More money than...

Kim, this is exactly why I have resisted the temptation to use Ducks Unlimited as an outlet to may thousands of duck images of well over 100 species.

Guys -

I'm not a DU member but I will say that DU is a highly successful organization with lots of cash that they put to good use by buying, restoring and protecting wetland habitat. Yeh, that provides a place for duck hunters to do their thing, but it also provides a place for a multitude of other species, including many endangered or threatened species, to live and breed. Like I said in another post, some species pay the price to benefit all the others. Most people think that wetlands are strictly protected, but in reality they are regulated lands that can be legally altered or filled through a permit process. (not talking about coastal wetlands which have more stringent protections)

Habitat loss is THE biggest threat to all wildlife in this country, especially birds.

- Paul

As I said earlier in this thread DU (at least DU Canada) is one of the two environmental organizations I respect the most. (And I'm not a hunter.) NCC (Nature Conservancy of Canada) is the other. These two organizations actually use their own money to buy land, or get people to donate land, or at least get easments on land to protect it. Unlike other organizations which simply try to tell us all how bad we are without actually doing anything to improve anything.

-Paul

East of Toronto, Ducks Unlimited convinced the Powers That Be that draining the water from a wetland would improve it. It used to be a stop-over for hundred of shorebirds and herons during migration. About 12 years ago you could find at least 3 dozen great blue herons stopping there in the fall. Now, its just another duck factory.

i do know that the gropups a DU do manage to preserve and or maintain lands,and whether or not birds show or dont show other wildlife will have a chance to try and survive,, but to discuss with the general membership, the local boys, (at least the ones in Missisip,,they dont talk about wow, we conserved some more land today for the good of the world,,,,,its more,,,that new tract that DU picked up is gonna be filled with ducks for next season,,,,it may well be that the hierachry is more conservation savy and motivated and is problably the case,,but wasnt intending to pick on DU as a isolated case, it just came to mind,,as a local example,,

as an aside,,,,,i just spent 7 months in the lower florida area, and for the last few years,,,i had read and heard about Venice, Wako (sp) viero wetlands, alligator farm,,, etc,, When i finally got to go,,and actually see them,,,i was a bit disappointed,, as i expected these large tracts of open marsh, mangrove or what ever type of land,,,well, Venice is a pond with a big bush in the middle of and next to the recycle dump area, right behing a state building,,,viero is right behind the water reclamation plant, wako (sp), the parking lot is shared with the water/govt building dept, alligator farm (yes, just an alligator zoo with birds able to come and go to a small section of trees,,,it was just a let down,,,,from what i had envisioned,,a great swamp area teeming with wildlife,,,instead,,, just last small, very small remnants of a swamp ecosystem,,that has vanished due to overpolulation,,,overdevlopment. i guess i should be thankfull that that is all that is left in some of these areas,,, i think i prefer my poor old state with its rurality, for its remaining areas of yet (but soon to be) natural areas,,although i dont get anywhere near the big bird shots,, but quite frankly,,as a whole, id rather have lots of birds and wild areas and few bird pictures, than small remnants and good bird pictures.

until man learns to control his unbridled and selfish population growth,, more of the former will be the norm,,

Kim Kaiser wrote: but quite frankly,,as a whole, id rather have lots of birds and wild areas and few bird pictures, than small remnants and good bird pictures.

hey Kim,

Thanks for these words. They're important, and a good thing for all of us here to remember.

Cheers

Carl

Kim Kaiser wrote:to discuss with the general membership, the local boys, (at least the ones in Missisip,,they dont talk about wow, we conserved some more land today for the good of the world,,,,,its more,,,that new tract that DU picked up is gonna be filled with ducks for next season,,,,it may well be that the hierachry is more conservation savy and motivated and is problably the case,,but wasnt intending to pick on DU as a isolated case, it just came to mind,,as a local example,,

Wouldn't this suggest that conservation should not be left up to local groups? Many of these initiatives have global implications. Wouldn't you think a global system of governance will be more appropriate?

Guy