As a wildlife biologist and…

As a wildlife biologist and a professional with over 15 years experience training and caring for native raptors in an educational setting, I strongly oppose this proposal just as I opposed the original legislation that introduced the draw for wild take of raptors in Ontario.

These birds are specially protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and allowing falconers to capture and keep them demeans and diminishes that protection. It sends the wrong message to the general public about the importance of keeping these birds wild, and will encourage others to take these birds illegally. It subjects the captured birds to undue stress and the potential for injury. Most of all, it is completely unnecessary.

Captive-bred birds are widely available to falconers in Ontario, and these purpose-bred birds are far more suitable for falconry activities. In my career I have worked extensively with both human-raised and wild-raised birds (the latter coming into education programs due to permanent injury) and I can say without doubt that the level of stress and difficulty of management for wild-raised birds is significantly higher. It requires a high level of expertise and the utmost sensitivity to adapt these birds to captivity, and even then some never adapt successfully. Allowing hobbyists (including appretices) to capture and keep these birds is beyond unnecessary and even cruel.

Northern Goshawk is a particularly poor addition to the list of allowable species, as this cryptic forest bird is particularly vunerable to the high stress of captivity. I have personally known of individuals which have killed themselves flying into walls, unable to adapt to the captive life. If Northern Goshawks must be kept, captive-bred birds are by far the better option.

Please do not increase the number of raptors which may be taken out of the wild, or add Northern Goshawk to the list of allowable species. This is an unnecessary and poorly-advised exemption from existing wildlife laws, which exists only to satisfy the selfish whim of 200 Ontarians. The birds, and the many Ontarians who love and appreciate them in the wild, deserve better.