The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has this week renewed an appeal to Nature Minister Malcolm Noonan to remove all the remaining amber- and red-list birds from the Open Season Order shooting list.
The latest appeal comes during National Biodiversity Week and ahead of the much anticipated broadcasting of the “Birdsong” documentary on RTE 1 this weekend.
Minister Noonan is being urged to give full protection to red-listed birds:
Snipe (whose breeding populations are now “IN SEVERE DECLINE”), Golden Plover, Shoveler, Red Grouse, Woodcock
and to amber-listed birds:
Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Greylag Goose
“These birds are in trouble,” we reminded the Minister. “They have been identified by Birdwatch Ireland and RSPB NI as birds of medium conservation concern and highest conservation concerns. Please act now to safeguard the future of these vulnerable species.”
Minister Noonan previously outlined his commitment to “support sustainable hunting practices” but this is entirely inappropriate, particularly from a Green Party representative in the context of species that are at risk of extinction.
“There must be zero hunting of these species and definite moves towardd allowing all birds to live free from the horrors of recreational shooting,” we stressed to Minister Noonan.
Please respond to our urgent action alert and scroll down to find out more about the birds and how shooters are shamefully targeting them.
Watch Birdsong on RTE One this Sunday, 26 May 2024 at 6:30pm.
ACTION ALERT
Tell Minister of State for Nature Malcolm Noonan to stop the killing and give full protection to Snipe, Red Grouse, Shoveler, Golden Plover, Woodcock, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Greylag Goose.
Malcolm Noonan TD (Green Party, Carlow Kilkenny)
Minister of State for Nature
Tel: (01) 618 3148 OR (01) 618 3156
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinisterMalcolmNoonan/
X: https://twitter.com/noonan_malcolm
The threatened birds blasted to death by shooters
The Snipe is a threatened red-list species of highest conservation concern. Breeding populations are now “in severe decline”. Shooters are allowed to kill Snipe during 153 days of the year (1st Sept – 31st Jan).
The Red Grouse is a threatened red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Red Grouse during the month of September.
The Shoveler duck is a threatened red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Shoveler ducks during 153 days of the year (1st Sept – 31st Jan).
The Golden Plover is a threatened red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill Golden Plovers during 153 days of the year (1st Sept – 31st Jan).
The Woodcock is a threatened red-list species of highest conservation concern. Shooters are allowed to kill woodcock during 92 days of the year (1 Nov to 31 Jan).
Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck – amber-listed birds of medium conservation concern. May be shot throughout the state between 1st September and 31st January.
The Greylag Goose – this amber-list bird may be shot between 1st September and 15th October (anywhere in the state) and also between 16th October and 31st January on Lady’s Island, Wexford and in Gearagh East and West in County Cork.
See the open season order at
https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/open-seasons-order
Ban Bloodsports 
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