tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post5343438487693503794..comments2023-11-18T20:46:14.848+00:00Comments on James Marchington: Time for a rethink on bird of prey poisonings?James Marchingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08109578008088776428noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-83573569888545583872010-03-19T09:57:19.983+00:002010-03-19T09:57:19.983+00:00Midegdog; An extra carrot is needed because estate...Midegdog; An extra carrot is needed because estates are being asked to suffer loses to their crop (grouse). An arable farmer growing wheat is allowed to shoot/ trap/ ferret rabbits as in large numbers they danage his crop but the grouse moor owner can't do the same. Like it or not grouse are a crop which is harvested in years where there is a surplus and which bring large financial benefits to communities in areas where other opportunites are scarce. If grouse moors can't make money through grouse shooting, and to a smaller extent bird tourism they will be let go to ruin. Some would welcome the increase in scrub and then to native woodland, but there are many species which would lose out once the moorland habitat was lost.<br />I don't agree with raptor poisoning at all, but agree with James et al that the current methods of controlling the problem few aren't working and new thinking is the only way.<br />Bird watchers can be part of that; you could help support the local industries which suffer if there aren't enough grouse for shooting by booking into hotels and having large meals rather than camping and making sandwiches!!!!Vickynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-49770151285327559832010-03-18T18:32:52.448+00:002010-03-18T18:32:52.448+00:00James another great observationabout occupying the...James another great observationabout occupying the moral high ground,personally i like it but in the real world it gets us absolutely nowhere.The sad fact is it is virtually impossible to catch the culprits.Would really like a anonymous person tell us what is acceptable that would mean less raptor losses.Idon't think that what midgedog says about single farm payments is accurate as most of the suspects of raptor killing probably do not get much in the way of SFP.Suppose he had driven over the speed limit he may have killed a child did he consider that.Sootynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-44252336365490118842010-03-18T18:19:25.978+00:002010-03-18T18:19:25.978+00:00Perhaps every era has its super-rich vandals. Imag...Perhaps every era has its super-rich vandals. Imagine if Capability Brown started 'improving' landscapes today - what an uproar there would be!James Marchingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109578008088776428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-56936343624984240322010-03-18T14:17:07.929+00:002010-03-18T14:17:07.929+00:00Midgedog, it sounds fine in theory doesn't it....Midgedog, it sounds fine in theory doesn't it. Fact is, it's not working, and it will continue not working. Do you want results, or is occupying the moral high ground sufficient?<br /><br />Many estates <i>do</i> comply fully with the law, and indeed go further to provide extra environmental / biodiversity benefits. Maybe that's enough, and we should simply see rogue estates in the same category as wind turbines, traffic etc - a kind of unnatural predation that we just have to live with. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable doing that. <br /><br />But don't forget, the owners of such places probably have an expense account that dwarfs the region's police budget. They actually believe they're above the law - and in many ways they are.James Marchingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109578008088776428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-42420189001275948862010-03-18T13:37:31.390+00:002010-03-18T13:37:31.390+00:00Today I drove in to work. I stayed within the spee...Today I drove in to work. I stayed within the speed limit all the way. If I had gone faster, I could have got here 15 minutes earlier and got some overtime. Should I be paid compensation because I didn't break the law. Of course not!!!<br /><br />Many landowners are in receipt of Single Farm Payments. Claimants must comply with specified legal requirements, including not killing protected species.<br /><br />There is the carrot. Sadly, the stick is not being used effectively.Midgedognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-46066153135699527452010-03-17T20:51:43.493+00:002010-03-17T20:51:43.493+00:00The goverment told us today that % was up and % wa...The goverment told us today that % was up and % was down. I wonder how many % of raptors are killed by Keepers each year and how many % raptors are killed by the pigeon guys ?<br /><br />Now we have Trodax licenced to treat sheep I wonder how many birds are killed by eating dead lamb,s ???Meconopsishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02517633816539650621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-71906591641253414332010-03-17T11:28:23.654+00:002010-03-17T11:28:23.654+00:00Hi James first of all what a really great blog and...Hi James first of all what a really great blog and for sure it is only a very small minority who commit these crimes probably across a wide range of society.I find it really good that you a shooting person wants to see a solution and if only all sides could come to a satisfactory agreement,surely there has to be a way if the will is there and it is understandable that Grouse shoots and others do not like to lose what they consider their birds.Pesonally I would agree to any reasonable proposal that cut down on raptors getting killed.Feel sure you would be embarresed by it but probably the best chance of change is from people like yourself putting a good case across and I may be castigated by some quarters but found your blog full of common sense.Sootynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-80687021760142412602010-03-17T08:54:58.593+00:002010-03-17T08:54:58.593+00:00I think a compensation/reward scheme really could ...I think a compensation/reward scheme really could work. After all farmers are rewarded for conservation work which helps farmland birds. I have suggested before that birders/bird charities should pay estates for he priveledge of watching birds of prey to give them a value to the estate. <br />This must be coupled with decent fines for landowners for illegal persecution BUT I feel here should be a way excess or problem raptors could be legally culled or removed, just as excess and problem ground predaotrs can be controlled.Vickynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-54486532755258500842010-03-16T22:46:42.055+00:002010-03-16T22:46:42.055+00:00If we took into account the money spent on trying ...If we took into account the money spent on trying to combat poisoning, it be cheaper than first appears.James Marchingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109578008088776428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8009643355982117276.post-50363236783119465402010-03-16T22:40:32.529+00:002010-03-16T22:40:32.529+00:00I've said for some time I would be happy to se...I've said for some time I would be happy to see some of my taxes go to protecting Birds of Prey via a compensation scheme. If the price of having a pair of Hen Harriers breeding is equal to the loss of 500 grouse and each grouse is worth £20 (?)say then pay the £10k. At the same time the law should be amended to make landowners responsible for the actions of their employees and the penalties increased. Carrot & stick.Alan Tilmouthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10201030182018368937noreply@blogger.com