FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           

November 4, 2003

Contact:

            Michael Boyce

Baker Sanctuary Resident Manager

            Michigan Audubon Society

            Phone: 269/763-3090

            FAX: 269/763-3377

            E-Mail: birder73@direcway.com

Audubon Fights to Protect the People’s Desires and Mourning Doves

(Michigan Audubon Society, Lansing MI) The state’s oldest conservation organization has launched efforts to squelch a House bill (HB 5029) that would remove a nearly 100 year moratorium on hunting Mourning Doves in Michigan. 

Mike Boyce, Resident Manager of Michigan Audubon’s Baker Sanctuary and an elected township supervisor (D-Convis Township) says, “This bill is bad for Michigan for a number of reasons, mainly it ignores the repeated wishes and desires of an overwhelming number of Michigan’s residents, as indicated in poll after poll, year after year, who clearly indicate they want Mourning Doves protected, not hunted.”

“We are calling on the silent majority of Michigan’s residents to phone, FAX, email, write, and visit their state representatives and senators and once again tell them to respect the majority viewpoint rather than cave-in to the small well-financed special interests of those who would kill Mourning Doves,” said Loretta Gold, Michigan Audubon President. “Only a minority of hunters are even in favor of dove hunting in Michigan,” continues Gold.

Researcher and author, Raymond Adams Jr. (The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan) states that "Michigan is at the northern edge of the Mourning Doves' breeding range and doves regularly nest from March into October."  Therefore, the doves would potentially be nesting during a proposed hunting season.  Any hunting season in Michigan is sure to result in the orphaning and painfully cruel death of many young doves.

Another Michigan Audubon member, Julie Baker said, “Actually, there are dozens of legitimate and scientific reasons to oppose Mourning Dove hunting in Michigan. We’re tired of having to fight this same battle nearly every legislative session as dove hunting proponents continue to ‘fudge’ the ‘science’ in order to push their agenda.  Less than 10% of Michigan residents hunt and fewer than 10% of hunters want to hunt Mourning Doves - that’s a mere 1% of our residents.  Legislators like Susan Tabor (R-Delta Township) who sponsored this bill want to ignore 99% of the population.”  Baker has started the non-profit Songbird Protection Coalition to help defeat this bill and to oppose future such legislation.  She continues, “Legislators and other Michigan residents can visit our website:  www.savethedoves.org  and get the real facts along with references, and not just the rhetoric and misleading information supplied by those who would kill doves for target practice, while spreading millions of toxic lead pellets across Michigan’s landscape.”

Those interested in more information before contacting their legislators are encouraged to contact Mike Boyce 269/763-3090 (birder73@directway.com), the Songbird Coalition www.savethedoves.org , and/or the Michigan Audubon Society at 517/886-9144.

###