Note Change in Migratory Birds Regulations

Hello Guys,

I thought that you should note and know about an important change that has been a long-time coming for Canadian waterfowlers.

Further to my initial proposal for a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season to the CWS in October of 2010, my additional subsequent correspondence justifying such a season early in 2011, their Tundra Swan Season Assessment conducted between April of 2011 and August of 2013 (which fully supported such a season from a biological perspective) and the rather extensive correspondence between us since that time in which they advised me that the Migratory Birds Regulations would have to be reviewed and revised (including a mechanism to permit such a season) please note the "Important Updates" section contained within the Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations that you will receive with your permit ... specifically ... "the introduction of new permits".

This has been another important step towards us eventually obtaining a limited (tag only) Sandhill Crane season in Ontario as well as limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Canada.

Jerome

Awesome thanks for your efforts and the update

Hello Guys,

I attended the OFAH webinar session regarding the recent changes made to the Migratory Birds Regulations that was hosted by Mr. M. Ryckman (Manager of Policy, OFAH) on September 08, 2022.

I have enclosed my letter to Mr. J. Hughes (Manager, Wildlife and Habitat Assessment, Canadian Wildlife Service) dated September 11, 2022 in response to what transpired during this session.

Jerome

PS I will provide you with an update shortly ... am currently processing the response that I just received.

798 Highway 59
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0

September 11, 2022

Mr. J. Hughes
Manager, Wildlife and Habitat Assessment
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region
Environment and Climate Change Canada
335 River Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H3

Re: Sandhill Cranes & Tundra Swans

Dear Mr. J. Hughes:

I attended the OFAH webinar session regarding the recent changes made to the Migratory Birds Regulations that was hosted by Mr. M. Ryckman (Manager of Policy, OFAH) on September 08, 2022.

During the registration process for this OFAH webinar session I submitted a question for discussion (as requested) regarding Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans because under the "Important Updates" section contained within the Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations (that I received with my permit this year) was "the introduction of new permits".

You had previously advised me in December of 2014 that the review and update of the Migratory Birds Regulations would include a "mechanism" to permit the introduction of a limited (tag only) hunting season for a new species ... with an obvious reference to my proposal for a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario. This "mechanism" would also apply for a potential Sandhill Crane season in Ontario.

Consequently I asked (during the registration process) when could we expect a limited (tag only) Sandhill Crane season and a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario. Needless to say I was obviously very disappointed that the Tundra Swan portion of my question was not presented during this OFAH webinar session.

I have been an OFAH member (054089) since 1979 having started my waterfowl hunting at Long Point in 1978 and consequently I had expected my question to have been presented during the OFAH webinar session ... especially since this session ended earlier than originally scheduled having allegedly exhausted all the questions that had been presented.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to respond to my question as I know that many individuals would like to know of a potential "timeline" for the implementation of a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario.

Sincerely,




J. Katchin, D.V.M.

c.c.

Mr. M. Ryckman, Manager of Policy, OFAH
Mr. M. DeMille, Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services, OFAH

Hello Guys,

I received a response from Mr. J. Hughes to my letter of September 11, 2022 in which he confirmed to me that the CWS had originally intended to include a "mechanism" during the revision of the MBR that would inable the CWS to issue tags for the harvesting of specific species (Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans).

Mr. J. Hughes then proceeded to advise me that this CWS decision (that had apparently been made in December of 2014) was later changed during the revision process due to some legal advice that they had received and that consequently this "mechanism" was not included in the final draft.

Unfortunately nobody from the CWS advised me of this later decision and consequently I believed and trusted that the CWS had included this "mechanism" in the final draft of the revised MBR that was presented for public comment prior to being passed into law this year ... needless to say that I am very disappointed.

Mr. J. Hughes also advised me that the CWS does not believe that there is an extensive interest in a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season at this time. This belief contradicts the results of the Delta Waterfowl survey conducted in the fall of 2018 ... these results were provided to the CWS in 2019.

I also received an explanation and an apology from Mr. M. Ryckman regarding the circumstances in which my question regarding Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans was inadvertently not presented during the OFAH webinar session on September 08, 2022. The explanation and the apology were acceptable to me.

I have enclosed my letter to Mr. J. Hughes dated September 14, 2022 regarding his response to my letter of September 11, 2022.

Jerome

798 Highway 59
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0

September 14, 2022

Mr. J. Hughes
Manager, Wildlife and Habitat Assessment
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region
Environment and Climate Change Canada
335 River Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H3

Re: Sandhill Cranes & Tundra Swans

Dear Mr. J. Hughes:

I would like to thank you for your prompt response to my letter of September 11, 2022 regarding a potential "timeline" for a limited (tag only) Sandhill Crane season and a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario.

Although I was very disappointed with the contents of your detailed response I did appreciate your honest explanation of the current decision-making process within the Canadian Wildlife Service regarding both of these issues.

My position is that Canada has been allotted 41% of the 9600 tags available annually for the Eastern Population of Tundra Swans and that the USFWS has proposed increasing this number of tags to 12,000 due to an ever increasing population ... a population that was already 25% above its management goal of 80,000 birds when I presented my proposal to you on October 05, 2010.

Furthermore the CWS is an equal partner with the USFWS in the management of the Tundra Swan population and has the authority to implement a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Canada as well as to distribute our allotted number of tags available annually ... with this authority comes the responsibility to implement such a season accordingly.

Considering that the term "waterfowl" includes ducks, geese and swans as well as the fact that the Tundra Swan is a "migratory game bird" as per the Migratory Birds Convention (Canada)/ Migratory Bird Treaty (United States) the tradition of "waterfowling" in Canada should include the harvesting of this species as per the Management Plan for the Eastern Population of Tundra Swans.

I would appreciate the CWS to consider the following four (4) points:

1) There is a significant number of Delta Waterfowl members in Ontario who definitely support (over 46%) or probably would support (over 19%) a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.

2) There is a significant number of non Delta Waterfowl members in Ontario who definitely support (over 60%) or probably would support (over 17%) a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.

3) A limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season would be an optional "waterfowling" opportunity for waterfowlers to harvest another "waterfowl" species ... other than a duck or a goose.

4) This optional "waterfowling" opportunity could be a potential boost to our tourism as well as a potential benefit for "waterfowling" guides, outfitters and retailers.

I have offered to sponsor the development of a Swan Identification Course by Delta Waterfowl that would be acceptable to the CWS in order to facilitate the implementation of a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.

I have also recently suggested that the OFAH could perhaps monitor (with the CWS approval) the harvest of Tundra Swans at specific locations and I would be willing to sponsor that process as well on an annual basis.

Further due consideration in the future is obviously warranted as I remain able and willing to assist the CWS with the implementation of such a season.

Sincerely,




J. Katchin, D.V.M.

c.c.

Mr. M. Ryckman, Manager of Policy, OFAH
Mr. M. DeMille, Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services, OFAH