Hen Harrier extinction in England?

Regular readers will know that this is a subject that I have blogged on a number of times, but a new report out prepared by the RSPB and Natural England, commissioned by the Government has concluded that the Hen Harrier is likely to become extinct in England as a breeding bird in the near future.

Human persecution from guess where? - the Shooting community - those guardians of wildlife and carers for all things natural!!! A sick joke and pure hypocrisy.

Just four pairs on a single estate in the Forest of Bowland is all that remain.

It deeply saddens me that it has come to this and there is no excuse that it happens or that it is allowed to happen.

It remains good news that places like the Outer Hebrides still support a good community as readers will remember from my trip reports from North Uist last year.

Martin

The bad news never ceases and has set me off on one

So now it is four Goshawks poisoned in Devon.  The sad tales of wanton and criminal killing just don't stop do they?

This is one area for the wildlife NGO's to really get after in my opinion.  Organisations like the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts get millions and millions of pounds each and every year but never appear to address this issue with any lasting results through their lobbying and politicking.    Yes we hear the stories and their 'outrage' but that's about it in terms of getting things done.  They seem to be too far up their own parts having a pop at the government of the day trying to stop the economic development of our land.  With their over dramatic posturing on such proposals as reforming the planning legislation and building new High Speed rail lines, setting out their views that it will be the end of the world and wildlife as we know it, it is about time they put their efforts into the real activities like this that needs to be stopped.

 Watching a re-run of Birds Britannia on BBC4 on Monday night reminded me that these organisations are keen to extract our money with honeypot schemes like White Tailed Eagles, Ospreys and Red Kites, where they can easily be seen, but we need much better work from them against the vested commercial interests of the large shooting estates, and against farming policies where the large prairie like, sterile monoculture fields represent our 'green' countryside, that is yellow one week, green the next, brown the following one, devoid of wildlife.

We know that it is the Common Agricultural policy that has caused the biggest destruction of the UK wildlife through farming practices.  It is not building, it is not transport projects.  Some of the best wildlife sites in the UK are from brownfield sites that have had the hand of man on them in times past.  Here in Warwickshire nearly all the best wildlife sites and reserves are 'hand of man' sites that have been reclaimed.

In fact, the only truly wild part of the UK is in small parts of Scotland and on the Arctic plateau of the Cairngorms - the rest of our green and pleasant land has been totally shaped by man.

Sadly our biased media in this country don't focus on these aspects as I suspect there are too many commercial and vested interests at work.

Our wildlife organisations do good things with their reserves, and I am not decrying that, although it should be remembered that unless there are wildlife corridors connecting them, we are just building fence less wildlife zoos.  

So I will stop now before I get too tedious.

Would love to hear your views and comments on these subjects.

Martin

Raptor Persecution - Good ? and Bad

We have  reported on the persecution of raptors far too many times on this blog.....sadly.  Just as recently as last month, I reported this story on Hen Harriers.

Sadly across at Rutland Water, one of the Ospreys, has gone missing, feared shot.  The third breeding male in the same area in recent times.  Seems far too coincidental doesn't it.

However, I found this story of a couple of prosecutions of Scottish gamekeepers that you might wish to read.

So while it is good news that this has happened, it is still sickening, when you read the details, that this is even happening.  Why does it still keep happening?  Why does the community involved 'appear' to be in such denial.  The excuse always seem to be that it is the result of one or two 'rogue elements'.

Sadly, there appears to be too much of a patter.

Now it is easy for me to say this, being hundreds of miles away, and not close to the reality of what is happening, and just tripping out 'stories' from the press.  So I am not setting myself up here as any kind of informed expert on this.

But as an observer, it is still unacceptable that anyone involved as a guardian of nature, conservation or wildlife, or at least claims to be that this is anyway acceptable.

It would be good to see a much greater condemnation from the majority of the law abiding community who have an interest.

Another link here to a story that you might also be interested, with views from 'both sides'

Martin

Shocking News Story today

For many years I think it has been clear that the intentions of those who claim to be best protectors and custodians of wildlife and wild places in Scotland have solely concentrated on their commercial rights at the expense of our native wildlife.

We have heard time after time how raptors have been persecuted, shot, trapped, illegal poisoned, strangely enough all around shooting and game estates.  Funny that!! - except it isn't, in any way shape or form.

There have been test sites where with appropriate management, the Hen Harrier population can live and survive happily alongside grouse moors where appropriate measures are taken (that doesn't include killing them) and strangely enough those managed moors support a greater head of HH population that all the other moors.

This story today that was published on the BBC really just looks a bit like a self admission  and might be deemed as confirming the fears that many who seek to conserve our native wildlife have expressed all along.

Now while the landowners may not wish to cull HH's, I think the records of illegal persecution and the numbers of these wonderful birds that breed probably tells it own story.

I trust that the new Scottish government will look to preserve and conserve its natural heritage and not succumb to considerable commercial pressures, much of it not owned locally.

I have always said that we would stay clear of politics on this blog, and we have done well, but things like this that affect our wildlife deserve to be shared.

Would welcome your views and comments, but a always, please leave a name before we publish.

Thanks

Martin