Shooting Pelicans

I recently learned that certain State Employees have chosen to shoot Pelicans on the pier with paintball guns in an attempt to rid the pier of the sometimes pesky birds.
I've also been told by others that photos are not allowed while they're doing this.
Now I know these birds can be a nuisance at times. But this tactic seems cruel to me. I know others have been warned about harassing them, but this seems to be the extreme. I didn't think it was legal to harass wildlife of any kind and that should hold true for State Employees as well. Just sayin'....

as stated before i think the constant “feeding” of the birds is the problem, same as the sharks. at some point they might have it all to their own.

but technically, isn’t the targeting and hooking of fish harassment of the species whether legal or not?

just playing devil’s advocant here but the pelicans don’t die. just get a nice tattoo.

I'd be taking pictures for sure.....

Paint ball's hurt !! , In the early days of the sport safety gear was eye protection when we played.
Had some black and blue marks each time, Now bird bones particularly wings are small and can easily broken as are neck bones too . I'm not in favor of this practice, You'll end up crippling some birds ,

Who did you hear this from????
If it wasn’t a park ranger or manager, I’d call BS.

Why not install the guard things on top of the light poles to keep birds off and make them so they don't fall off. Think you could serve the same purpose with a hand held air horn or loud speaker. Them we could try M80's on the sharks to keep them away.

or just tell the 'snowbirds' they are "good eating".
Problem solved ;-)

Wow!
That is carazy that anyone would shoot any projectile at the 'dodo' birds.
Anyway they are NOT protected from "harassment", only outright killing (which I must admit I may have considered a few times ;-)

Federal Migratory Bird Act... https://www.fws.gov/le/USStatutes/MBTA.pdf

Alabama Non-Game Birds... https://www.outdooralabama.com/hunti...ma-regulations

Maybe the story claims no photos allowed so as to prevent any one calling BS and asking for photo proof.

I've probably seen thirty or forty pelicans in the water at the cleaning station and I haven't seen any evidence at all of paintballs being shot. I imagine that people have speculated that shooting them with a paintball gun could run them off. As for it actually being done - I doubt it. I try to run pelicans off from the pier railing with the water hose at the cleaning station. That's when they generally just join the others below.

But while I'm thinking about it, there's this: I SOMETIMES can't get a hook out of a whiting's throat and end up cutting the line and just putting on a new hook. It's really important, I think, to MARK those fish so that when I fillet them, I remind myself to cut the hook out so that it's not ingested by the pelicans who invariably consume the carcass. I mark the fish by cutting off part of the tail with my pliers.

It's really not a good idea to feed pelicans at all, much less just carcasses...

Should grind them up or haul them to the dumpsters or a cooler to be used as bait. The carcusses not the Pelicans.

Is that your final answer ;-) lol

from wiki:

Alcatraz Island was given its name by the Spanish because of the large numbers of brown pelicans nesting present. The word alcatraz is itself derived from the Arabic al-caduos, a term used for a water-carrying vessel and likened to the pouch of the pelican.

maybe we just send them to prison...

The source is several other regular trusted fisherman that have witnessed the paintball shooting of pelicans. These are people who object to the practice and have been told not to take photos.

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Originally Posted by fshntime

The source is several other regular trusted fisherman that have witnessed the paintball shooting of pelicans. These are people who object to the practice and have been told not to take photos.

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no photos ....OK shoot videos or the people set up to go live on fb even better

I think that there's a substantial difference between "feeding pelicans" carcasses of whiting (and other fish) and pelicans feeding on discarded whiting carcasses in the water. Tossed a fish, pelicans could maybe-possibly get the fish stuck in its pouch due to the unnatural entry. The bird would seem to have an easier time of it if it gets it (the fish) out of the water and manipulates it in its pouch by itself. Consider that a pelican usually (when fish are available near the surface) gets its meals by dive-bombing from great heights to capture live fish. From the present cleaning station, there's no choice but to discard the carcasses into the water. I'm happy to listen to other suggestions regarding disposal if anybody has solutions, keeping in mind the present state of things. No fish grinder disposal system seems to be in the plans and cleaning the fish at home, at the rental house, condo or hotel room are not realistic alternatives for pier patrons. I've noted many dozens of pelicans at the pier feasting on discards with zero ill effects from all appearances. The bigger threat to pelicans seems to be when they attack a hooked fish or when they fly into fishermen's lines, both of which are perils to the pelican because of coexistence.

I think that the real danger to pelicans, with respect to damage to their pouch, lies in CERTAIN FISH, especially live, being pitched to them. Most people know how damaging a sheepshead's dorsal fins could be. Imagine a small live sheepshead being pitched to a pelican, which would instinctively catch it and then would have difficulty with the puncturing quality of the spines and the strength of the fish. THAT would likely be lethal, as opposed to a pelican in the water washing down a whiting carcass, which lacks those penetrating characteristics.

Again, though - if anyone has a better solution to the present paradigm, I'm open to suggestions. Possibly there need to be alternative strategies for disposing of sheepshead carcasses in the coming months, when the bite heats up.

Tom, its is actually being done as witnesses by several of my friends who have been told not to take pictures! Shootings are at random times. Probably why you haven't witnessed it yet...

would not the paint be seen on the bird? at least for bit? i’ve had the stuff on me for a bit. granted i didn’t dive into water for fish, or shower...

also we’re in their backyard. it’s up to us to find a responsible solution.

If we're not going to get a grinder why doesn't everyone just agree to not throw a whole carcuss over the rail. how much harder could it be to cut it up in 3-4 pieces then throw it over. We have to correct this problem because the next step for the state is to remove the cleaning tables.

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Originally Posted by j. gravy

would not the paint be seen on the bird?

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You'd think so! I talked to one of the guys today, on the pier, who said that he witnessed it. I think that it's strange that it happened (or happens), but maybe this is a proven technique for keeping pelicans off the pier. I'm hoping that when fish start schooling up, at the top of the water column, those pelicans will start flying off in search of the meals again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fshntime

Tom, its is actually being done as witnesses by several of my friends who have been told not to take pictures! Shootings are at random times. Probably why you haven't witnessed it yet...

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As I showed you with my flip-phone, they're in no danger of my taking their picture! Thanks for the heads-up, though. I would have been alarmed if I had seen someone going out to the cleaning station with a military-styled weapon! Now I know it'll just be "Thump-A-Pelican Day".

why can’t they shoot paint balls at the sharks?

Pic from The OBA Group on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6d&oe=5CCFB9A3

M80's for the sharks.

looks like they are plunking the pelicans with pelican colored paintballs.

btw, respect the alliteration there.

I wonder if they read the bird hazing manual?

https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/21638.pdf

Carl,
This practice has been witnessed by several of the pier regulars whom I know and trust that dont like the pests either. But thought the practice was cruel.