Migratory birds can rest easy now...

[Hedonist]

Sorry guys, I just had to share this with you... an article in the KJ Oct 28

Story goes like this..

A 150 yr old stuffed seagull has been a part of Cappys Chowder House's decor for over 20ys... until now.... Federal fish and wildlife officials came to rescue it after a customer complained..... guess ithe seagulls have been protected since 1918,-the Migratroy Bird Treaty Act (didnot know seagulls migrated) and even though the gull is tagged with a date of 1854.... and was already dead when the act was passed....it is still illegal .....

Cappy's is trying to get the gull placed in a museum instead of stored in a government ware house in CO.

I am thinking the F&W guys time might be better spent at the ocean where kids toss alka seltzer tablets to the gulls..... and it should probably be illegal to feed the birds as well.... messing with protected wild life so to speak...

Hope I do not sound too sarcastic.. I know the F&W both state and fed level have a purpose...at least now the birds can migrate assured they are being looked after

Denise

 

[Driftwood]

That just sounds like a really stupid reason to harass someone. I don't see how that 150 year old stuffed bird has anything to do with the laws of today...

 

[natybug]

Here's the article from the local online newspaper:

Seagull Story on Villagesoup

 

[RLMainers]

I can't believe a customer actually complained about it. That is what gets me. They should find a more constructive way to spend their time.

 

[blufyre3]

The person that complained has probably never had one of those birds take food out of their hand because sooo many people feed them. I agree, I wish we could regulate feeding them. Like the bears....

 

[T1adler]

Another instance of a quality application of our tax dollars! What ever happend to good old common sense? Give me a break. :thumbdown


Tim

 

[Driftwood]

I read the article and cannot believe the FEDS did this! The FEDS confiscating a stuffed bird? Insane, how can we allow this to happen?

This is a perfect example of how idiots and crooks take a law that was intended to help and use it to cause trouble for good people. I say go back to DC and bang your drums of war, leave us alone.

The person that made the complaint needs to get a life and mind there own business. I hate it when people go out of their way to make trouble for others, if they didn't like the bird then they could have eaten somewhere else.

 

[scunan]

What? You cant shoot seagulls(dumpducks)? I thought there was a hunting season for them lol. Just kidding! The thought did cross my mind though when one relieved itself on my head lol. Who on here has not been pooped on by one of these fine birds?

 

[spotfin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8446588#post8446588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scunan
...Who on here has not been pooped on by one of these fine birds?

A few times...


I've heard similiar stories about eating establishments that have had big stuffed lobsters taken away. The carapace length is 5"max on lobsters. So that 10 pounder on the wall is illegal, even if it is older than the law.

 

[blufyre3]

Next they'll start checking our aquariums.

 

[Driftwood]

This reminds me of a quote that scares the crap out of me.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

It really makes me want to do something. It seems like such an injustice to the owners of this restaurant and the people who visit the restaurant.

 

[Oskie]

I know this will not be popular here and I agree that removing a 150 year old bird seems a bit foolish; however Congress set up the endangered species act for a reason. Remember what happened to the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and Passenger Pigeon. It’s against Federal Law to have these things stuff and in your home or business, so what I see people saying is that it’s OK for some people to break the law and not others.

If for example, someone had a display tank in their restaurant full of endangered corals or reef rock (had gotten the them from a reef blown up using dynamite) we’d be all over that like seagulls at a dump, but to my limited knowledge there is no law for example in the Philippines preventing people from blowing up reefs or using poison to catch fish, but in general we don’t like it too much.

Having some controls on endangered species can result in their living a little longer and allows us to enjoy them at the same time and may be good for the environment to boot. Saying one person can have or display a particular species even though it’s illegal doesn’t work because then it’s OK for everyone.

Now if anyone would like to help me repeal the act that prevents shooting seagulls, please let me know. It’s an election year and I think the time is right to get our elected officials off their butts and do something about the ongoing seagull issue.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Steve

 

[Driftwood]

I understand exactly what you are saying Oskie, but in my opinion this seagull should have been 'grandfathered'. It was stuffed 150 years ago when there was a bounty on seagulls. It makes no sense at this point to remove a piece of art from that restaurant.

I could see removing a newly stuffed bird because that would have been killed after the law... Can you imagine burning all the old piano's because they have ivory keys?


Dave

 

[Oskie]

Dave,
You're right and the smell from those pianos would be awful

Steve

 

[Hedonist]

I understand what the laws intend to do, ....I do agree that protecting animals is important... yet the gull could have been grandfathered... perhaps even the person(s) who originally sold it for profit should also be chastised..... The walrus, if the guy could prove he did not kill the walrus, had shots of the bones caught in his net etc...

It's just that the laws are seem out of balance....

I can understand the state wanting to limit the chances of koi on the loose in the state.. so give the guy his permit, have the fish tagged but let him display them ....

Jacques stated that his agency wanted to send a strong message... IMO they definately are sending a message to many, and I doubt it is what he intended....

JMHO
Denise

 

[RLMainers]

I thought everyone might like to see this letter to the editor in today's Augusta Kennebec Journal. Go Tim Worley!:

Of all the things that we have to worry about, a dead, stuffed, 150-year-old sea gull isn't right up there on my list, neither is a tank full of Koi. The people who complain about these kinds of things need to get a life.
Tim Worley

Sidney