[Tideliner]

While I wrote to Defra pointing out what a stupid idea the buzzard removal study was and can only condem any buzzard control measures we must not lose sight that conservation owes the shooting comunity a great debt. Were it not for the pheasant many of our woodlands would not exist today and many of the more recent ones would have never been planted. In moderation game rearing is of benifit to our bio diversity. As long as the farmer is getting a rent for the shooting rights he is quite happy to keep the woodlands that so many species of the UK wildlife depend upon , but take the shooting rent away and many woods will be felled and the ground growing crops.

But note I said game rearing in moderation. Once the ground becomes overstocked then invertebrates and wildflowers will start to decline. I can see no problem with the release of a few hundred pheasants on a farm , but when the release starts to run into the thousands its a very different story. We have a lot to thank the pheasant for , but its all a question of balance.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Tideliner

But note I said game rearing in moderation. Once the ground becomes overstocked then invertebrates and wildflowers will start to decline. I can see no problem with the release of a few hundred pheasants on a farm , but when the release starts to run into the thousands its a very different story. We have a lot to thank the pheasant for , but its all a question of balance.

Perhaps DEFRA can be persuaded to fund a study into the effects of Pheasant releases on native wildlife?

They may have a responsibility to protect rural businesses from wildlife that causes 'conflict with human interests', but they also have a responsibility to monitor (and act on) any effects that these businesses might be having on wildlife and the environment.

[rosbifs]

Originally Posted by osprey31

Wonder if our gamekeepers will suffer a similar fate ?
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/news...g-ban-20120529

I hope they have had their gun licences revoked as well.....

[osprey31]

Thats what i was thinking, are they still classed as mentally sound enough to carry a firearm ?

[Jane Turner]

It has been suggested in the Guardian today that the source of the anecdotal evidence for heavy predation of Pheasants by Buzzards is Richard Benyon's own Gamekeeper who names Buzzard 1st in a list of predators that take Pheasants in a 2009 video clip.

Surely not even someone who does things like this
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-cover-up.html

couldn't be that self-serving?

[Robin Edwards]

Transparency ? I think not.

Conflict of Interests ? Most defintely.

Austere times and we're all this together. Your'e having a laugh. Here's a man who thinks it's acceptable to dip into our taxes to follow up a wild lead for his own interests.

I'm no socialist but vote these guys out at the earliest opportunity - their attitude towards our Environment is worrying.

[Robin Edwards]

More here from Dr Mark Avery in the Independant this morning.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...s-7815058.html

[Jerrythesnake]

I have the answer! Put the pheasant pens in the towns, buzzards won't be an issue but bloody cats will. Perhaps then the government will at last persecute these menaces and do everyone a favour!

[deboo]

Originally Posted by Tideliner

While I wrote to Defra pointing out what a stupid idea the buzzard removal study was and can only condem any buzzard control measures we must not lose sight that conservation owes the shooting comunity a great debt. Were it not for the pheasant many of our woodlands would not exist today and many of the more recent ones would have never been planted. In moderation game rearing is of benifit to our bio diversity. As long as the farmer is getting a rent for the shooting rights he is quite happy to keep the woodlands that so many species of the UK wildlife depend upon , but take the shooting rent away and many woods will be felled and the ground growing crops.

But note I said game rearing in moderation. Once the ground becomes overstocked then invertebrates and wildflowers will start to decline. I can see no problem with the release of a few hundred pheasants on a farm , but when the release starts to run into the thousands its a very different story. We have a lot to thank the pheasant for , but its all a question of balance.

If this was facebook I'd like this. Spot on Tideliner.

dave...