George,

Like I said, if *I* can't identify something I keep watching until I can,
especially while hunting. And you're right that no one has killed anything
with binocs (well not directly) and that firearms are dangerous when used
improperly. But most all of us have killed something (birds, butterflies,
insects, etc) with our cars (or buildings or cell phone towers if you don't
like the car analogy), which we all know can be dangerous if used
improperly. That doesn't mean we actually meant to hurt whatever we hit, it
was an accident. If these guys honestly made a mistake then who are we to
judge them? It just so happens that their (maybe) mistake involved a
creature that we as birders take a special interest in. If it was
intentional then the facts will surely shine through and the authorities are
going to help these guys have a really, really bad day. Which is exactly
what I would want to see.

The earlier post said the birds were found by the farmer and that the men
thought they would survive when they kept flying away after the shots were
fired. If the shots were rushed or taken before the birds were close enough
it's very possible for the bird to get a close shave and continue basically
unharmed. Obviously these were just tough birds who took lethal shots and
kept going until they couldn't go anymore. The earlier post didn't say the
birds were found where the men were hunting. And I've heard of deer being
hit by cars, barely slowing down and then expiring some distance away of
wounds that should have done the animal in at the time of the accident. If
deer can do it then why not birds?

And you're exactly correct about bad hunters not helping the image of the
sport. Those few fools who make the nightly news with their idiocy quickly
outweighs the good the rest of us do. Just like those few unethical birders
who trespass to see a rare bird or use calls or infringe on the "personal
space" of flighty species ruin things for the rest of us. How many places
have been closed off to birders as a group because some nut keeps
trespassing or being a pain to a landowner? And the way these guys acted is
no more standard hunting practice than stealing Barn Owl eggs to raise your
own chicks would be common birdng practice to you or I. These guys screwed
up and I'm sure the authorities will figure out whether it was intentional
or not and take appropriate action.

Happy Birding.
Chris Ordiway
Callaway, Md.

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of George M. Jett
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 7:00 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Endangered Cranes Shot


Chris

I have never killed anything with my binoculars.  If you make the wrong
identification with binoculars, it does not harm the bird, butterfly,
whatever.  Guns are more dangerous and you are supposed to be more careful
with them.  If you can't see what you are pointing your weapon at, don't
pull the trigger.

>From one of the earlier posts it sounds like these hunters (seven) left the
birds in the farmer's field.   Birds that are shot don't usually fly away.
Is this standard hunting ethics - shoot the wrong thing, regardless of its
endangered status, and walk away?  Aren't hunters supposed to eat what they
shoot?   Bad or unethical hunters don't help their image either.

George



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