Local birds have a right to be 

The guns of late autumn and early winter near Morro Bay National Estuary disturb the sense of peace and serenity of those of us who may be more sensitive to the incongruity of anyone being allowed to discharge weapons under the guise of hunting anywhere near an area where scores of species come for protective wintering.

The barbaric “leaving” of birds shot but not killed or retrieved is another travesty. I have observed Brant geese, generally alone and bloodied, standing in the shallows next to Sweet Springs Nature Preserve as if waiting, forlornly, for a mate to return. Fish and Game was notified. No one bothered to call back. More than likely, these birds died alone, in pain, with a bewildered look so understandable for one of nature’s more docile creatures that, having flown thousands of miles, on the verge of starvation, alighting in what is considered a national bird sanctuary, were then blown away within days of arrival by a small minority of people with high-powered shotguns booming away from dawn to dusk, seemingly oblivious to or simply uncaring about the rights of the vast majority who care that these gentle, peaceful and awe-instilling birds have a basic right to be.

-- Ron Epping - Los Osos