Thank you fcch, very much apreciated.Our elder teach us that we as parents are responsible to live our lives in a way that to benifit the next 7 generations. This would enclude of coarse , taking care of our inviroment and the many creatures our creator has placed some what in our keeping.While this poaching thing hurts me to no end, there are many things going on around us evey day that are much more far reaching that greatly affect our enviroment by companies that have the money to cover it up or buy there way out. Here in alabama were i live now the paper companies are dumping chemicals in some rivers that is causing some bad problems, but our EPA here has several emploies that are FROM the paper company sitting on the board, not a thing we can do about it it seems.Yet no one looks at them as being low life scum simply because they know how to play the game. This is really one of my pet peves that i could go on about for days,lol. Matt
Bald Eagles have made a remarkable comback in Oregon. In fact, I saw one only yesterday in Sisters, Oregon. One small and shallow lake with a good trout population near the surface always has 7 or 8 in the air at one time looking for trout. They are great fishermen. I never see any feathers being offered for sale and I do many sports shows and indian shows each year. It is just not acceptable behavior. I did see one fellow making fake feathers. He started out with a white turkey feather and cut and died the feather. Compared to a photo of the real thing, it was a perfect match.
We did have a problem with a nesting pair a few years ago. The location was made public and a journalist from a liberal newspaper had his photographer along. They threw a rock to get the birds to fly off the nest to get a better photo. The result was that the pair gave up the nest and that year’s eggs. Pretty disgusting. The area has all they desire: two local small trout lakes, trees and a deer crossing area along our main road. They are quite the carrion lovers.
I’m all for eagles, but natives should be able to harvest them in a traditional manner along with whales and salmon too. The typical way to harvest an eagle is to dig a hole in the ground and cover it with sticks. You wait in the hole over your bait that you’ve tied down on top of the sticks, something like a dead rabbit. When an eagle comes to scavenge the bait you pop out and grab it and figure out a way to beat it to death or something. I volunteered at a center where we handled eagles and anyone who can take one out like this clearly deserves it.
The Bald Eagles that are nesting just a few miles south of my home were brought in as a young pair from British Columbia. Actually we have another nest in the area as well. It’s very relaxing to see these grand birds fishing along the Susquehanna River. The laws that protect these birds and all wildlife in Pennsylvania and the United States are strict. The punishments for breaking these laws are very stiff. Do we really need to make more laws or, as I think, do we need to do a better job enforcing the laws already on the books? If we find out that these bird’s feathers are going into fly tying do we then outlaw fly fishing? Why the assumtion that these birds are going to the Native Americans? My ancestores made it their practice to give more back to the land than they took from it. They killed only for survival and used every part of the animal they killed. They also gave thanks to the Great Spirit and the spirit of the animal they had killed. I agree with She Ties. I also think that these poachers need to be caught and severly punished no matter what their race.
Eric “nighthawk”
We have several nesting pairs down here. Woo Hoo!
The eagles are being found, dumped on native land,with both legs and their tails missing. The thought is that the talons and tails feathers are being sold for ceremonial purposes. There are other cultures starting to embrace the customs and beliefs of native americans. This is putting in place an increased demand/market for these ceremonial eagle parts. Where they are being found does not necessarily indicate who is doing the poaching. The native land is also surrounded by lush forests with productive ecosystems. The eagles might be caught and killed on site, dumped and then sold later; or they could killed elsewhere and then dumped on the native land. They officials haven’t released any information regarding this issue so assupmtions should be held in check.
Our eagle conservation procedures are working, we have a wonderful eagle population here, that is a problem since people know that they can find them easily here. I often see several eagles every month. I know where I can go to see over 20 in a bunch of trees (thank goodness they are still there)There are nesting pairs along the river and at local lakes. I am just concerned that what is a healthy and productive population could be quickly decimated by poaching in this magnitude.
Another question: How many are not being found? Over 40 have been found and more are still being dumped in the same area.
[This message has been edited by SheTies (edited 01 March 2005).]
Something just hitting the papers here in Wisconsin. Last year approx. 500 Eagles in wintering area on the Wisconsin River below the Prairie Du Sac dam. This year less than 160. Always a very consistent population until this year. Juvenile birds are being found dead cause unknown. I remember the 70’s and hate to think we’re doing something again thats gotten into the food chain here.
Leave it to Reuel!
I don’t know about the Topeka Shiners, but I am glad there are still Bald Eagles around. To me, this is one of the examples of how the “sledge hammer” of government regulation doesn’t cut with the precision of a scalpel…as most of us wish it could.
Fishing the Ozarks
They just had a deal on the TV about the Bald Eagles and that they are ready to come off the endangered list as there are over 6,000 pair in the US now. Good come back. I do agree that the American Indian should be only allowed so many every so many years and the the goverment should over see it in some way. I see them all the time out here along the rivers. Ron
One needs to keep in mind the difference between an endangered animal and a protected one. Bald eagles may not be endangered everywhere but it is my understanding that they are still a protected species, as are all raptors.
Hey Folks,
To my knowledge, no one on the North
American continent can legally kill a bald
eagle. However, the governments of the
United States and I believe Canada as well
have proceedures in place where recovered
dead eagles or those that die in captivity
can be turned over to Native Americans or
other worthy groups for ceremonial or
educational purposes. As She Ties said,
while no longer on the endangered listing
they are still protected. Warm regards,
Jim
Reuel,
“Would my life or my grandkids lives be any different or adversely affected if’n there we NO Bald Eagles or Topeka Shiners, etc?”
Well, … everthing is relative. We go to great lenghts to protect “leave” blocks in our logging shows to maintain the Wildlife Quality Index when planning our cut block layout.
Is this really important in the big picture when the glaciers are going to come back in +/- 10,000 years and wipe the slate clean ?? Who knows.
Society has “decided” that this or that is important (economically, culturally, virtually …) Unfortunately, the Walt Disney syndrome influences many of our “choices” … What would we rather spend money/efforst to protect/conserve, a lizard on Vancouver Island or a baby deer in the Rockies ??
Look at green house gases. Did you know that if we cut ALL the forests in the world, the amount of C02 absorbed annual wouldn’t change. The C02 that dissolves into the oceans is more significant than the work of trees?
In a weird sort of way, that’s why I prefer Salmo Salar to all other sport fish. Even if I’m doing EVERTHING right (timing, presentation, fly, tides, Jupiter il lines up with Mars, … Its always the salmon which decides.
There is some big concerns these days for the polar bears that are having a tough time 'cause the polar ice forms late and melts early. Is this really important,… Polar bears are pretty new on the block. Heck, … they’ve only been around for (maximum) 250,000 years, Blink of an eye in geological terms.
Sorry for the rant …
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:5b8db]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:5b8db]
SheTies- Believe me I know all about animals being protected. I have been an outfitter for many years so I know all about it. I was just commenting on what I saw on the boob tube. Ron