Quote Originally Posted by red_tailed View Post
I can say that being from bc, the goshawk issue has been one that has plagued Lowermainland and vancouver island falconers for some time. Several years ago BC wildlife officials put backpack transmitters on many vancouver island and QCI goshawks. While the QCI goshawk is technically it's own species, they are genetically the exact same as every other goshawk out there. It has been known for some time that the QCI goshawks and the Van Island goshawks cross back and forth hence why falconers can't take goshawks from Van island, cause they are "the endangered variety." Well one of the backpacked birds was found to have crossed the georgia straight and was found in the lowermainland. Well the biologists made the amazing discovery that, "holy crap the lowermainland of bc has Van Island goshawks. So that must mean that the goshawks found in southwestern BC are endangered. Time to close that up to falconers as well." Now if a southwestern bc falconer wants a wild taken goshawk they have to travel into the interior to get one. Pretty BS reasoning but it's the government wo what would you expect. Oh and second note, many of the backpacked goshawks were found dead only a few weeks after having them installed. It seems the backpacks hindered the flying ability and hunting of the birds. Smart move on that one.

Bob
I think you meant to say sub-species above Bob...yes/no?

The irony of the backpack thing is just unreal...yep, we're the problem...clearly we're killing them...