The "Blackbirds" mentioned would almost certainly have been Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) which were regularly eaten historically in Europe. Usually young birds taken from nests before they fledged. Adult crows probably aren't the tastiest of game birds, although I suppose technically edible. I doubt many will make it to the table in this case though.
Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 18, 2014, at 10:34 AM, Paul R Sweet <sw...@amnh.org> wrote: > > Point of information, the 4 and 20 blackbirds would be Turdus merula not > crows. > > From: bounce-113350129-11471...@list.cornell.edu > [mailto:bounce-113350129-11471...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Rick & Linda > Kedenburg > Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 10:07 AM > To: Larry Federman > Cc: Jonathan Perez; Richard; Lynne Hertzog; Cesar Castillo; NYSBIRDS-L; Jim > Osterlund > Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Crow Shoot scheduled in Greene County > > Dear Larry and others, > I wrote to the club yesterday and received the following answer. (See Below) > Judging from the way it's worded I don't think they care what any of us > think. It's preposterous that they are "gathering" the crows to eat. > > Approaching our government representatives is a good way to go but perhaps > some press coverage of this event my make them think twice. I don't know any > journalists in that area that would take up the story. Anyone else have any > contacts along these lines. > > Best Rick > > From: r...@hvc.rr.com > Subject: Re: Crow Shoot > Date: March 17, 2014 10:56:54 PM EDT > To: rickkedenb...@optonline.net > Rick, > Thank you for your input. Your opinion of our event is expected. We applaud > your respect for nature and the crow. The crow is meaningful. We believe in > utilizing the animal for all its worth. It sounds as if you do not realize > that crow can and has been consumed for centuries. I'm sure as anecdotal > evidence you would recall "4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie". > You may gather and eat different things, however that does not negatively > define us as sportsmen. > RVW Gun Club > Sent from my iPhone > > On Mar 17, 2014, at 6:40 PM, Rick Kedenburg <rickkedenb...@optonline.net> > wrote: > > Dear RVW Club. > As a youth I was a duck and deer hunter on eastern LI. I know you have every > right to conduct this shoot. It is perfectly legal for this to happen under > the rules of the NYS-DEC. > > However I am still outraged by this. Crows are one of the most intelligent > creatures we share the Earth with. They have been documented to fashion and > use tools. They are highly social and live in family groups. My fascination > with them led me to love and appreciate nature long ago. > > I hope you can understand that this will not be good for the reputation of > your club or for any responsible hunters. > > Rick Kedenburg > rickkedenb...@optonline.net > > On Mar 18, 2014, at 9:26 AM, Larry Federman wrote: > > > Yes, this is a State issue. Our State Senator is Cecilia Tkaczyk and our > Assembly member is Pete Lopez. Our US congressman is Chris Gibson. I will > be reaching out to all of their offices. > > But, as we all know, ‘legally’ the club has a right to do this. > > And their Facebook page is still up - > https://www.facebook.com/events/258725434301388/ > > Larry Federman > President, Northern Catskills Audubon > > > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
