Minister Noonan is absolutely wrong on his watch; he’s on a power trip. Shooting ducks hasn’t [caused the decline of] these four bird [species]; these [species of] duck don’t need to travel here anymore due to the warmer climate.
Birdwatch Ireland knows this and looks on, as if shooting has caused a problem. It hasn’t. Watch our lakes and wetlands that are over-populated with predators feeding on nesting birds and ask Mr Noonan and Birdwatch Ireland what progress they have made on this.
Gun clubs do as much vermin control as their members’ free time can allow. If Mr Noonan and Birdwatch Ireland want to see the population of birds grow, help ... NARGC (National Association of Regional Game Councils) clubs get more funding for vermin equipment, and materials for duck-nesting tubes, and stop their hippy egos on the shooting committees.
PS Duck for dinner.
Brendan Ryan
Hunters truly value conservation
As a national newspaper, I would expect to read a fact-based, informed, and balanced report on this very important subject. No one regards the importance of nature or holds a higher understanding of wildlife population, behaviour, and their place, more than farmers and hunters, because we are immersed in it every day.
To suggest without any evidence other than quoting “one long-time game hunter”, that hunters “throw away after shooting” woodcock, or any other species for that matter, is complete misinformation.
It is an outright lie, an effort to throw shade on our lifestyle, and implies that we do not take our responsibility as carers of the countryside seriously.
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As a hunter myself, we constantly reflect on our role and impact on wildlife and the countryside. The decline in certain wildlife populations is caused by a number of factors, including climate change, farming practices, and building and road development. This is indeed worrying and needs to be discussed by all groups, in order to find a resolution.
To suggest hunters are mindlessly killing and dumping birds is a scurrilous attack. The fact of the matter is they choose to obtain some of their family’s food in a manner which has a lesser impact on the countryside around it when compared to raising livestock or cultivating ground for crop growth.
Great efforts have been made in recent years by hunters and farmers throughout Ireland to develop wildlife habitats by planting crops, developing ponds, and erecting nesting boxes for ducks. However, this gets no media coverage which reinforces the public perception we are the cause of the problem and not part of the solution.
Aidan Brett
Lie that hunters ditch woodcock
I hunt woodcock (among other game species) and eat every one that I am lucky enough to get. We keep hearing that the numbers of snipe and woodcock in particular are in steep decline. That is a complete lie.
I see a lot of woodcock every year but the time of their arrival from overseas differs every winter as it all depends on how cold the climate is in eastern Europe; the sooner it freezes, the sooner the woodcock arrive on their migration to Ireland. Likewise, I see hundreds of snipe all year round.
It is us members of the NARGC (National Association of Regional Game Councils) that keep a count of the number of birds we see when out hunting. The National Parks and Wildlife Service doesn’t have any proven counts of these birds of any note. We are walking the land all the time and see what’s there.
You will rarely ever see a woodcock during the day unless you have a hunting dog that flushes them from the undergrowth. Without a hunting dog, you might be unaware of that and there could be lots and lots of woodcock as they are hidden away and will not move unless flushed by a gun dog.
The NPWS/Green Party do not have any scientific evidence for their very misleading statements. Who is the “long-time game hunter” you quoted as saying “all these birds have got very scarce and we should be conserving what’s left of them”? What baloney. I invite you to come out hunting with me next January to see how many woodcocks there are.
A truly angered Irish citizen.
Mr B Kelly
Hunters do most to preserve nature
As a hunter myself, I can assure you nobody shoots woodcock and throws them away. Gun clubs and hunters do more for wildlife in this country than any person or group.
We are the only ones installing duck-nesting tubes, sowing game crops, and conducting vermin control that helps not only game birds but also all other ground-nesting birds and songbirds. How come we never see an article about all the positive work that goes into it? All of this work is done at our own expense and gladly done.
If Malcolm Noonan is so concerned about the loss of wildlife in this country, how come he hasn’t stopped dairy farmers from ripping out miles of hedgerow every year to gain a few extra metres of grass for cows? Or why have farmers been told to plough in stubble fields in the autumn when so many birds and other wildlife rely on them for food over winter?
Brian Maxwell
Irish woodcock numbers growing
I write to you as an avid hunter and conservationist. The article does not represent the vast majority of hunting sports people.
Each season I harvest a few birds across various species and they are prepared as a nutritious meal for my family. Out of the bird hunting season, I control predators, and rear and release pheasants to ensure sustainable hunting. I have been doing so for the last 30 years.
Your article incorporated woodcocks. Woodcock numbers have greatly increased throughout Ireland during this time, perhaps supported by predator control. So please if you’re going to allow statements from the general public within your article, please ensure they do not contain bias from certain anti-hunting perspectives.
Enda Doran
What must tourists think of Dublin?
I am glad to report that Helen McEntee’s recent efforts have been extremely fruitful. To give you an example of just how effective these measures have been, I will share with you the pleasure I had this evening of going about my daily business in the new and improved Dublin City centre.
I left my digs in Glasnevin at 7pm and got off the bus on Pearse Street to get to my trampoline class in Trinity. On the way, a man was singing a melodious song at the top of his voice. He tried to catch my attention but I was so awed by the wonderful tune that I didn’t respond. He then called me a “f*****g b***h” and merrily went on his way. It is great to hear so much live music around the city.
When trampoline class had finished at 10pm, I escorted my sister to the bus stop so that we could enjoy the wonderful sights of Dublin together. On the way, we decided to stop at Supermacs on Westmoreland Street for a quick bite to eat. We were approached three times for spare change but unfortunately, neither of us was carrying any — however, we were struck by the gracious spirit in which our rejection was accepted, particularly by the nice lady who called us “f*****g rehabs”.
While still in Supermacs, a second lovely lady came in and screamed at the top of her lungs — I’m sure this was to thank the “f*****g Pakistani b*****d” behind the counter for the wonderful job he had done making her food. It must be a great relief for tourists to see how friendly and welcoming the locals are.
Once we left Supermacs, I walked my sister to her bus stop. We were stopped on the way by a lady throwing a bag of sweets at my feet. When I bent over to pick it up for her, another two generous ladies appeared from nowhere, kindly shadowing me and my bag closely from behind to make sure that no one would rob me. It is nice to see how everyone looks out for each other in Dublin.
After my sister was safely deposited at her bus stop, I walked back to mine but found that I would be waiting for a few minutes (which was strange because usually the buses in Dublin are never late).
I decided to head back into Supermacs to get an ice cream. As I walked towards the counter, a lady began to shout at me about recording her. I originally didn’t reply as I hadn’t been recording so I didn’t know that the statements were directed at me, however, I felt I had to reply once the lady appeared right beside me and kindly offered to smash my head in. I informed her that I hadn’t in fact recorded anything and swiftly left the shop without ordering as she seemed to be rather hard of hearing and wasn’t accepting my answers.
I returned to the bus stop and was followed by a tall, strong man who very politely and persistently asked me to delete the non-existent video of his lady friend. It was nice to see how nobody in Supermacs or at the bus stop interfered in our conversation — tourists in Dublin can be sure their privacy will be respected at all costs.
To conclude, I would like to thank the government again for the wonderful job they have done cleaning up Dublin City centre. If it weren’t for the great work being done by our politicians, 5’2” 54kg young ladies like myself would be vulnerable to being verbally assaulted, threatened, and harassed regularly when going about their daily business.
I am glad to say I live in a beautiful city like Dublin where this is not accepted — and I hope this continues to be the way.
Grace Minnock
Rahan, Co. Offaly
