Buzzards Being Shot in The Home Counties

[speckled wood]

One of those things that makes my blood boil, I have just been Watching Animal Rescue 24/7 on BBC One. One of the items was St Tiggywinkys Animal Hospital somewhere I think in Buckinghamshire and the intake within a short time of two Buzzards which had been shot close together on the Bucks/Northants border. Both birds survived but ad suffered injuries that made it unlikely that they would ever recover sufficiently for release.

It just leaves me speachless that mindless morons could even think of shooting such a magnifcent bird rather than just being able to enjoy the magic of seeing them soar overhead.

[Paul mabbott]

Pheasant-shooting country .... say no more ....

Originally Posted by speckled wood

One of those things that makes my blood boil, I have just been Watching Animal Rescue 24/7 on BBC One. One of the items was St Tiggywinkys Animal Hospital somewhere I think in Buckinghamshire and the intake within a short time of two Buzzards which had been shot close together on the Bucks/Northants border. Both birds survived but ad suffered injuries that made it unlikely that they would ever recover sufficiently for release.

It just leaves me speachless that mindless morons could even think of shooting such a magnifcent bird rather than just being able to enjoy the magic of seeing them soar overhead.

[nightshade]

There are many moronic people in this world,luckily VERY FEW have gun licenses as a one time secretary of an airgun club (at one time) I found a brief conversation would give some idea of a potential members mental set,some were reported to the police others we were able to re-educate.The requirements for a licence were a signature from the local vicar or doctor etc.this was fine when towns only had a couple of thousand inhabitants and these professional people actually knew individuals but it is not applicable now and there is no formal interview/assesment unless things have changed since.
The huge majority of shooters are very responsible,and it must be remembered that the hunting-shooting fraternities have enabled us to retain huge slices of undeveloped land with its wildlife.

[Nicola Main]

I agree it is despicable. Last week (while walking the dog) we were coming down the lane and to my delight a buzzard sailed right over my head (with a rook in close attendance). I stopped and gazed open-mouthed it was such a marvellous sight and, then, the guns started going off behind me in the field (a couple of men regularly use that field to shoot woodpigeons) and the buzzard disappeared. I was so shocked and angry at them and hoped that they hadn't tried to shoot the buzzard. It definitely woke me up from my little day dream and back into stark reality!

It is the same with the local sparrowhawk. My dad has homing pigeons (which I hate) and he regularly comes in complaining that the hawk was after his pigeons and he was going to shoot it. I was so shocked I actually said to him that if he did I would report him to the police and get him prosecuted (even though he is my own dad! ).

Anyway, enough of my banter ...

[aeshna5]

Nicola, did you report this incident with the Buzzard to the police? You should as it is totally illegal to kill these birds + if you don't more will go the same way. Your local force should have a designated wildlife protection officer. It really makes me angry that there are people out there who mindlessly destroy these magnificent raptors.