Raptor Politics

A reply from U turned up last week – in case you missed it, Chrissie Harper published it here on 2nd March. We now reproduce it below with a few comments we feel may be of interest to the impartial reader.

25th February 2010

Dear Ms Harper

Thank you for your letter of February 3, I am sorry to hear of your concerns about the welfare of the pair of European Eagle Owls nesting on our Bowland Estate land. Can I state immediately and unequivocally that in no way are we condoning any activity, which could compromise the safety or well-being of these birds. Continue reading Oh what a tangled web!: UU reply to Chrissie Harper – eventually

A young Irish Golden Eagle has been found poisoned on the Sligo/Leitrim border at Truskmore Mountain. The 10-month-old eagle chick was born and reared in a Donegal eyrie in 2009. The bird had spent the last four months wandering the beautiful mountains above Glencar Waterfall, Lough Gill and Gleniff.

Follow the link to this sad story which once again highlights the use of poison to kill our raptors

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1977

http://btoringing.blogspot.com/2010/02/finnish-peregrine-shot-in.html

A REPORT BY THE WORLD OWL TRUST – pdf format

More to follow on this.

Britain has one of the largest charities in Europe ‘protecting’ all birds including specially protected Birds of Prey so how can a title like this be used? Easy, an estimated 10,000 birds of prey are killed annually by shooting estates. These figures come from the people who are employed to kill these birds, the game keepers themselves [Macrae and Stott]. Birds of Prey are classed as ‘vermin’ by these estates with little time for the law of protection for these birds.

Continue reading Is Britain the worst country in the World for killing Birds of Prey? – John Miles

Please note that we have a forum available for you to discuss the issues raised on this site, and on raptor-related matters in general – just go to http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/talk/

Until a few days ago the post quoted below sat alone and unloved on the ‘Wild about Britain’ forum. Following a few adverse comments, it was silently removed, and is now only available via Google’s cache. The original poster went under the name of ‘Sentinel’, and the last time we looked his account had been frozen, and all his posts removed. Continue reading Raptor Politics…wrong again!

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Director of Conservation, handed a petition to Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca Davies – signed by more 200,000 people – demanding an end to the killing of birds of prey.

For the full story, please follow this link to Birdguides.

We believe the Eurasian Eagle Owl’s European subspecies Bubo. B. bubo is, and always has been, a true native British species. – the World Owl Trust

Download in PDF format the World Owl Trust’s objections to the FERA risk assessment:

Risk Assessment Response

Mr Philip Green, Chief Executive, United Utilities, Lingley Mere, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5

3 February 2010

Dear Mr. Green,

I am writing to you because I am very concerned for the safety and welfare of Lancashire’s only pair of European Eagle Owls which have been resident and have bred on your Bowland Estate since 2006. Resulting from what can only be described as irresponsible behaviour towards these iconic birds in the breeding season by a small number of your staff, this has resulted in their predicted low productivity after the pair were disturbed, against all expert advice given to your staff, to mark their eggs. I belong to a conservation group of over 2,000 members from all over the world that has been specifically established to make everyone aware of the problems these owls face in the wild, so be aware that the eyes of the world are watching United Utilities very closely at the present time.

Continue reading Eagle Owl-Letter of Concern sent to Philip Green, Chief Executive United Utilities