They could have issued that release any time this month or next. But oh no, it's embargoed to engineer press coverage on the day the Game Fair opens. A blatant attempt to piss on any positive publicity for shooting that might come from the Game Fair, and realign the news agenda in their favour.
Honestly, you try and work with these people, but they just can't help themselves - their lust for publicity drives them to extend one hand in friendship while they stab you in the back with the other.
Why do I bother?
10 comments:
You old news hound Mr Marchington !! maybe there is a good RSPB man giving you information who is maybe brassed off with their tactics !!!!!
How can we ever meet with them ( the RSPB ) When they stoop so low ?
I am waiting for the dead eagle story on 11th August the day before the Grouse shooting season starts !!!!!!!
[Following comment posted by Alan Tilmouth, but comment moderation system managed to delete it when I tried to approve it]:
Where exactly does it 'attack shooters'? It seems to state how the raptors were killed (shot, poisoned and trapped) and also that many of the incidents took place in upland areas that are managed for game but it doesnt say that shooters are responsible. Also it would be unreasonable not to expect RSPB to at least attemt to get some publicity when the press may be focussed on the game fair after all the minority of bad eggs perpetrating these acts would appear to be associated with that particular industry.
Precisely what they will say, Alan. And yet, where did you get the impression that "after all the minority of bad eggs perpetrating these acts would appear to be associated with that particular industry"? What about the bad-egg sheep farmers?
No, it's a cheap shot, and one that yet again undermines the good work that's going on behind the scenes, and leaves all shooters realising that they simply can't trust the RSPB.
I note that it was an RSPB Scotland press release, and their Duncan Orr Ewing who was quoted, and who was interviewed this morning on the Today programme: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8847000/8847745.stm
So possibly an example of Scottish UDI.
But you're right, not a squeak about farmers putting out poison: there is a lot of evidence to suggest that it is farmers rather than keepers or landowners who are responsible for many of the incidents involving red kites on the Black Isle.
It will be interesting to see if our mutual friend Mark Avery runs with the story on his blog. Notwithstanding his absurd commentary on the findings of the Upland Predation Experiment at Otterburn in March, I detect a more conciliatory tone on his part. At least he acknowledges that there is a genuine conflict.
There seem to me to be four 'groups' who may be responsible for BOP killings;
1)Gamekeepers concerned for their charges/ under pressure from their landowners or just nasty b'stards.
2)Farmers as above especially those with free range poultry or lambing outdoors.
3)Pigeon fanciers concerned that Champion Speckled Jim is going to end up a peregrines supper.
4)Accidental or secondary poisoning from legal or illegal pest control, poor storage/use of poisons etc.
Why does the RSPB only aim their attacks at one of those areas? Why do they take every opportunity they can to upset the one group who actually share many of their values?
Maybe the RSPB could try an olive branch next time? A press release praising a shoot which has increased grey partridge populations perhaps, a bird which would have died out by now if it relied on the RSPB to concerve it!
Must be very disappointing for shooting people like yourself who seem to respect B O P and I feel you must influence others.Think a lot are poisoned by default when other birds or animals are the target which I am not condoning just stating a fact.Sadly this will stir up a lot of people that I will read on blogs going berserk which only leads to further them and us positions.At the end of the day both sides need to come together somehow.
Hi Vicky Mark thinks I am not very tolerant maybe only regarding DEFRA I am not sure.Wonder if shooting people think he is not very tolerant of them.Personally think you are spot on with secondary poisoning as probably poison put out for other animals or birds and B O P innocent victims.Think it has been proven that Red Kites on Black Isle have been poisoned by picking up rats killed with poison.
I wonder if some BOP deaths may be due to correct use of certain chemicals; certainly in India treating cows with diclofenac a pretty harmless painkiller has nearly wiped out vultures who can't tolerate the drug at all. It may be some of the drugs being used on livestock weaken BOP that scaenge on their carcasess, or which prey on them as well as the more obvious pest control poisons. the idea with most rat baits is that the rat will die in his burrow reducing the risk to wildlife/pets but I've treated many a farm terrier for rodenticide toxicity because the rat decided to die above ground!
I wish the RSPB and other organisations would put some money into finding out the real reason BOP don't thrive in some areas and the real reasons some people resort to killing them. Until that is understood no inroads can be made into improving things.
I think if you read the report, you'll find that a majority of victims were killed with Carbofuran, a chemical banned from possession or use since 2001. This is not from secondary poisoning, but used on baits placed indiscriminately in the open.
There are many reasons people might have to resort to the use of poison to control what is to them a pest.
Farmers don't like to loose lambs to Badgers etc.
Gamekeepers don't like to loose their Pheasant poults to Buzzards or Grouse chicks to Harriers.
There must come a time when the powers that be realise without a licensing system to help lawfully control these pests poison and all other methods will be used. That is a fact !!
Carbofuran kills at the point of compsumption that's another fact so why are there so few baits and birds found together ??
Truth is there are far better farm drugs that kill effectively. If you are caught with them on your person no court in the land would get a prosecution as they are licensed for use at the moment.
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