suffolksmallholder
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Reared birds can never be as important as native wild birds and the shooting community really should hang its head in utter shame; https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-64316504.amp
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It's not a one off incident though is it? The news is full of gamekeepers being prosecuted for this type of crime.While this is very sad and regrettable, one incident should not tarnish the reputation of the whole shooting community any more than one farmer polluting a river should condemn the whole farming community. And I write that as a life time falconer who has bred goshawks in captivity and was actually a BTO ringer.
The RSPB and allied twitchers never mention that approximately 75% of raptors die from natural causes in their first year and about 50% of those that survive will die in their second year. These statistics are from The British Trust for Ornithologies own statistics from ringing returns. (The BTO is closely allied to the RSPB). I wonder how many of these are picked up dead and the death attributed to shooters because no tests are done?
"Full of gamekeepers"?It's not a one off incident though is it? The news is full of gamekeepers being prosecuted for this type of crime.
The birds in question were found in a heap, x-rayed and found to have been shot. Look at the picture.
Not the point really. I'm afraid it's driven by the need to shoot lots of birds for money."Full of gamekeepers"?
Show me.
And five is not exactly a heap...though I suppose if you balanced them carefully they might make a stack.
There’s something in what you say. About 5 yrs ago in June/July I had a visit from the local wildlife officer investigating a dead buzzard. A cyclist had reported it.Why would anyone dump 5 dead goshawks in a pile in a public car park?
The only reason I can think is so they could be found. If you wanted to conceal a crime you would burn or bury them.
Anyone convicted of raptor persecution needs to face the full force of the law, which should include much stiffer penalties. This should include revoking certificates where people have them or making people ineligible if they don't. Convicted individuals should also be publicly booted out of whichever clubs/societies/associations they are members of and these organisations should publish a list of expelled members.
I think they are banned from owning guns already. Without guns, they will certainly lose their jobs and houses too. That would suggest that they are under severe pressure to take the risk.Why would anyone dump 5 dead goshawks in a pile in a public car park?
The only reason I can think is so they could be found. If you wanted to conceal a crime you would burn or bury them.
Anyone convicted of raptor persecution needs to face the full force of the law, which should include much stiffer penalties. This should include revoking certificates where people have them or making people ineligible if they don't. Convicted individuals should also be publicly booted out of whichever clubs/societies/associations they are members of and these organisations should publish a list of expelled members.
HmmmmThere’s something in what you say. About 5 yrs ago in June/July I had a visit from the local wildlife officer investigating a dead buzzard. A cyclist had reported it.
Asked the officer where it was found and it had been “happened across” approx 50yds into a field of barley (at its full height) after the rider had wandered into the field following an interesting butterfly, at approx 6am.
Sounded like the biggest load of shite ever, and coincidentally came at the same time as a new syndicate had taken on the shooting in the neighbouring woods and had fallen out with a lot of dog walkers.
Publish the article worry about facts and investigating laterSadly nowadays "Innocent until proven guilty" seems to have taken a significant back seat.
Just like social media really..... Truth and the full story, are optional.Publish the article worry about facts and investigating later
Also I fairly regularly find Red Kites dead under the Wind Turbines, does that mean it's the end of the renewable energy sector as we know it? I think not!While this is very sad and regrettable, one incident should not tarnish the reputation of the whole shooting community any more than one farmer polluting a river should condemn the whole farming community. And I write that as a life time falconer who has bred goshawks in captivity and was actually a BTO ringer.
The RSPB and allied twitchers never mention that approximately 75% of raptors die from natural causes in their first year and about 50% of those that survive will die in their second year. These statistics are from The British Trust for Ornithologies own statistics from ringing returns. (The BTO is closely allied to the RSPB). I wonder how many of these are picked up dead and the death attributed to shooters because no tests are done?
this sounds bloody odd to me if you were going to commit a crime survey you'd conceal it not put it on public displayWhy would anyone dump 5 dead goshawks in a pile in a public car park?
The only reason I can think is so they could be found. If you wanted to conceal a crime you would burn or bury them.
Anyone convicted of raptor persecution needs to face the full force of the law, which should include much stiffer penalties. This should include revoking certificates where people have them or making people ineligible if they don't. Convicted individuals should also be publicly booted out of whichever clubs/societies/associations they are members of and these organisations should publish a list of expelled members.
Publish the article worry about facts and investigating later
Just like social media really..... Truth and the full story, are optional.