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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,126
Threads: 82,270
Posts: 852,651
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, Kathy P | |  | | 
12-04-2009, 12:56 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N.Cheshire
Posts: 1,389
| | | Ruddy Furious!!!!!
I was a little disillusioned this morning while out birding to learn that 30 Ruddy Ducks on my local flash were slaughtered in the week by men from the ministry with high powered rifles and a boat! 
When there is so much bad already in the world why was this thought to be necessary? 
Have they really nothing better to do with their time?
I'm gutted,it's really taken the "nice day" feeling away from me. |
12-04-2009, 01:24 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
I am still waiting for the ruddy duck to return to my local patch this year, as I find them a rather endearing species.
The problem is of course that as escapees from wildlife collections here in the UK they cross breed with the European native white-headed duck which has seen severe declines in numbers. So unfortunately as a non native and a duck that could not have reached the UK without man they are culled to protect the white-headed duck. |
12-04-2009, 01:41 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,350
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel  I was a little disillusioned | I am curious (genuinely so; I don't want to cause a fight  ), what are your attitude towards mink? |
12-04-2009, 02:00 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Leigh, Lancashire
Posts: 5,899
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel I was a little disillusioned this morning while out birding to learn that 30 Ruddy Ducks on my local flash were slaughtered in the week by men from the ministry with high powered rifles and a boat!
When there is so much bad already in the world why was this thought to be necessary?
Have they really nothing better to do with their time?
I'm gutted,it's really taken the "nice day" feeling away from me. | Sorry too hear that Ruth - its been on-going around our way for 18 months or so and caused a big hoo-ha from the local bird society and a councilor who shares the view that culling should not be taking place. I think the action taken is out of all proportion to the problem - why arn't there teams out shooting grey squirrels all over the land - cos there would be a hugh and cry and the guys with the rifles would get attacked I suspect. Turning up on the sly launching a little boat shooting a few ducks (who are well known for being easy targets) is easy.
It no longer makes sense cos the white headed duck isn't threatened anymore - I've just forgotten how many the population has got to now - but its something like 8,000 I think - its time to leave the ruddy ducks alone and stop meddling ..........
Pauline |
12-04-2009, 02:09 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,350
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PMG why arn't there teams out shooting grey squirrels all over the land | I think the reason why there aren't mass cullings of grey squirrels (or muntjac or ... or ...) is because the money isn't there.
Or to put it another way, there is money for keeping up relations with the Spanish. It all comes down to politics in the end rather than conservation sadly. |
12-04-2009, 02:29 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Baldock, Herts
Posts: 603
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel I was a little disillusioned this morning while out birding to learn that 30 Ruddy Ducks on my local flash were slaughtered in the week by men from the ministry with high powered rifles and a boat!
When there is so much bad already in the world why was this thought to be necessary?
Have they really nothing better to do with their time?
I'm gutted,it's really taken the "nice day" feeling away from me. | What is even more astonishing is that they are allowed to cull during the breeding season of other waterbirds, some of which are supposed to be protected by law from disturbance. I agree with Charlie, the Ruddy Duck cull smacks of politics, not science or conservation. |
12-04-2009, 03:00 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N.Cheshire
Posts: 1,389
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlieb I am curious (genuinely so; I don't want to cause a fight ), what are your attitude towards mink? | Coincidentally we saw one at another reserve last w/end......nice to see......but I'm saying nowt else!! Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_D What is even more astonishing is that they are allowed to cull during the breeding season of other waterbirds, . | Yes,apparently all other present birds including breeding Ringed Plovers disappeared for days tho all seemed to be back again today. 
What I don't understand is that Pochard,Scaup,Tufted,Mallard and numerous Geese all interbreed without being culled???  |
12-04-2009, 03:04 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,350
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel but I'm saying nowt else!! | Awww...  Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel What I don't understand is that Pochard,Scaup,Tufted,Mallard and numerous Geese all interbreed without being culled??? | Because they don't interbreed with a rare Spanish duck |
12-04-2009, 03:06 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Near Peterborough
Posts: 7,099
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth Daniel Coincidentally we saw one at another reserve last w/end......nice to see......but I'm saying nowt else!!
Yes,apparently all other present birds including breeding Ringed Plovers disappeared for days tho all seemed to be back again today.
What I don't understand is that Pochard,Scaup,Tufted,Mallard and numerous Geese all interbreed without being culled??? | yes but they're all here naturally, we introduced / allowed to escape this little duck and the reason why they are still pursuing the cull is I guess they feel that there is still a chance to get the horse back in the stable so-to-speak whereas the grey squirrel's horse is long bolted and there's no chance - there's just too many.
Though I'm not sure the cull will work unless France and the rest of Europe is also doing it - but then maybe they are? |
12-04-2009, 03:50 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 136
| | | Re: Ruddy Furious!!!!!
Apparently there is one year left on DEFRA's attempt to cull the Ruddy Duck. Its never going to work and if my memory is right the cost for each one killed so far is about £160. Good to know OUR money is being well spent!!
There has never been a proven case of a Ruddy Duck from UK migrating to Spain and breeding with White-headed Duck - the cull is based on a theoretical risk. | | | |
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