow away the cats)....again...birds?
Enough birds are being killed with the pesticides and the bi-yearly spraying of repellants from the sky ....

[BenLurkin]

a long-legged, iridescent chicken?

[RichInOC]

Are they good eatin’?

[weegee]

Here's what the west coast variety looks like:

[PeteB570]

You know I’ll bet there are hunter’s in the area that would pay a right good fee to be able to go out in their air boats and have an open season on those purple chickens.

Over hunting can wipe out species. Let’s over hunt on the side of the “Good Guys”.

[The_Reader_David]

I think the point is other birds native to the area die because these birds brought into FL form some other part of the globe compete with them for food, nesting sites, etc.

You don’t have to be an environmental wacko to see the havoc ‘exotic’ species can cause—Europeans all hate the racoons the Nazis brought to Europe, rabbits in Australia have caused untold havoc, African honeybees are not a good thing to have in North America, etc. Wildlife managers worry about this kind of thing on less obvious scales.

[joebuck]

"Are they good eatin’?"

Taste like chicken

[Puppage]

[Fawn]

I love this statement...”they are not native for here...they are from another continent’. LOL...as if WE were here, dogs were here, or a thousand other creatures were here. We are all imports. This FWC just need to have something to kill....that’s why they took the job!

[lormand]

Is it ok with you that the non-native species is killing off native species?

As for a guy's zeal regarding hunting, that is simply the raw instincts of a real man.

[Condor51]

I want open season on those %$%&ing protected 'native' geese. I HATE those rats with wings.

Can't go walking, fishing or take the grandkids to the playground - goose sh*t all over the place.

[silentreignofheroes]

Some things just need killin’,,

[MediaMole]

These are not a native species. They are an invasive species that pushes out native birds.

Invasive species like these can do massive harm to the local ecosystem. They have an opportunity to eradicate these birds before they spread throughout the state.

[sure_fine]

...”they are not native for here...they are from another continent’

illegal aliens are like that too?!?!?

[Between the Lines]

[saganite]

Umm, don’t know how to break this to you but “we” were here as well as dogs. Native indians? Wolves, coyotes and dogs the indians used?

[Clara Lou]

Aren't they beautiful? Too bad they were ever released.

=[FDT for POTUS]=

[bigfootbob]

"Enough birds are being killed with the pesticides and the bi-yearly spraying of repellants from the sky ...."

Cite your proof for that statement, please.

[bigfootbob]

You forgot Himalayan Blackberry and Kudzu.

Exotics get folks all worked up, but it’s folly. Ever read James Michener’s Hawaii? In order to stop exotics we would have to become so isolationist we couldn’t breath and the technology isn’t here to stop the migrating birds, ocean currents, tradewinds, etc., etc.

It is fun to watch the libs get all worked up over this issue. My favorite is watching the plant nazi’s duke it out with environmental scientists that use genetically modified plant matter for “wetland” AKA swamp restoration projects. Priceless.

[Cold Heart]

Just yesterday I got a new BBQ with a rotisserie.
I will be working on the geese in my area soon.