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Posted by ken archambault on 20:03:11 09/08/07
In Reply to: Re: Purple Swanp Hens posted by Georgiana
Thank you very much for the link to the news article. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head: I have very mixed feelings about this eradication effort. I would wager that the effort will not succeed longterm, given this species' past record of reproductive success. In the ideal world, i suppose i would prefer that all feral swamphens disappear from the United States, but only IF that could be accomplished without raising a finger. But this program just doesn't make total sense at this point and objectively needs a LOT of explaining and additional justification. For starters, I would like to see budget figures on the total direct and indirect expenses associated with this effort, including employee time. How many staff hours were spent on the inception and implementation of this issue? Environmental disturbance is also something i am unsure about. If i were outdoors and heard the noise of boats, aircraft, or gunfire, it would diminish my experience. i don't think sensitive species would like it much, either. It would be nice to see the actual plan involved here and how long this effort is expected to continue. I wonder who thought it up and who backed it and why? Some "lucky" hunter(s) got to participate. Were they paid, or is the benefit of killing these birds enough of a reward? The news article seems sanitized in at least some particulars: e.g., no collateral damage is mentioned and we are led to believe that all dead swamphens are clean kills and the dead ones are retrieved. I doubt that is the case, despite good intentions. I wonder how many are left to suffer. it would also be good to see actual studies on adverse effects of the swamphen population on other species; all i have read is anecdotal so far. why is this visually attractive bird species being singled out for eradication in this high profile way, while other introduced species are not? i suspect part of the reason is that it is easy sport to fly around in a helicopter or scoot around in a noisy boat and target a colorful bird outside of the customary hunting seasons. maybe digging out brazilian pepper trees is not considered easy or macho enough? i understand swamphen numbers have proliferated, but is this the best and highest use for tax dollars? was this program subject to public scrutiny and comment before it was implemented. dear Moderator, i apologize if this email goes beyond the bounds of what is permitted on the bird board. if so, kindly delete it? i just thought i would indicate my ambivalence in this situation, because this species is quite attractive visually, and i sincerely would like to know much more about this subject. Your forum is perhaps the best resource in the nation for information on a wide variety of south Florida nature issues. Thank you very much for the opportunity. -ken archambault, homewood, alabama
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