The following excerpt is from a posting on MOBIRDS (Missouri) yesterday,
thus the perfect and certainly apropos subject line exactly as it appeared
on MOBIRDS. I'm sure many of you have heard about this truly unfortunate
and sad incident. Some links here to view and read, perhaps tough viewing
for some, but informative and raises awareness (for most, tears and anger
too), plus some interesting detail pertaining to Whimbrel migration.

".... In case you haven't heard, two radio-tagged Whimbrels ("Machi" and
"Goshen") were shot by "sportsmen" recently on the caribbean island of
Guadeloupe, where the unregulated target shooting of shorebirds continues (I
don't like to call this "hunting," because...well, just because it is not). It
is the wanton slaughter of endangered long-distance migratory birds for no
reason other than to satisfy the bloodlust of local shooters. Want to get
riled up about something? Watch this video, courtesy of Greg Neise at NA
Birding (click on the link and scroll down a bit to view):
_http://www.nabirding.com/2011/09/14/and-now-another-one/_
(http://www.nabirding.com/2011/09/14/and-now-another-one/)

Here is a link to another post on the NA Birding blog by Greg about the
death of "Machi," evidently shot on the same island after surviving two
tropical storms:
_http://www.nabirding.com/2011/09/14/putting-a-face-on-it/_
(http://www.nabirding.com/2011/09/14/putting-a-face-on-it/)

....Also:
_http://blog.aba.org/2011/09/abas-ned-brinkley-makes-birders-voices-heard-en
-francais.html_
(http://blog.aba.org/2011/09/abas-ned-brinkley-makes-birders-voices-heard-en-francais.html)

The ABA is taking action on this issue and I think it is something that
all of us who enjoy birds could support. Perhaps some coordinated pressure
from all in the birding/environmental community could put a stop to this
madness. Please, no flame wars over this...I just wanted to make folks aware
and point out some positive things going on in regards to this issue.
---Doug Willis, Liberty, MO" ...end...

And here's one more link just for good measure:
"The Chittering Curlew - ABA Blog"
_http://blog.aba.org/2011/09/the-chittering-curlew.html_
(http://blog.aba.org/2011/09/the-chittering-curlew.html)
You may have to copy/paste these links into your browser address line to
view.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA