22 November 2007: Eagles and Birdies

A golf club in Australia has more than eagles and birdies to contend with; it also has ducks. And animal lovers are up in arms over its plans to shoot them.

The Sydney golf club's plan was to cull the native wood ducks living on its course, because they are ripping up its greens. The club says it had already tried placing cat-like objects and rubber snakes around the course, and had resorted to shooting as a last resort. But when local animal lovers found out about the plan they dug up some of the greens in the dead of night and left a note threatening of more trouble if any ducks were harmed.

Now the club has abandoned the cull plan, and is seeking another way to persuade the ducks to relocate.