I see none in the hills.

The old timers speak of the sky being covered with birds and the mornings alive with their talk.

What happened and what's happening?

NEPA, Min of the Environment, JET, anyone?

Your words ring true but I hear the deafening sound of silence pounding back at you Pan. Many will say man has dominion over the birds so its ok to continue shooting them.

What happens when we have completely "dominated" the animals? One possible result is an increase in disease among mankind. A recent radio program I listened to indicated that a rise in disease and infection is taking place among humans because mosquitos and other insects are increasingly infecting humans as the bird population decreases.

So to answer your question Pan, what's happening is that we are unknowingly removing the buffers between us and our own extinction slowly but surely.

I have made several treks through the ridges overlooking the coast ... from Ft Charles to Billy's Bay ... over the past couple of years ... and thankfully found most of the woodland there intact with relatively abundant bird feeding trees (e.g. Burnwood and Mustard) ... consequently, it is my impression that the reduction in birdlife (i.e. Baldpate and White Wing) in the area is more a function of the devastation of their roosting areas ... in particular the mangroves west of Ft Charles ... over the past few decades ... hence most bird shooters apparently increasing reliance on 'baited fields' rather than the traditional flight of feeding birds ...

Hey Nostrodamus, did you know that the birds being hunted do not eat insects?

Forget about community tourism if your community is within earshot of this staged hunt and sometimes pellet fall. So far no one has answered the original question of what's happening to the birds.

We know about the fish. NEPA says the birds are OK, TPDCo says the environment is the first priority, hunters see themselves as conservators, the old heads speak about the abundance of birds once and the common folk stare at big man doing what he's always done.

Unresolved contradictions in what should be the world's Paradise Island.

@Pan ... so you don't think that the wanton destruction of the birds roosts would be a major factor in their dramatic reduction in the past 10-15 years?

Pray tell what you think the reason may then be ... as I definitely need to be educated otherwise ...

Birds are meant to be hunted, like all animals. The only caution is to be aware of extinction . Other than that, fair game! Besides, they taste good.

I'm sure this a factor Redbwoy, I can't say if it's major or not. They call it development, I agree that it is often wanton destruction.

Please tell if shooting birds when none are on the wing or, nuh bud a fly; in staged hunting, is also not a factor. This too when as you say there has been a dramatic reduction in the last 10-20 years.

No one has addressed the stresses placed on communities near enough to be affected. Is your pleasure overshadowing civility? Would you tolerate pellets landing in your yard? Addressing those that do this.

Do these birds breed in mangroves?

You refer to shooting and not hunting Glenn.

The hunter enters the wild respectfully and takes their need of flora and fauna, silently and efficiently.

Shooting wild birds using noisy high powered ordnance for snacks in the land of wood and water does not seem to fit into Vision 2030.

Gee Pan. that is what I said...

Yes Glenn. As Marshall MacLuhan said: "The (your) medium is the (your) message".

Pan. are you Turey?

glenn. are you a hunter? ha ha.

Now now, boys. Play nice!
(This means you Pan, Glen, and Goodshot)

-TBNet

Actually I am not a hunter. Where I live, I have many acres of woods with deer, turkeys etc that are common consumables. Nothing against hunting, I just don't do it. Then there is the hunting here that makes no sense to me, like fox, wolves and bear. I don't know many people who have those on their dinner plates.
All in good fun TBNet, all in good debate.

Archie I took a hiatus (was checking on all those predictions I made) and only just saw your input. Respectfully sir, you completely missed my point. Nowhere did I say the birds eat insects. Read again and you will see that my point was that insects are increasingly infesting humans because the bird population, which traditionally hosts (not eats) these insects, is in decline.

I also predict that Pan is not turey. The latter does not use aliases like the rest of us mere mortals. If you are reading and chuckling at this turey, "downderoad" sends greetings.

Nostradamus, you did not say host either, but one could infer from what you said, and the context that these birds eat insects...sorry old chap no harm done.

Greetings from up the road Nostradamus. What is my title now that I'm among the Immortals? Turey sounds insufficient for such a lofty perch.

What about pesticides, herbicides and the others substances applied to our surroundings*. What about the drought we just passed through? Less fruiting trees and foliage for nesting?

*Taking a break from the overused "Environment". How about everything outside of your skin and below the stratosphere. Too long eh.

Hi Pan. Are you me? We are "The I".

Later can be greater.

Turey, I see you are at your confusing best! How about shooting some pond chink, mmm, tasty! Or maybe a Johnnie crow, no?

Best at shooting bull Archie, no ordnance needed.

When all are done, it will be the john crows left. Must taste like pond chicken eh.

you guys are hilarious, honestly.

Not pond chicken, turey, pond-chink!