The ‘shooting’ community guilt

[suffolksmallholder]

Racing pigeon enthusiasts are equally likely to want to dispatch birds of prey

Interesting. I’d overlooked this group.
Didn’t one top racer fetch over a million pounds?
That’s quite a valuable poufffff of feathers
SS

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

Not the point really. I'm afraid it's driven by the need to shoot lots of birds for money.

I think it's a real shame and it shows a lack of understanding of nature. Anyone reading this should know that goshawks prey on sparrowhawks, which get blamed for the lack of songbirds.

I just googled "gamekeeper found guilty" and there's a fair bit to look at.

Your angst over dead goshawks is fine but to claim goshawks prey on sparrowhawks and thus are a significant controller of songbird predators is laughable and does you no favours .
in this end of the country the goshawk is referred to as ‘ flying death ‘

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Your angst over dead goshawks is fine but to claim goshawks prey on sparrowhawks and thus are a significant controller of songbird predators is laughable and does you no favours .
in this end of the country the goshawk is referred to as ‘ flying death ‘

Can you tell me what does prey on sparrowhawks?

 

[thorpe]

Careful what you wish for, it's not uncommon to see 50-70 kites descend here when doing field work. There's a good reason many predators are at near extinction, it's the damage they do when not managed. We no longer have a single peewit nest other farm because of kites, half the hares. Not good for ground nesting birds at all. Without controlling predator numbers there will be no hope of reintroducing the peewit here ever again. I find it very sad that RSPB are allowed to act like it.

plenty of hares here but few lapwings, and it's not our fault

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

Can you tell me what does prey on sparrowhawks?

My conservatory window

 

[thorpe]

are magpies coming off early this year? the big lad's shooting em for fun 7 yesterday!

 

[Wilksy]

Can you tell me what does prey on sparrowhawks?

Nothing, that’s the trouble all predators need a predator, otherwise you’re relying on starvation or bad weather to control they’re numbers

 

[L P]

plenty of hares here but few lapwings, and it's not our fault

We've plenty of hares, but not half what we had, maybe a third. I've certainly not considered they need controlling since the kite was reintroduced. Used to shoot 100 plus hares a year on the farm to keep numbers down. Not dropped one in ten years.

 

[thorpe]

Nothing, that’s the trouble all predators need a predator, otherwise you’re relying on starvation or bad weather to control they’re numbers

kestrals getting short here sparrow hawks having em evil barstewards i hate em, 30 years ago it was a joy to see one!

 

[Wilksy]

kestrals getting short here sparrow hawks having em evil barstewards i hate em, 30 years ago it was a joy to see one!

We seem to be alright for kestrels, still common sight on hovering at the roadside, had one follow me last year stacking bales in the field, that was nice to see

 

[Wilksy]

 

[Wilksy]

 

[Dry Rot]

Can you tell me what does prey on sparrowhawks?

Nature!

 

[thorpe]

Nature!

 

[Vader]

It was for a mate about three years ago but it has caught when baited, you can just make out the old one behind it, mates dad runs Larsens for maggys and crows around the farm also

28 magpies caught here since they started pairing up.
2 others locally over 20 each as well.
Urban edge is over run with the black and white rats..
No wonder no small birds about.

 

[Wilksy]

28 magpies caught here since they started pairing up.
2 others locally over 20 each as well.
Urban edge is over run with the black and white rats..
No wonder no small birds about.

That’s good going, immeasurable amount of song birds saved, it will make a big difference to this years breeding birds, there’s two awd lads I know are mad keen trappers ones 90 the other 86, not enough folk do it

 

[bottletopbill]

Keep up the good work

 

[L P]

Racing pigeon enthusiasts are equally likely to want to dispatch birds of prey

But it's not OK when protecting your own sport... in fairness, controlling prey when it comes to food production should be priority. No matter how protected the prey, we have an onus to produce food. Should fox/harrier etc cause loss it should be controlled appropriately.

 

[MrNoo]

My conservatory window

Mine does the same, normally about 2-3 a year, I take great delight in hearing the thud. I can't abide them, too many about now, have seen them take or certainly knock down, English partridge and even a green woodpecker.
Years ago you used to be able to get a license and net them, I know we did it here but was young so can't remember the exact details, just a fine net down a ride or track with hedges each side.

 

[Mickey mouse]

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?

Well said.