[All] Update on Chukar Partridge: My call with MNR

[Lanteigne]

Hi folks
I got a call about the chukar partridge I saw in Colombia Forest Subdivision. 
They say they issue permits for people to release up to 10 birds per property per year. The birds are specifically for the purpose of hunting and the species lack health issues that could impact wild populations. It is assumed the majority of them get shot and that breeding pairs would be very unlikely. Temperatures in winter kills the birds off because they are unable to survive the cold. 
In the area of Guelph, on average 10 permits for 10 birds are issued annually. The birds eat mainly plants with some intake of insects. They are not perceived as a threat to other species by the MNR but I asked what about rare plants and releases near ESPAs and high ecological constraint areas? Apparently the MNR don't do any pre-assessment on endangered species in areas where these birds are released. 
It's basically a bird for the killing to make money off of permits from hunting. There is nothing at all about actual wildlife management involved. Why are taxpayers paying for the MNR to allow hunters to basically shoot a living animal for kicks?  It seems more about the sale of guns, bullets with absolutely no regard for the impacts these shoots have on area sensitive bird species, rare plants or ecological constraints of a given area. 
Who breeds these birds? Who is making the money from this? 
This is the kinda non-sense that ticks me off. We desperately need MNR to be handing real issues putting our environment at risk. I don't want my tax dollars supporting this nonsense. If they want to shoot, do skeets not these birds. 
Lulu
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