Safeguard our birds of prey . Following on from the Buzzard U-turn by Defra
A letter published in todays Independent and signed by a number of noteworthy organisations,
As organisations that care deeply about our rich and beautiful countryside and wildlife we were horrified recently to learn of the proposals to use taxpayers’ money to imprison buzzards and destroy their nests for the purposes of protecting pheasants.
And of course we welcome Defra minister Richard Benyon’s decision to drop the proposed research project. But we now urge him to go one step further in order to draw a line under this issue.
We all want to see healthy populations of birds of prey, from the buzzards that are widespread in our countryside to hen harriers which are down to just one pair in England. For this to happen, full legal protection must be maintained and action taken to stop illegal killing of these birds.
Given the strength of public feeling and lack of evidence for a problem, we are calling on Mr Benyon to confirm that no licences will be issued to kill birds of prey in order protect game birds or other livestock. Then we can all concentrate on protecting our natural environment so that our countryside is a place where people and wildlife can live side by side.
Martin Harper
Director of Conservation, RSPB
Simon Pryor
Natural Environment Director, National Trust
Douglas Parr
Policy Director, Greenpeace UK
Paul de Zylva
Head of Nature, Friends of the Earth
Deborah Pain
Conservation Director, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Barbara Handley
Chairman, Hawk and Owl Trust
And seven others
And who are the 7 others?
This will result in the Government doing their usual U-Turn and appeasing the shooting fraternity.
Why are the RSPB still not supporting the Vicarious Liability e-petition like some of the other names on this list, I am disgusted at their lack of action, this is a chance to show the present government how most of the public feel, at the moment I feel it shows that many couldn’t care less.
Editor’s Comment. Chrissie about a decade ago the then Chairman of the North West Raptor Group was asked by Andrew Gouldstone (Regional Officer RSPB Lancaster office) to send details of a particular Forest of Bowland peregrine territory located on the Abbeystead estate with a history of annual persecution. The site had been been subjected to persecution over many previous years going back into the 1980′s. The plan was that once Mr Gouldstone had been supplied with all the details he would contact the Duke of Westminster in the hope the estate would take appropriate action to bring an end to the persecution taking place at this moorland site.
After several weeks delay Andrew Gouldstone replied advising that the RSPB would not take up the issue with the Land Owner, (no reason given), advising instead that the North West Raptor Group make their own representations to the estate. Talk about passing the buck! Interestingly since contacting the RSPB all those years ago the eyrie has consistently failed throughout the last ten years, only fledging two chicks two years ago when the estate gamekeeper moved to another post in the spring. During the past 20 years it is estimated no fewer that 10-15 pairs of peregrines went missing from this site, together with countless clutches of peregrine eggs. In our opinion this attiude shows how much the RSPB care about protected species, placing their own political interests above the interests of these “protected” species.