Have some of that Chris Packham

Pilatus · Oct 10, 2018

If any of you go to @Fallowfield profile page and go to postings way back you will see what a nasty piece of work he is, always stabbing rural people in the back “as the saying says”. Why has the individual got such a chip on his shoulder against farmers and the rural community in general. :scratchhead:

Fallowfield · Oct 10, 2018

Shutesy said:
?? How does more autumn sowing mean less seed available in the winter than years ago when spring sowing was more usual? I'd say there is far more provision of winter bird feeding plants now than there was say 30 years ago. I would think the decline in numbers is more likely down to the domestic moggy!
Whilst you try and pee off every farmer that reads this thread FFS get your quoting right if your going to quote people, v irritating when quotes all go wrong and mess up posts because one person can't get it right!

http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/D...More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=8410

Macsky · Oct 10, 2018

Fallowfield said:
##

Well firstly can we agree that yellow belly seems to have misunderstood, or misrepresented, what the RSPB have to say about the lapwing?

Secondly, you yourself seem to have fallen into the same error. The RSPB make it clear that lapwing can nest on arable land, so they are not saying, as you claim, that lapwing 'more or less depend on this environment!!'.

As to your question, stock can and do trample the nests of ground nesting birds. That might explain the reference to low stocking rate, don't you think?

They can indeed, but where I’m from there is no ploughed arable ground, agriculture has steadily decreased in intensity over the last 100 years and stocking numbers have reduced, what has increased tho, exponentially, is the populations of both ravens and hooded crows, which has gone hand in hand with the decline in ground nesting birds.

They really do depend on the environment created by grazed grassland tho and all of it’s associated bugs. Was hearing the other day of a place paid to keep sheep off certain fields at lambing time to give the ground nesting birds a chance, but the birds weren’t to be seen at all on the abandoned fields! Any guesses where they were? Yup that’s right, they followed the sheep!

Shutesy · Oct 10, 2018

Fallowfield said:
http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/D...More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=8410

16 yr old research project, things might have changed since then...

SLA · Oct 10, 2018

As an example of how “data” can be misinterpreted we were given the following example at Uni
A collection of islands which supported two species of snail (A +B) and a snail eating hawk species. On some islands there was species A but not B, on the islands with species A there were hawks but no hawks on islands with species B. The general consensus was that the hawks were eating species B and they could only survive where the hawks were absent. Upon further research it was determined that the hawks actually only ate species A and that species A out competed B, so eliminating it from that area.

If you claim to be a scientist then you have to approach every situation with an open mind or your blinkers can cause you to completely miss what is actually going on, there’s nothing wrong with data and statistics- it’s the interpretation that causes the issue, the same data set can be “interpreted” in different ways by different people. Ideally a data set should provide an interpretation that can be tested, if the testing doesn’t prove the hypothesis then the hypothesis is wrong, look again and come up with another hypothesis and test till you can prove your idea.
If the “data” shows a decline in farmland birds and hypothesis is it’s caused by habitat loss due to change in farming practices. Change practices to be more beneficial, if the the data doesn’t show an increase in birds then go back and look at it again as there is obviously something else going on. It’s not rocket science!

Fallowfield · Oct 10, 2018

Shutesy said:
16 yr old research project, things might have changed since then...

Autumn sowing = less stubble over winter = fewer seeds for birds to eat over winter = fewer birds.

Not sure how that would change over 16 years.

Shutesy · Oct 10, 2018

Fallowfield said:
Autumn sowing = less stubble over winter = fewer seeds for birds to eat over winter = fewer birds.

Not sure how that would change over 16 years.

A large move back to spring cropping over the past 5 or so years often due to blackgrass issues although not the sole reason, over wintered stubble and winter bird food plots as part of stewardship schemes.... Plenty can change in farming in 16 years!

renewablejohn · Oct 10, 2018

MX7 said:
It is also a suburb for non student residents.

Very few non students. Would you really want to live next to the curry mile.

Fallowfield · Oct 10, 2018

Shutesy said:
A large move back to spring cropping over the past 5 or so years often due to blackgrass issues although not the sole reason, over wintered stubble and winter bird food plots as part of stewardship schemes.... Plenty can change in farming in 16 years!

My post was in response to this question. The passage of time doesn't change the reason.

'How does more autumn sowing mean less seed available in the winter than years ago when spring sowing was more usual?'

joe soapy · Oct 11, 2018

An Gof said:
Classic, absolutely priceless

You back on form Joe?

i never went off

theboytheboy · Oct 11, 2018

yellow belly said:
Most of the land I farm has been drained several times in the last 400 years the most resent was between 1950 and 1984 the last the last 35 years only 1% hs been drained
The rspb considers lapwings as a bird of moorland and wetlands
Then tell that to the 50 or more pairs the breed every year on fields that I grow crops on
Mr packham mr fallowfield and the rspb have no idea how to maintain the countryside for the benefit of those who inhabit it
Namely the birds animals insects worms farmers plants livestock and other occasional visiters
Listing the individual species would leave no time to look after any of them

We also have an abundance of lapwings and curlews nesting each year on arable land that the rspb experts tell me they don't nest on.
Shame we have to watch the f**king ravens and buzzards gobble up the chicks they hatch each year, along with skylarks.
Also funny how they actively encourage and support us in catching and killing crows and magpies and shooting foxes but would never admit this in public

DrWazzock · Oct 11, 2018

Fallowfield said:
Autumn sowing = less stubble over winter = fewer seeds for birds to eat over winter = fewer birds.

Not sure how that would change over 16 years.

Over the last 16 years, we have ploughed less and direct drill more crops into undisturbed stubble.

I have found that direct drilling wheat into a weed infested bean stubble (sprayed off with glyphosate, but loads of weed seed there) provides rich pickings for seed eating birds over winter.

We do try. We really do. And if it fits in with commercial farming so much the better.

My biggest concern is an infestation of badgers is doing untold damage to ground nesting birds, bumble bee nests and hedgehogs, never mind cattle farming. But nobody seems to want to know about that.

I'd also say that pheasant feeders must keep a fair but of wildlife going through the lean winter months, including squirrels and mice (and rats), so it's surprising how much benefit there can be for wildlife from unexpected sources.

It's not all bad news for wildlife in the countryside, even without the active measures that have been taken by many farmers to provide rich habitat through the various environment schemes.

DrWazzock · Oct 11, 2018

There are always wagtails following the beet harvester looking for grubs and worms. The harvester provides many a meal for birds over winter.

Muddyroads · Oct 11, 2018

Fallowfield said:
###

'What this species needs
Bare ground or short vegetation for nesting from mid-March to June

Lapwings breed between mid-March and July. They nest on spring-tilled arable land or on short grassland with a low stocking rate. Arable nesting birds often walk their chicks onto grazed pasture to feed.

Lots of soil and ground invertebrates throughout the year

Lapwings feed mainly on earthworms, leatherjackets, insects and their larvae. They generally feed where they can find lots of these, such as in grazed pasture. Wet grassland is a particularly important source of food.'

https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/co...ility/farming/advice/helping-species/lapwing/

And what they like most of all is an uncontrolled badger sett nearby I assume?

7610 super q · Oct 11, 2018

What about the hedgehogs released on South Uist @Fallowfield ?
The ones that had to be culled because they were eating birds eggs ?

Pilatus · Oct 11, 2018

I am 67 lived in the countryside all my life but have very rarely seen a badger,WHY,because they are nocturnal.So not surprising people out for a walk in our beautiful country side will never see a badger.
I do wonder how many people know that badgers are nocturnal.
I know badgers were on the farm because there were so many active setts.

Fallowfield · Oct 11, 2018

theboytheboy said:
We also have an abundance of lapwings and curlews nesting each year on arable land that the rspb experts tell me they don't nest on.

###

I'd be surprised if any expert from the RSPB told you that curlews and lapwing don't nest on arable ground.

'Curlews breed on open moorland, rough and damp pastures, unimproved hay meadows and boggy ground. They occasionally use arable crops and silage fields.'

https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/co...bility/farming/advice/helping-species/curlew/

Fallowfield · Oct 11, 2018

UOTE="7610 super q, post: 5571582, member: 6448"]What about the hedgehogs released on South Uist @Fallowfield ?
The ones that had to be culled because they were eating birds eggs ?[/QUOTE]

##

What about them?

It's a classic example of what happens when you introduce a new species into an established eco system.

Henarar · Oct 11, 2018

Fallowfield said:
It's a classic example of what happens when you introduce a new species into an established eco system.

or let one get out of control ?

7610 super q · Oct 11, 2018

Fallowfield said:
UOTE="7610 super q, post: 5571582, member: 6448"]What about the hedgehogs released on South Uist @Fallowfield ?
The ones that had to be culled because they were eating birds eggs ?

##

What about them?

It's a classic example of what happens when you introduce a new species into an established eco system.[/QUOTE]
#####
A classic example of what happens when ignorant conservationists get involved.

Have some of that Chris Packham

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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