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.
I have just read the above article and have looked at the many companies that have signed it, the one that sticks out like a sore thumb is United Utilities, when will they start practising what they preach, their signature is a futile gesture at the present time with the track record they have with birds of prey on Bowland, do they think that signing the RSPB petition gives them credibility, I am afraid not.
Please let us see some positive proof from them that they are doing something to help the many wonderful birds of prey they have on their land then perhaps we can start to trust and believe.
A good start would be to let the European Eagle Owls nest and rear their young without being disturbed.
I am awaiting Phillip Green’s reply to my letter with anticipation.
Chrissie Harper
Currently, United Utilities is busy selling-off parts of its business, and making many staff redundant. The reason for this is because it has gained the status of least-efficient water utility company in the UK, and has been heavily penalised financially by OFWAT.
It’s probable that Philip Green will be moving on shortly, and, the way things are, maybe there’ll be a takeover bid for the company soon.
Consequently, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a response from Mr Green if I were you. Maybe you’ll just get a response from the Bowland office, and I think you know what kind of answer you’ll get from them!
As a Bird of prey rescue and rehabilitator of 20 years, I am appauled that a large organisation such as FERA is considering a cull of Eagle Owls,I agree that some may have been realesed, whether on purpose or by accident, but there is evidence that they are migrating here from the continent, and in my opinion the are filling a gap, and will partially rebalence the eco system. It is also a shame, and a worry that companies in this country opt for indifferance rather than education when planning their objectives as far as the use of the land the preside over.
United Utilities does ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ when looking at the organisations who are signatories to this petition as they are the only landowner in England to support a population of hen harriers.
Does anyone honestly believe that UU have a worse record than the Moorland Association’s or the NGO’s members when it comes to bird of prey conservation (also signatories to this petition)? Do these organisations not stick out more? Is this ignorance or a lack of objectivity? I know there is no a lot of love lost for UU on this site, but come on – get a grip.
ratherbebirding, a question to you if i may?
The statement you made is quite clear and to a point whole heartedly correct.
But just because UU have the odd pair of Hen harriers breeding on their land it hardly makes them immune from criticism.
Yes bowland is the last stronghold for Hen Harrier and yes majority of the nests are on UU land. However what about the quoated figures that the habitat in bowland could support 200 pairs of hen harrier quite easily? Yet there are only single figure attempts? Come on.
And what about all the failures on UU land? for example as raptor politics covered, the nest that contained 2 or was it 3 dead chicks?
That UU, despite knowing this was a later than usual nest and needing its upmost protection, enforced the end of the RSPB wardens contract.
Low and behold the outcome, inevitable. I’m sure my self and many other readers of this site know full well what actually happened to those chicks.
From the evidence presented you would either have to be very naive, very foolish or have some sort of alteria motive to think anything else!
So your statement is correct really, not a lot of love lost for UU.
Its far from ignorance and defently far from a lack of objectivty.
You see the picture I get of UU is like a 100m hurderler. Cleared every hurdle in their path and going strong and defently in the right direction, but for some reason unbeknown by many they just can’t make the last hurdle!
Of course UU should not be immune to criticism. I was pointing out that according to some people posting comments they are more worthy of criticism for their track record with birds of prey than the likes of the Moorland Association or the NGO. Nobody with any knowledge of bird of prey conservation in the English uplands would agree with this.
It is also absolute nonsense that the Bowland estate could support 200 pairs of harriers. Using densities of hen harriers elsewhere in their range the total predicted population of territorial female hen harriers in the whole of England, in the absence of persecution, is only a little over 200.
Based on the information presented on this website I agree you would have to be naive, very foolish or have some ulterior motive to think those chicks lasst year were anything other than persecuted. The actual facts do not necssarily rule out entirley natural failure – dead chicks found near a nest with signs of being scavenged. Adult birds no longer present, as you would expect if the nest had failed. Could have been persecution but equally might not have been.
We know things about United Utilities that we can’t publish, unfortunately. Easy for us to say, but hopefully you’ll take that on trust.
lets be totally objective here, without UU and RSpb working on their land there would be no harriers left breeding in England. Yes there are things that could be improved but let’s stop bashing the one shining light, remember there is actually only one other hen harrier territory in the whole of Enlgand that regularly produces young. The real problem here lies elsewhere firmly at the feet of the moorland association members and their keepers. there is no evidence that Any persecution that may take place on UU land is done with their knowledge and much As others would like there is no evidence that the late nest was persecuted, opinion yes evidence no.