Swan Song in New York State -- Unless......

"Hector," photographed at Harlem Meer in Central Park, December, 2012.  Sadly, Hector was harassed from the Meer in the spring of 2013 and has not been seen since.  Will all of New York State's mute swans be "eliminated" by 2025 as per the current DEC plan?  If we want to still see swans in New York, we have to speak up for them.

All animals eat.  All animals poop.  And virtually all animal species occasionally display dominance or territorial behavior.

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But, more and more these days we are seeing various species of birds and other animals targeted for destruction based upon nature's dictates and callings.

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In the particular case of birds, they are also targeted for flying ability for the fear they "could" represent a "threat" to airliners.  (Never mind the fact that a person has a far better chance of being hit by lightening or winning a hundred million dollar lottery than going down in a plane due to a bird.)

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The latest bird species in the cross hairs for deliberate destruction are the 2,200 mute swans of New York State -- all of whom are targeted for "extirpation" by the NY DEC by the year 2025.

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The DEC prepared a document citing its rationalizations for "eliminating" the swans and requests public comment by next month:

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http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7076.html

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Of course, many of the allegations against the swans are similar to the ones we typically see against Canada geese. -- They eat aquatic plants, they "displace" other birds, they represent "threat" to airline safety and they are sometimes "aggressive."

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But, it seems we could say these things about many species of birds. Should they all be eliminated?

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The swans are also labeled as an "invasive species" because they were brought to this country in the nineteenth century by Europeans.

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But, this is a charge that could also be leveled against many animal species from horses to cats and dogs.  Should every animal species introduced to this country be targeted for "elimination" even if released to the wild? 

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Animals adapt and adjust to changes as do environments. Certainly, the species with the most impact upon ecology are humans and yet, environments and animal species have had to adjust to our presence and manipulation in this nation for hundreds of years.

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Why should we believe that a state and environment as large as New York cannot tolerate and adapt to 2,200 mute swans?

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Its the humans that can't seem to tolerate them.

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We need to start asking ourselves some serious questions.

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For examples:

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Can we agree that most of us like diverse wildlife in our communities? 

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Can we agree that humans are part of the ecology and have direct impact upon it for better and for worse?

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Can we agree that some birds and animals do better and adapt easier in areas with much human activity than do others (such as mallards, Canada geese, pigeons, sparrows and gulls)? Can we agree that it is virtually fruitless to try and "restore" environment and animal species to what they were prior to the pilgrims arrival? (Those days are never coming back.)

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Can we agree that it is both unwise and arrogant to "assume" that because some species have difficulty adapting to a mostly human created environment, that the more adaptable species are to blame? 

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Can we agree that just because humans introduced some species to this country, that is insufficient reason to target those species for "elimination?"

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If you agree with some or most of those statements, please submit opposing comment to the DEC plan as directed in the above link. Or, you can also post comment and sign the petition below that opposes the cull:

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https://www.change.org/petitions/new-york-state-department-of-environmental-conservation-stop-new-york-state-s-swan-killing-plan

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Ideally, we do both.

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The days of many of us seeing and admiring the beautiful swans swimming in our local lakes may soon be gone forever -- as they already are in Central Park in New York City.  -- PCA

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