Shooting of black swans

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 14

Shooting of black swans

Sir, — Could an explanation be given for the shooting of a large number of. black swans on Lake Forsyth in recent days? The Acclimatisation Society claims it was in response to appeals from farmers in the area to reduce the numbers of birds. Who decides if such appeals are valid? How many farmers raised the matter? How many members of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society Council took part in the shootings? What was the role of the Wildlife Branch of the Internal Affairs Department in this? Why were the carcases allowed to float around the lake shores? Can the shooter now look forward to black swans being put back on the licence? — Yours, etc * JOHN HAY. October 30, 1980[Mr B. F. Webb, chief executive officer of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, replies: “Under. Section 30 of the Wildlife Act, T 953, the society has, as one of its many functions, the day-to-day management of all gamebirds, including the control of these birds when they are causing damage to pasture. Any complaint is first investigated by society field staff who assess : the degree of damage, if any. If damage is present, the ranger may discharge a shotgun to scare birds off, or failing, this, place a scaregun on .the paddock

to discharge at a certain time period and so keep the birds away. In extreme situations, when neither of these methods succeeds, an authority is issued to a society councillor by myself, to arrange for an organised shoot of the birds by a group of licensed gameshooters. Such an authority is issued pursuant to Sections 54 and 56 of the Wildlife Act, 1953, and under an ‘authority to control game birds causing damage’ given annually to the society by the Wildlife Service, Wellington. It was under such an authority, that a society councillor was given permission to scare, and if necessary, kill black swan predating pasture on three properties round Lake Forsyth, this permit being for a one month period only. At the commencement of the control, 1000 black swan were present on these three properties, and did not respond to either of the scaring methods. Fourteen shooters under the supervision of a society councillor, took part in the control. Twenty-five birds were shot and, as is usual procedure, left so as to deter other swan from, encroaching on to the paddocks. Most of these dead birds were subsequently collected after four days, when their prevention value had ceased; however, several black swan carcasses could not be retrieved owing to the depth of water. This control measure was very effective in scaring the birds away from the Lake Forsyth pasture, and once again, illustrates the close cooperation the society has, and gives, to the Federated Farmers. These control measures, however, have very little to .do with putting the black swan on the licence as this relates to breeding success, availability and quality of feed, and age structure within the swan population. The shooter will have to wait some years before the black swan is back on the licence.”]