Add one critically endangered Whooping Crane found dead of gunshots in Alabama late last month to the three gunned down in Georgia in December. The four killed this winter are a full 1% of the world population of the iconic and vulnerable bird. Here’s hoping the culprits are found and brought to justice.
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
Do you think this is inept hunters or anti-environmentalists? I’m leaning towards the latter. I’m sure in many areas of the southeast there are people with a horse in the growth and development race that cringe at the thought of another endangered species moving into the region. Perhaps it’s because I have many friends that are good, ethical hunters and I want to believe they all are. Then I hear about how many cows are brought in during deer season and I lament the fact that we allow anyone to carry a rifle into the woods.
@Kirby: That’s a good question. I have no idea which camp they come from but I do know that whoever did this is an [expletive deleted].