Ok, so I realize there's a world of other things happening right now that need far more attention than this matter, but it's been a point of contention for me for weeks (even years) now and I thought this a good place to share.
I've only written one other diary here, and I guess that means I only write about something that I'm truly passionate about, so this must be one of those cases. Actually I'm not only passionate about this tragedy, but I'm recently traumatized by it.
It's the mass farming of game birds for the purpose of hunters' pleasure to shoot them, and what happens to them before they meet their untimely death.
I will warn you, if you are of a weak constitution, you may not want to read further. But if you respect life of all kinds, and feel compelled to help, please read on below the orange feathers.
I moved into my current home almost two years ago, happy to have joined an agrarian community. What I didn't know was that there is a game bird farm that stretches for hundreds of acres adjoining the property.
I began to see ring necked pheasants in my yard, and thought nothing of it, until one Saturday morning I heard gunshots behind my house. With a little help from Google I realized that I live next door to a large game bird farm. This farm raises pheasants, among other birds, and sells both egss and young birds for the sole purpose of hunting them. They also invite hunters to pay for privileges of shooting the birds in my back yard.
I mostly ignored this brutal practice, until this year, when I found several young birds wandering around the lawn with these funny little "hoods" on. I thought at first they were tags, used to identify the birds. I would do my best to "shoo" them back to the farm and hope that they would be ok. I was completely wrong on all accounts.
The little "hoods" were actually blinders, installed via a painful process of piercing the birds nasal septum and attaching a plastic shield so that the birds cannot see directly in front of them. This is supposedly to prevent them from pecking at each other, as they're apparently carnivorous (according to the salesmen of said blinders).
So a few weeks ago, my 15 year old daughter (an animal lover and very experienced raiser of chickens) found what we thought was a wounded pheasant near the road. She brought her in and we determined that she was unable to move on her own, so I called a local wildlife rehabilitator who came the next morning to check her out. Turns out, the bird had been apparently lost from the farm for days, and because of the blinders, unable to find food for herself, and she was starving to death.
Because she was a domesticated bird, the wildlife people were unable to take her, but referred me to a nearby sanctuary, and suggested we keep her warm. We tucked a bottle of hot water by her side, wrapped in her little basket, and headed off to the sanctuary.
The people I met there were beyond amazing. They opened the door, being careful not to let one of their many rescued birds from flying away, and immediately took this little baby into their arms. I told them the story and they promised to do everything they could to save her. They told me to come back a few days later, as they were having a fundraising yard sale, and I could check on her then.
Well once the panic was over, I had a few minutes to look into this sanctuary, and what I found was a very small, but well established 501 (c) called Cloa's Ark Animal Sanctuary, located in Greenfield Massachusetts.
Patrick and Claudette, are both French immigrants and some of the nicest people I've ever met. Their love for animals is beyond anything I've experienced. I've worked for very large animal rescues but these two humble folks surpass any expectations. They have had a long road and tough times, and are now facing another move, trying to find a permanent home for not only the birds, but goats, and cows that they have rescued.
So I followed up with them, as promised, on Saturday, only to learn that our little girl did not survive the night. She had been away from the farm for too long.
I had called the farm owner the day of our discovery and only after I learned of the bird's passing, did I receive a phone call. The woman I spoke to was pleasant, but told me to basically drop off any birds I'd found to the farm behind my house, or dispatch them as I saw fit. (I had also contacted PETA and they told me to kill the bird on my own as well) I need to clarify here that I explained to everyone with whom I spoke that I have solid experience in raising and processing my own chickens, so I guess it was a given that I would be able to slaughter this or any pheasant.
Saturday came and went, it was sad, but I'd made new friends at the sanctuary and was hopeful. That evening, as i was leaving my driveway, I saw another pheasant, same hood, in the road, and a car was coming. I parked in my driveway and tried to hail the driver coming down the road, but he ran her over and she flapped toward the sidewalk.
I ran to her, and realizing that she was severely wounded, I quickly snapped her neck. (it was more horrifying than that but I won't go into detail).
I then emailed the owner of the game farm and told her I was done with rescuing and dispatching her birds. I haven't heard from her since.
Killing that little bird made me feel like a monster, but I realize that someone needs to be held responsible for this inhumane practice. I understand they have a business, but they need to establish guidelines for the safety of these birds. This summer alone, I have counted six loose birds, 3 dead in the road (not counting the ones I found) and just yesterday one became road kill in front of my house. The blinders that are put through the beaks of these birds prevent them from finding food, as well as making it hard for them to escape predators. The Pin style blinders have been banned in some places, including the UK.
There is another aspect of this operation, which is the insurmountable stench that comes with the farm spreading the manure at the end of every day. The sky is a foggy orange color over the farm, and the smell is so overwhelming that I need to close all my windows, regardless of the heat. I can't imagine that this many birds, producing that much waste, can be healthy, because I sure as hell don't feel so well. I've also contacted the EPA and am waiting to hear from them.
So it's a combination of outrage at the dangers of raising these birds without accountability for their whereabouts, or the effect on the environment, and putting pins through their beaks that prevent them from surviving outside the farm. But it's also about supporting tiny rescue organizations that are willing to help return these birds to full health...and from there, who knows?
I would ask any animal lovers to please look into this practice of raising game birds for hunting, reach out wherever you can, and support your local sanctuaries and wildlife rescue organizations.
I hope tomorrow, I'll find a bird that I can save.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I am now working with the owners of Cloa's Ark to get them listed on Guidestar, fundraising and working with the community to find them a suitable, permanent home for their animals. Please visit their site at http://www.cloark.com/...)