The following list identifies all the game species, protected and endangered species and swan eggs found by duck rescuer/protesters during the 2011 duck-hunting season. They are only a small proportion of an unknowable total, collected from just six public wetlands ie McDonald Swamp, Hird Swamp, Lake Buloke, Lake Connewarre, Dowd Morass and The Marshes; and a private wetlands near Melton. https://www.facebook.com/notes/debbie-lustig/coalition-against-duck-shooting-2011-duck-rescue-results/10150275342128125 The protected species illegally shot – and abandoned – are as follows. Please note one each of Freckled Duck and Blue-billed Duck: 22 Eurasian Coot 10 Black Swans/cygnets 8 Grebes (Australasian, Hoary-headed & Great Crested) 5 Plumed Whistling-ducks 5 Australian Magpies 5 Purple Swamphens 3 Musk Ducks 3 Dusky Moorhens 2 Little Ravens 2 Galahs 1 Little Button-Quail 1 Freckled Duck 1 Barn Owl 1 owl (unidentified) 1 bird of prey (unidentified) 1 Blue-billed Duck 1 Australasian Pipit 1 Black-winged Stilt 1 cormorant (unidentified) 1 Yellow-billed Spoonbill Without editorialising too much here, I will say that the membership of BA and BOCA comes to over 10,000. Holders of duck-shooting licences in Victoria number only 21,000, of which perhaps half that number actively hunt. Therefore, as birders, if we act together, we could be a powerful voice. Individually, each one of us can request a meeting with our local MP to explain our views and try to convince them to change their party’s policy. Or send letters, emails, or write to local papers. We know there are both Labor and Liberal individuals who are privately against duck hunting. It’s a matter of changing their party’s policies. ===============================
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