feeling my way in to wab world and still on corvids

[petervanderschoo]

can someone explain the various titles members have.......officer, commander, member......... 'of the wild empire' ?

a reply from RSPB on corvid cull

Hello Peter, thank you for your email. There is currently a lot of debate about the effect of predators on songbirds. We are a science-based organisation so base our views on research. There is currently little evidence that corvids are causing any species of songbird to decline. Despite this, some people and organisations believe they are. The recently announced study, which Songbird Survival have commissioned, will be a localised control study of crows and magpies at a few sites around the UK. Raptors are not included in this study although this organisation believes sparrowhawks are also a cause of songbird declines despite a lack of evidence. We don't think this will advance our understanding of predator/songbird interactions much and we'll continue to focus our efforts at addressing habitat factors for which there is a wealth of evidence to suggest this is a major factor. Research commissioned by Songbird Survival last year didn't show any correlation between corvid numbers and declining songbirds but they seem to have largely ignored the previous research they funded. The killing of magpies and crows is currently legal under the terms of general licences. These are licences issued by the Government and allow them to be killed to protect other flora and fauna or to protect crops for example. You can view these licences here http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/our...llicences.aspx Anyone killing corvids must do so under the terms these licences or a specific licence issued by Natural England. They would be breaking the law otherwise. The birds must be killed in a humane way. If they don't follow the welfare laws then they can also be prosecuted. Our Director of Conservation Mark Avery, covers this issue on his blog here http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/blo...teresting.aspx Best wishes Richard James Wildlife Advisor RSPB UK HQ

[Farplace]

When member post in the forum, or upload images to the Gallery, their post count goes up and their title will change to:

Under 25 posts = New Member

25 posts = Active Member

100 posts = Wild Member

250 posts = Member of the Wild Empire

500 posts = Officer of the Wild Empire

1,000 posts = Commander of the Wild Empire

5,000 posts = Knight of the Wild Empire

10,000 posts = Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire

Just a bit of fun

[diggleken]

Hi Peter, welcome to WAB, its just a useage thing, the more you post the further you move up the ladder, but not in real terms as we're all equal, its just for fun, quite meaningless...............
Thaks for the corvid info, there was a thread on this a few days ago which you might like to look at, concerning those wonderful people at songbird survival - they have even been writing letters to the times supporting themselves.
Very strange bunch if you ask me, hidden agenda, but I'd love to be proved wrong.
Cheers
Ken

[Brocakat]

But I want to stay 'wild'

[Kayleigh]

If you press the red help button at the top of the page its got frequently asked questions..

Welcome to WAB from me too..

[petervanderschoo]

thanks,
born into rural sussex the wild is in my blood.....gorse, chalk and lapwings

[petervanderschoo]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

If you press the red help button at the top of the page its got frequently asked questions..

Welcome to WAB from me too..

thanks,

born in to rural sussex gorse, chalk downs and lapwings pepper my memories

[petervanderschoo]

Originally Posted by Brocakat

But I want to stay 'wild'

heh thanks

dutch mother but my wild side was kindled by early years roaming the south downs