Persecution of Birds of Prey

[Golfer]

There's a very detailed report on shooting and poisoning of birds of prey on the Independent's website this morning. It's at:

Birds of Prey Persecution: A Special IoS Online Report - Independent Online Edition > Nature


Golden eagles, hen harriers, red kites, goshawks, peregrines – all being persecuted at an alarming rate.


Golfer

[lobro punter]

iv copyd and pasted some of the report

The RSPB is adamant that the blame for most of these crimes lies with those with ties to shooting estates, especially grouse moors. Their analysis of birds of prey persecution court cases from 1985 to 2006 shows that 81 per cent of those convicted had direct or indirect ties to game hunting. The RSPB's Grahame Madge said: "Birds of prey suffer most where we have landscape dominated by grouse shooting. We fear that raptors are being routinely persecuted in the uplands."

we should stop thinking of gamkeepers as consorvatinists.

LP

[demicav]

This sort of thing angers me beyond belief.

[John]

Originally Posted by lobro punter

iv copyd and pasted some of the report

The RSPB is adamant that the blame for most of these crimes lies with those with ties to shooting estates, especially grouse moors. Their analysis of birds of prey persecution court cases from 1985 to 2006 shows that 81 per cent of those convicted had direct or indirect ties to game hunting. The RSPB's Grahame Madge said: "Birds of prey suffer most where we have landscape dominated by grouse shooting. We fear that raptors are being routinely persecuted in the uplands."

It's a sad fact of life that this goes on. I'm not sure how you can combat it. The burden of proof is hard unless you catch them red-handed but obviously something has to be done with these estates.

Originally Posted by lobro punter

we should stop thinking of gamkeepers as consorvatinists.

LP

It's a double edged sword. Gamekeepers are probably doing what they are told by their employers but the problem is that these estates have a major place in our wildlife recovery, especially birds. It's a proven fact that some birds are recovering because of these managed estates. They are undisturbed, and the habitat is kept right for them at all times.

So where do we go from here. We certainly can't do without these estates but by the same token we can't stand by and watch our Raptors being persecuted.

John

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Things like this make my blood boil, why some gamekeepers feel they have a right to kill a bird of prey that is native to this land is beyond me. These species have co-exsisted for many many years, but now they can't

[Kerry]

In December 2005 the Shooting Times published a list of Britains 30 most wanted pests, in order of nuisance to shooters and anglers:

sawbill duck, cormorant, grey seal, fox, mink, brown rat, carrion crow, stoat, domestic cat, pike, magpie, weasel, buzzard, sparrowhawk, hen harrier, peregrine falcon, goshawk, badger, polecat, raven, otter, heron, rook, jackdaw, wildcat, pine martin, osprey, hedgehog, red kite, golden eagle.

If this is what a national magazine is prepared to publish, is it any wonder that these beautiful birds are being killed on mass. And the saddest part is that not all of the game birds that are shot are even eaten: there has been evidence of mass burial pits for them as there is insufficient market.

[naturelover]

thats shocking what can be done to stop this going on,and where dose it all end,there wont be any thing left soon,why cant they leave animals and birds alone,i have never agreed with shooting any wildlife when you think the idol rich breed birds just to release them to be shot,i dont see how the hell they call that sport,bit like fox hunting its sickening,but then this world is sick now.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by naturelover

thats shocking what can be done to stop this going on,and where dose it all end,there wont be any thing left soon,why cant they leave animals and birds alone,i have never agreed with shooting any wildlife when you think the idol rich breed birds just to release them to be shot,i dont see how the hell they call that sport,bit like fox hunting its sickening,but then this world is sick now.

The game birds that these heroes shoot are so tame that you can walk within six foot of many of them.

Hasn't Belgium banned the rearing of Pheasants due to the damage they do to the ecology?

[naturelover]

poor little loves i hate it dont you,i could no more see a bird and shoot it than if i become a millionair and thats a BIG if.