News

Drive to Save Peace Symbol Still Flying

Published December 19, 2004. By Kurt Madden. Delta Waverly Community New and Grand Ledge Independent.

Drive to Save Peace Symbol Sill Flying

DELTA TWP. - Nancy White, 68, has walked door to door in her neighborhood and is greeting people inside Pet Supplies Plus armed with her clipboard and a passion about saving the state's official bird of peace - the mourning dove.

Nancy is one of hundreds of volunteers canvassing neighborhoods and attending public events throughout Michigan to obtain 159,000 valid signatures to end the hunting of the small bird.

"We had about 500 volunteers who were standing in the rain and cold on Nov. 2 during the general election to obtain signatures," she said.

"We received 30,000 signatures on just one day," said Julie Baker, campaign manager for the petition drive.

People may call (517) 321-DOVE (3683), or support the effort through stopshootingdoves.org.

The first mourning dove hunting season took place from Sept. 11 through Oct. 30 this year., after a new law was approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The hunting was only permitted in the counties bordering Ohio and Indiana, and may be extended to the rest of the state.

The hunting of the mourning dove has been a major issue of local state representative Susan Tabor (R-Delta Township), who is leaving office Dec. 21 due to term limits.

Legislation was approved by a wide margin in both the House and Senate.

But Julie Baker argues Tabor and lawmakers are unduly influenced by special interest groups and a majority of state residents don't want the little bird to be targeted by hunters.

"The mourning dove has been protected since 1905, and a majority of residents are adamantly opposed to using it for target practice," Baker said.

The petition drive began after the law permitting hunting of the bird was signed into law last June.

"We polled the membership, and it was decided to begin the petition drive," said Baker, who works as many as 70 hours a week to restore the protection for the mourning dove.

"People are working very hard and very long hours, and these people are all volunteers," said Baker, whose office is in Delta Township.

She goes to the Delta Township post offce and finds her mail box to be filled with petitions sent in by volunteers.

"We received 3,000 yesterday (Dec. 13) ... it's really exciting," she said.

The group wants to obtain 225,000 signatures to ensure having enough to get on the ballots.

A mailing to 48,000 addresses will take place soon to acquire still more signatures.

The goal is to be on the ballot in November of 2006, and in order to do that, the gorup must submit its petitions by March 15, 2005.

The group relies on donations and the support from groups such as the Audubon Society, the Humane Society and sportsmen who oppose hunting the mourning dove.

While Tabor offers recipes to cook mourning doves, and has argued that it's good public policy and good science to reduce the mourning dove populaton, Baker argues that symbolism is more important.

"When we see the American flag burned, we don't like it. The dove is the state's official symbol of peace as reflected in House resolution 244 approved in 1988."

"It's part of our culture; it's part of what makes up America. It's very important to us," Baker said.

Volunteer White said, "I am an animal lover. These are very sweet little birds, and they mate for life. I don't understand why they have to be hunted for that little bit of meat."

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