Quote:
Originally Posted by Rats  This is so awful!  Those poor swans and nobody seems to be able to do anything about it and I am a member of the RSPB too.  They do a good job generally though, maybe their hands are tied on this. 
Let me know if there's anything at all I can do! |
*boink* thats the sound of a nail being hit on the head - as far as the rspb go its not because they dont care but because they cant do anything - they dont own the land , and the powerlines are there legally so the investigations dept would have its hand tied too (as will the RSPCA)
Natural England on the other hand could force the energy company to act as they are the landowner and will have granted "way leave" for the cables , and part of a normal way leave agreement is to limit "nuisance" caused to the landowner
I would think that raining dead swans could reasonably be considered nusiance especially as the land owner is a nature reserve.
However one of the problems with this is that NE are having their budget squeezed by central govt and as they will being paid a wayleave fee they probably dont want to rock the boat - the only way to force them to act would be to embarass them or the energy company into action by bad press.
if i were you i'd write to your MP, your local councillor, and any other influential person (celebrities etc) locally - copy these letters to your local NE office and to their cheif exec. Next time dead swans are found photograph them and send the photos with a short press release to as many local papers as you can think of, and contact local radio and regional TV. Also contact the swan rescue centres arround the uk (Dot beeson for example) and see if you can get them on side as they may have more clout or national press contacts. Finally try and recruit a group of concerned locals (including sweet little old ladies, pretty girls, and small golden haired children if possible - these type of photogenic participants will help increase media coverage - "
Mrs miggins 96, her supermodel daughter and her small golden haired granchild tommy used to love watching the swans but now due to inaction by NE they are being needlessly killed, little tommy said , it makes me really sad..." that kind of thing
)
if you can keep the press furore going long enough sooner or later it will become more expedient for the power company or NE to act rather than ignore the problem
hope this helps