I had the displeasure yesterday of being up close to the shooting Neanderthals, who gathered for the black swan cull in Tauranga Harbour. My intention was to try to get photos of this slaughter.
As if on a picnic, they gather in their camouflage gear keen and almost pleasured by the thrill from this primitive murderous act. Boats herded the swans (they call it a drive! Strangely offended by the word ‘cull'?) towards Bluegum Bay, lines of men and women waded out into the water to blast these magnificent birds from the sky.
I was mortified by the laughter and shouts of glee from these people when another bird plummeted into the water, some not dying straight away, drowning at my feet. These monogamous vegetarian harmless birds have been much maligned.It is said they eat flounder! I would suggest that their browsing on sea grass will also gather baby flounder inadvertently, they say they foul the harbour? It is tidal! What about run-off from farmland? I am not suggesting poisoning, but there must be a more humane way of controlling swan numbers, if indeed they need to be, as no one has shown any research to back this cull up!
I am ashamed be one of the species that can do such things, ashamed to live in New Zealand, where all we preach is clean and green!
Please write in to DOC, your council and any other body that can stop this type of event from continuing.Or of course you could just sit back and do nothing and go out for the day when the bay fills with the blood of these wondrous birds!
Phil McKernon, Katikati.