As of 50-hrs prior to the opening of the 2024 duck hunting season, hunting access restrictions are again in force in the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve (LCSGR) due to the presence of “at least 1 Orange bellied parrot” (www.gma.vic.gov.au). Yup. That’s all it takes. However, duck hunters will still be able to hunt ducks at LCSGR, where most of them hunt-ducks! I’ll take that as a win! (see map below). I’d like to think that Steve Dimopoulos, Victorian government Minister for Outdoor Recreation and Minister for Environment has been reading my orange-bellied-flops-in-the-duck-pond.htmlWhat the FWC? Blog (dated 6/12/2023) and taken my advice😉. In fact, I’d be happy to think he (and his advisers) just had a long-hard think about how to be good outdoor recreation managers and came up with this idea themselves. Either way, I believe it’s a good outcome for duck hunters and for advocates for the Orange bellied parrot. Realistically, those two groups are probably now mutually exclusive after the fiasco in 2023. Let’s hope they can all become one big group of advocates for wetland birds and their habitat again soon.
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The role of hunting in waterfowl conservation: The Artificial Intelligence viewpointBy Paul Brown and ChatGPT So, there is a lot of current interest in artificial intelligence, or A.I., and its ability to provide information on virtually any topic. A.I. systems such as “ChatGPT” are essentially knowledge-systems that are trained on existing knowledge and provide a conversation-based platform on which to interrogate a vast depth of that knowledge, on almost any subject.
Given FWC’s current engagement in the debate around the future of game bird (i.e. duck and quail) hunting in Victoria and South Australia I thought it would be appropriate to seek the A.I. viewpoint from ChatGPT with two simple questions (in bold below). The following conversation ensued, (here reproduced un-edited and in-full) “Q1: Can regulated hunting be useful in waterfowl conservation programs?” “ChatGPT: Yes, regulated hunting can be useful in waterfowl conservation programs. Hunting of waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, can be managed through well-designed regulations and quotas to ensure sustainable populations while providing recreational opportunities for hunters. Here are some reasons why regulated hunting can be beneficial for waterfowl conservation: 1. Population Management: Regulated hunting can help manage waterfowl populations at levels that are compatible with the carrying capacity of their habitats. By setting scientifically informed hunting quotas based on population surveys and research, wildlife management authorities can control population size to prevent overpopulation or habitat degradation. 2. Habitat Conservation: Hunting can provide financial resources for habitat conservation initiatives. Many countries and states fund conservation programs through hunting license fees and excise taxes on hunting equipment, such as firearms and ammunition. These funds are often dedicated to wetland restoration, habitat preservation, and research projects, benefiting not only waterfowl but also a wide range of other species. 3. Adaptive Harvest Management: Progressive waterfowl conservation programs employ adaptive harvest management strategies. These approaches involve monitoring population dynamics, habitat conditions, and harvest data to make informed decisions on hunting regulations. By adjusting hunting seasons, bag limits, and hunting areas based on population and environmental conditions, authorities can ensure sustainable hunting practices while safeguarding waterfowl populations. 4. Conservation Partnerships: Regulated hunting often fosters partnerships between wildlife management agencies, hunters, and conservation organizations. Collaborative efforts can lead to shared research, habitat restoration projects, and educational initiatives aimed at promoting responsible hunting practices and raising awareness about waterfowl conservation. Such partnerships enhance conservation efforts and contribute to the long-term sustainability of waterfowl populations. 5. Species Management: Regulated hunting can target specific waterfowl species for management purposes. For example, if a particular species becomes too abundant or poses a threat to other species or their habitats, hunting regulations can be tailored to control their numbers. This targeted approach helps maintain ecological balance and conserves overall biodiversity. 6. Data Collection and Research: Hunting seasons provide an opportunity for collecting valuable data on waterfowl populations. Through hunting license requirements and mandatory reporting of harvested birds, wildlife management agencies can gather crucial information on population demographics, migration patterns, and habitat use. These data contribute to research, modeling, and conservation planning efforts. It's important to note that regulated hunting must be based on sound scientific principles, with close monitoring and adaptive management strategies in place. By carefully balancing hunting opportunities with conservation goals, regulated hunting can contribute to waterfowl population management, habitat conservation, and the sustainable use of wildlife resources.” “Q2: Will banning duck hunting be useful to conserve waterfowl populations?” “ChatGPT: The question of whether banning duck hunting would be useful to conserve waterfowl populations is a complex and debated topic. While a complete ban on duck hunting may seem like a straightforward solution to protect waterfowl, the impact of such a ban on conservation efforts requires careful consideration. Here are some points to consider: 1. Population Management: Well-regulated hunting can be an effective tool for population management. Hunting seasons and bag limits are typically designed to ensure sustainable harvest levels that do not negatively impact waterfowl populations. Banning hunting entirely may remove a management tool that allows for population control, potentially leading to unintended consequences such as overpopulation, increased competition for resources, and habitat degradation. 2. Conservation Funding: Duck hunting licenses, permits, and associated taxes often contribute to funding conservation programs. These financial resources play a crucial role in habitat conservation and restoration efforts that benefit waterfowl populations. A ban on hunting would eliminate a significant source of revenue that supports habitat protection and management activities. 3. Stakeholder Engagement: Hunters and hunting organizations often play an active role in waterfowl conservation. They contribute to wetland conservation, support research initiatives, and participate in habitat restoration projects. Banning hunting could potentially diminish the engagement and support of these stakeholders, leading to reduced involvement in conservation efforts. 4. Cultural and Social Considerations: Hunting traditions and cultural practices related to waterfowl hunting have existed for centuries in various communities. For some individuals, hunting is a deeply ingrained part of their heritage and lifestyle. Banning hunting without considering cultural and social factors could lead to conflicts and a lack of public support for conservation efforts. 5. Sustainable Harvest and Wildlife Management: Hunting regulations can be designed to ensure sustainable harvest levels that consider waterfowl population dynamics and reproductive potential. By setting appropriate bag limits and hunting seasons, wildlife managers can maintain healthy populations while providing recreational opportunities for hunters. These regulations can be adapted and refined over time based on scientific research and monitoring data. 6. Alternative Conservation Measures: While hunting is one tool for waterfowl conservation, other measures can also contribute to their protection. Wetland restoration, habitat preservation, predator management, and educational programs can complement hunting regulations to ensure the long-term sustainability of waterfowl populations. It's worth noting that the impact of a ban on duck hunting would depend on specific regional contexts, including the status of waterfowl populations, hunting practices, and conservation efforts already in place. In some situations, temporary hunting moratoriums or stricter regulations may be more effective than an outright ban. Ultimately, the decision to ban duck hunting or adopt alternative conservation measures requires a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological, social, and economic factors involved, along with consideration of the long-term sustainability of waterfowl populations and their habitats.” Editor’s note: It should be noted that ChatGPT is not completely unbiased, and in fact it says about itself, “I don't have beliefs, opinions, or biases of my own. However, I can learn biases from the text that I've been trained on, which may reflect the biases present in the data. I have been trained on a diverse range of internet text, so I may have picked up certain biases present in those sources.” So, any biases it contains are essentially the collective viewpoint synthesised from all the diverse range of internet text sources from which ChatGPT learned. That specific training material included books, articles, websites, and other publicly available written content available up until September 2021. Exposing the model to a wide array of topics, covering areas such as science, literature, history and technology. I suggest that, given the subject matter of the above questions it would be almost impossible for any other unbiased group, or decision-making process to come up with less biased answers. I can only hope that the Victorian and South Australian government committees presently considering the future of "game bird hunting" in those states, are as well informed, and unbiased, as Chat GPT. If you don’t believe me, ask ChatGPT yourself? https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt How NOT to work with the community on threatened species conservationDuck hunting has never been identified as a threatening process for critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. The main threats to this species are from habitat loss (e.g., coastal development and climate change). The recovery plan includes a captive breeding program (DELWP 2016). In Victoria and Tasmania, juveniles are raised and released to join the over-wintering population in Victoria and South Australia feeding and roosting in coastal saltmarsh and chenopod scrublands. Figure 1. The Orange-bellied parrot, Neophema chrysogaster (photo courtesy of Victorian State Government) The Connewarre State Game Reserve (CSGR) covers 3193 Ha between Geelong and the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads in Victoria. CSGR includes several distinct areas, Reedy Lake (550 Ha), Hospital Swamps (345 Ha) and Lake Connewarre (including Salt swamp, Orange-bellied Parrot reserve, Murtnaghurt Lagoon and the lower estuary) (2298 Ha) (Figure 2). On the 19th May 2023 the entire CSGR was closed to duck hunting to “ensure the safe release of captive-bred critically endangered orange-bellied parrots in the area”. The hunting season had already been shortened with a later start and was scheduled to finish several weeks earlier than normal on the 30th May. On the day the decision was announced (16th May), I wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Hon Ingrid Stitt urging her to review the decision, and delay the release of the Orange Bellied Parrots until after the season had closed. Five weeks later, I received a reply containing little more information than was in the original official media release and stating, “Hunting activity close to a known Orange-bellied parrot location has the potential to interrupt important feeding and flocking activities”, and “The release of the captive birds is timed to coincide with returning migratory birds and seasonal food availability”. Figure 2. Image of Connewarre State Game Reserve showing Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp west of Tait Point (red line) and Lake Connewarre east of Tait Point (Google Earth, June 2023). Vegetation classes useful for Orange-bellied Parrots (for feeding, roosting and cover), include Chenopod shrublands & saltmarsh (Loyn, Lane, Chandler, & Carr, 1986). These vegetation types do grow in small areas around the extreme margins of Reedy Lake above the normal high-water mark (Figure 3.) Reedy Lake is the largest freshwater lake in central Victoria and is predominantly reed beds, open water and aquatic vegetation with only 9-50 Ha (2-10%) of this saltmarsh herb fields (Billows & Gwyther, 2007; Ecological Associates, 2014)(See Figure 3). Data is sparser on Hospital Swamp, but it would be similar (let’s say 35 Ha, 10%). Whereas Lake Connewarre is predominantly saltmarsh and Chenopod scrub (i.e., Orange-bellied Parrot habitat) as well as open water. Conservatively, 40% of land around Lake Connewarre (east of Tait Point, Figure 2) within the CSGR is composed of Orange-bellied Parrot feeding and roosting habitat (915 Ha). Figure 3. Vegetation mapping of Reedy Lake 2012 (above) and 2013 (below) from Ecological Associates (2014). Vegetation type “4.1 Sarcocornia quinqueflora Herbfield” may include Orange-bellied Parrot feeding habitat (Beaded Glasswort). Duck hunting is normally permitted, within the designated season, everywhere on the CSGR except a section of the southern end of Lake Connewarre and the upper estuary known as the Orange-bellied Parrot reserve. However, virtually all the duck hunting occurs only on Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp, west of Stacy’s Road (Tait Point). I have personally never heard of anybody hunting ducks east of Tait Point, although it is legal to do so. This separate-distribution of Orange-bellied Parrot habitat and preferred duck hunting areas means that the chances of Orange-bellied Parrots being close enough to duck hunters at Reedy Lake or Hospital Swamp for disturbance to occur is minimal as they are most likely to be in the high concentrations of Orange-bellied Parrot habitat in Lake Connewarre (Salt swamp, Murtnaghurt Lagoon, Orange-bellied Parrot reserve and the estuary) east of Tait Point. If released birds do stray into the Reedy Lake or Hospital Swamps habitats, they are surely less likely to find and flock with returning migrant, Orange-bellied Parrots than if they are in the larger areas of Orange-bellied Parrot habitat in Lake Connewarre. Hence paradoxically, moderate disturbance to any released birds west of Tait Point may even make them more likely to rendezvous with wild migrants by moving them off to undisturbed habitats east of Tait Point. The decision in May 2023 to curtail duck hunting on the entire Connewarre SGR was bizarre and unwarranted. A search of the published literature finds nothing to back up the assertion that OBP are particularly susceptible to disturbance. “Hunting” doesn’t get a mention in the National Recovery Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot although “truck noise” and aircraft and helicopter noise have apparently been investigated (unpublished reports not sighted by author) as threatening processes (DELWP, 2016). [LATE EDIT: In the report “Assessing waterbird susceptibility to disturbance by duck hunters in Victoria”, the author subjectively evaluates the potential susceptibility to disturbance of 39 species as a susceptibility score. They give Orange-bellied Parrot one of the lowest scores (tied at 37th with a score of 0.5), but then go on to elevate the species to the top three because of its Critically Endangered conservation status (Menkhorst, 2019). In other words, based on the perceived risk.] The closure was premature even on conservation-grounds, as published research shows that Orange-bellied Parrot migrants continue to increase in abundance within the Port Phillip Ramsar site remnant overwintering population (Figure 4) up to early August and remain until September (Loyn et al., 1986). Birds released following the scheduled close of duck season 2023 would have had 16 weeks to rendezvous with returning wild migrants, (following a normal full-season year they still would have had 13 weeks). Figure 4. The season and duration of the period when Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) are in Victoria from counts observed in the Point Wilson area from Loyn et al 1986 “Ecology of orange-bellied parrots, Neophema chrysogaster at their main remnant wintering site.” The early closure of CSGR alienated 100s, if-not 1000s, of local and regional residents who are duck hunter, wrongly labelling them as a threat to Orange-bellied Parrot conservation. Curtailing duck hunting on the entire Connewarre SGR to avoid “disturbance” or “interrupting important feeding and flocking activities” was unnecessary when almost all the Orange-bellied Parrot habitat is in parts of the SGR not frequented by duck hunters. Better solutions would have included:
References Cited Billows, C., & Gwyther, J. (2007). Ecological study of Lake Connewarre Wetlands Complex. Deakin University. DELWP. (2016). National Recovery Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot, Neophema chrysogaster. Prepared by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning with support from the Orange-bellied Parrot National Recovery Team. Ecological Associates. (2014). Reedy Lake Vegetation Monitoring Final Report to Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. Loyn, R. H., Lane, B. A., Chandler, C., & Carr, G. W. (1986). Ecology of orange-bellied parrots neophema chrysogaster at their main remnant wintering site. Emu, 86(4), 195–206. https://doi.org/10.1071/MU9860195 Menkhorst, P. (2019). Assessing waterbird susceptibility to disturbance by duck hunters in Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute Technical Report Series No. 305. My personal submission to the Select Committee on Victoria's Recreational Native Bird Hunting ArrangementsThe Victorian government is holding an "inquiry" into game bird hunting and is presently seeking submissions from interested parties. I encourage anyone with a viewpoint to make a submission here. It doesn't have to be long. It just has to be heartfelt. My personal views are expressed below. My submission is in. Where's yours? ![]() I grew up in the UK and hunted ducks and geese and other gamebirds as a student to supplement my meagre diet. Emigrating to Australia in 1990, game bird hunting for ducks and quail are a huge part of my way of life still. I currently own two bird dogs, a retriever and a pointer, and have spent 100s of hours training them specifically to help me hunt game birds. My last three dogs were also bird dogs for the same purpose. My kids have hunted with me, making many happy memories. I own 4 boats of different types and sizes and a 4x4 vehicle. Three of these boats I often used for duck hunting. Hunting ducks and geese is in my cultural background. It is my family tradition. I have no doubt that my ancestors, although of Saxon/Norse/Norman/Celtic heritage, have hunted ducks, geese and other gamebirds for as many generations as you can count. I lived in NSW for six years and hunted ducks there until it was banned in 1995. Not being able to hunt ducks in NSW was a key factor in me relocating my family to Victoria in 1997. I have been a licensed recreational duck hunter for 26-years since I moved to Victoria in 1997, each year I have purchased a Game Licence, and every year I have hunted ducks. I have also occasionally purchased licences from the Northern Territory, Tasmania and South Australia and hunted ducks in those jurisdictions. In recent years it has been very difficult to plan holidays around duck-season. The lack of surety of having a season until the “last minute” means that family life is often disrupted, and plans put on hold. Purchases of new equipment for hunting have been delayed or abandoned this year and last year due to this uncertainty. In the last three State elections I have carefully voted “below the line” for candidates offering support for recreational hunting and refuse to vote for parties or candidates that won’t off that support. I generally hunt alone. Using a set of duck decoys and calls to lure game ducks into range. I speak ducklish, and can often persuade passing ducks to pay me a visit with a few well chosen “quacks”. My young dog, “Grizz”, is hunting her second season with me this year. She loves to go hunting and sits quietly with me while we wait for ducks. She has proudly and efficiently retrieved at least 20 ducks so far. My old dog, “Flo” is an expert at finding and pointing Stubble quail. She is a thirteen-year-old canine senior-citizen, yet to see her with quail scent in her nostrils she floats across the paddocks like liquid smoke. She lives for it—like me. I always have carried out my duck hunting by the rules, despite some of those rules recently being designed seemingly to persecute and frustrate the licensed recreational hunter with little apparent justification. The inconsistent, last-minute, overbearing nature of these regulations seems like a symptom of poor government to me and many others. Wildlife management should be driven by scientific principles of population management rather than emotional likes-and-dislikes of any sector of society. This includes management of the sustainable use of wildlife such as game ducks and quail, as well as management for control of pest wildlife. Wildlife science and game management have a proven record in managing the population recovery and ongoing management of many animal populations around the world, particularly in N. America Africa and Europe. Australia, including Victoria and South Australia should adopt these same principles. Let’s use the best available science to guide the sustainable use of wild game bird populations, as we do our wild fisheries resources. I have some experience with game bird hunting in South Australia and Tasmania where I enjoyed the hunting. Both these States offered more generous bag-limits and season durations than Victoria in the years I hunted there. I had also planned a goose and duck hunting holiday in the NT which was cancelled due to covid-19 restrictions in 2021. I have hunted ducks on the rice crops in NSW under a pest mitigation licence where there were effectively no bag-limits, and hunting could start as early and finish as late as you like (even under spotlights at night where the ducks are blinded and helpless). I felt however, that this de-valued the ducks. Treating them as “pests” made for lower personal satisfaction with my harvest. I estimate that I would typically spend $500-$2000 per year on the expenses associated with hunting ducks in Victoria. Perhaps more if interstate travel is involved. However, in the future I know I could rarely afford to travel overseas to hunt ducks if it was no-longer available in Australia. During a typical “full season” year I would probably hunt ducks once per week and quail, maybe 2-3 times a season, usually after the duck season finished. In recent years when Victorian duck season has been restricted in length I hunt more frequently. This year I have hunted three times per week so far, but I am forced to avoid weekends on my local wetland as I am fearful of meeting masked eco-terrorists, who will try to steal my ducks and vandalise my decoys and equipment. It sounds silly when you write that down, but it’s true and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I have been a Field & Game Australia (FGA) member for many years and have witnessed and been personally involved in conservation efforts by hunters such as revegetation and tree planting, litter collection, citizen science surveys and wildlife research such as duck banding. I am saddened and amazed by the apparent lack of participation in such activities by those who seek to “ban duck hunting”. Are they frightened there will be more ducks? FGA are passionate about habitat management for waterbirds and their duck nest-box and “hen-house” programs undoubtably contribute thousands of ducklings, as well as baby parrots and other birds each year. All around Victoria there are hundreds of wetlands where I have seen nest boxes stamped with the FGA logo. Its an outstanding effort for conservation. I have a small group of friends that I occasionally go duck and quail hunting with, or even just swap hunting stories with. Hunting is the only thing we have in common, and I feel that I would lose these social connections if hunting was no longer allowed. Like most 50+ year-old men, I would struggle to maintain these good friendships and probably become more socially isolated without game bird hunting. As we all know, social isolation has real physical and mental health consequences. Duck and quail hunting are activities that can be done with a moderate fitness level into a reasonable old age. Replacing duck and quail hunting with deer hunting has a limited appeal as I get older and fitness declines. I truly worry for the mental health consequences of 25,000 Victorians if duck and quail hunting is taken away from them. I wear camouflage when hunting ducks to ensure I can get within range and harvest them cleanly and efficiently. It’s an “honest deception” employed by most predators in the natural world. It seems clear to me that most of anti-duck hunting activists are also wearing camouflage. They wear the camouflage of concern for the welfare of individual “poor baby ducks” when underneath they are simply against any form of killing animals and against guns and maybe against 50+ year-old men. Well, in the real world—in my world; animals are killed in every corner of the planet in every moment of the day so that other animals, including humans, can live. It’s called ecology and this planet runs on it. Gun ownership is quite rightly, highly regulated in Australia, but as a licensed gun owner I am “certified” to be of good character, sane and have a no criminal record which is more than can be said for many. I hunt ducks and quail because I enjoy every aspect of the hunting. The challenge in finding them, the use of decoys and calls to fool ducks into coming close enough, the thrill of seeing a galloping pointing dog jam on the brakes and freeze in that posture with foot raised and snout stretching out to a quail hiding in the grass, then the marksmanship-skill in killing them, then the satisfaction in preparing them as delicious wild food for my family and friends to enjoy. At the end of the day, I don’t hunt ducks or quail to kill them, but I must kill them to have hunted them. If you don’t enjoy hunting, then you will never understand – but please don’t let that lack of understanding sour your opinion of the value of game bird hunting to those of us who do it. Long-live duck hunting everywhere, including Victoria! the occurrence of recreational hunting of ducks and geese around the world.Paul Brown |
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Paul brownI am a professional freshwater ecologist and principal of a consulting business Fisheries and Wetlands Consulting. Archives
April 2024
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