Government body kill eagle (1 Viewer)

As I hinted at in my first post, if the Falconer had not flown his bird in a wild Eagle's territory, the Eagle would still be alive.

The rest of the "story", well there wouldn't be a story if the Falconer's bird wasn't given the opportunity to attack a wild Eagle in her territory.

As for the RSPCA, they are a charity that does a pretty good job of helping Animals/Birds/Fish, and whatever else is taken to them. They do make mistakes, but they do much more good than harm, and nobody does it better.

ChrisKten said:

As I hinted at in my first post, if the Falconer had not flown his bird in a wild Eagle's territory, the Eagle would still be alive.

The rest of the "story", well there wouldn't be a story if the Falconer's bird wasn't given the opportunity to attack a wild Eagle in her territory.

As for the RSPCA, they are a charity that does a pretty good job of helping Animals/Birds/Fish, and whatever else is taken to them. They do make mistakes, but they do much more good than harm, and nobody does it better.

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Right on the nail.

Phil

Safewings said:

Hi PaulD,
I do not suffer fools gladly and feel with all the other relevant wild bird incidents that the RSPCA should not handle wild birds.

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Brilliant. I suppose you better set yourself up as a rival then and organise a national body capable of doing just that. Or as the presenter on the Field Sports channel intimated, leave it to the shooting and falconry fraternity. Or just leave them for dead.

Yes it seems as though the RSPCA made critical errors that directly led to the death of the eagle, but you do keep ignoring the fundamental point that the eagle should have been released five months earlier. FIVE months! I really can't stress this enough, because it is key to the debate and was spectacularly (but not unsurprisingly) overlooked and brushed aside in the "documentary".

Seems like we agree on the basic points, but we lay most of the blame at different locations.

FRenchy,
For your information we do have a national body that works in the interest of British Wild bird rehabilitation and conservation.
And I think I handle a reasonable share of wild bird casualties per year from right across the Country.
But what is very strange to understand is that as an obvious bird lover and seemingly interested in the well being and future conservation of species (This I pick up from your link to helping birds in Asia ) can we not agree that if a wild bird is injured or abandoned and at the mercy of certain predation, starvation or a slow death that a fully experienced person or persons` should intervene?. By this I mean assess the birds condition and if viable to attend accordingly with veterinary treatment, rest period, feeding and working towards seeing the bird fully rehabilitated and subsequently re-released back into its original habitat. Or are you of the opinion that under all circumstances just let nature take its` course ?. I would be interested to know.
If we are in aggreance and you feel that at times human intervention is neccessary then would you further agree that as with human injury and illness the bird should receive the best possible treatment available.

Which is my point I have seen first hand over the past fourty years as a wildlife rehabilitator the declining care and failing experience by the RSPCA that has an adverse affect on all too many wild bird cases and sadly this again was highlighted by the avoidable case of the Golden Eagle.
Chris ,
Most members of the public do not have any real inclination to get hands on with wildlife and refering people to an advisory site is not always suitable. I have all too many birds brought to us each year from people that have tried themselves or looked up on the internet how to care for injured wildlife and a considerable amount of that said advice is rubbish and needless to say by the time I get the bird or mammal the damage is done and the bird dies unnecessaily.
Speaking of the much supported animal charity they have advised members of the public to feed baby Little Owls "WEETABIX". Feed young Swallows "BREAD" or just place them on a tree branch so the parents can feed them.
There are over 50 red listed birds in the UK now and I see first hand the rapid decline of many once regular garden birds such as Song Thrush that are being killed by domestic cats, slug pellets to name just two and casualties of both can in a number of cases be treated so there is a growing need for specialist wildlife workers which can support the needs to redress the balance of natural habitat destruction.

This debate seems to be starting going round in circles now. There is blame every step of the way, the falconer should have been aware of the problems flying the eagle in an occupied territory (if he's such an expert on raptors - ignorance is no excuse) and the bird should have been released when ready, not kept in captivity indefinitely. There are no excuses, the law is pretty strict on this and taking on such a large responsibility with the bird means taking on the responsibility to return it to the wild as soon as it is ready. Blame also lies with the RSPCA, it would seem that they lacked a lot of skill and competence to deal with the bird, resulting in its death from lead poisoning. Trying to find a single scapegoat is a waste of time as there is blame at every port of call.

Safewings said:

[...]
Chris ,
Most members of the public do not have any real inclination to get hands on with wildlife and refering people to an advisory site is not always suitable. I have all too many birds brought to us each year from people that have tried themselves or looked up on the internet how to care for injured wildlife and a considerable amount of that said advice is rubbish and needless to say by the time I get the bird or mammal the damage is done and the bird dies unnecessaily.

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The way I look at it is; if people find a bird, and can't find help any other way, the link in my signature might just help. At worst it might inform them of what not to do. However, the most important part of my signature is in bold text.

For your information we do have a national body that works in the interest of British Wild bird rehabilitation and conservation.
And I think I handle a reasonable share of wild bird casualties per year from right across the Country.

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Excellent, who are they?

But what is very strange to understand is that as an obvious bird lover and seemingly interested in the well being and future conservation of species (This I pick up from your link to helping birds in Asia ) can we not agree that if a wild bird is injured or abandoned and at the mercy of certain predation, starvation or a slow death that a fully experienced person or persons` should intervene?. By this I mean assess the birds condition and if viable to attend accordingly with veterinary treatment, rest period, feeding and working towards seeing the bird fully rehabilitated and subsequently re-released back into its original habitat. Or are you of the opinion that under all circumstances just let nature take its` course ?. I would be interested to know.

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Please could you point out where i said he should not have taken it into care? My point, which you continue to ignore, is that he had rehabilitated this bird 5 months before DEFRA came knocking. Leaving the initial cause of the injury aside (his fault by the way), he did the right thing by taking the bird in and rehabilitating it. I have not said anything to the contary.

If we are in aggreance and you feel that at times human intervention is neccessary then would you further agree that as with human injury and illness the bird should receive the best possible treatment available.

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Err, i've not disagreed with that either have I?

Which is my point I have seen first hand over the past fourty years as a wildlife rehabilitator the declining care and failing experience by the RSPCA that has an adverse affect on all too many wild bird cases and sadly this again was highlighted by the avoidable case of the Golden Eagle.

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All aspects of this sorry case were avoidable, from start to finish. Shame you don't seem to be able to acknowledge that.

Most members of the public do not have any real inclination to get hands on with wildlife and refering people to an advisory site is not always suitable. I have all too many birds brought to us each year from people that have tried themselves or looked up on the internet how to care for injured wildlife and a considerable amount of that said advice is rubbish and needless to say by the time I get the bird or mammal the damage is done and the bird dies unnecessaily.
Speaking of the much supported animal charity they have advised members of the public to feed baby Little Owls "WEETABIX". Feed young Swallows "BREAD" or just place them on a tree branch so the parents can feed them.
There are over 50 red listed birds in the UK now and I see first hand the rapid decline of many once regular garden birds such as Song Thrush that are being killed by domestic cats, slug pellets to name just two and casualties of both can in a number of cases be treated so there is a growing need for specialist wildlife workers which can support the needs to redress the balance of natural habitat destruction.

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While its very commendable to treat sick and injured birds, and i would never criticise anybody for doing so, its not going to redress the balance of population decline. Efforts are much more productively targeted at habitat conservation, working with farmers etc etc. Its just not as cute, cuddly or as instant a "hit" as rehabilitation.

We are obviously poles apart and for your information and a link to just one organisation look up BWRC.
Secondly you obviously condemn the falconer for flying his eagle in the first place..
Yes I can see your point.
But equally is it fair that so called bird lovers arrive in droves to watch a rare visitor when it has been noted that the bird was caused serious distress.
Sadly those that can do those that cannot just talk about it.
Lets not waste any more time on the matter.

ChrisKten said:

Yes, so it's either DEFRA, RSPB, The Police, RSPCA, the Falconer, or nobody to blame; the end result is the same.

One question that springs to mind; is it advisable flying tame Eagles in another wild Eagles territory? And if the answer in "no", shouldn't the Falconer have known this?

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Am I right to ask where and how the blame lies with the RSPB in this case?

bradinho said:

Am I right to ask where and how the blame lies with the RSPB in this case?

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Wondered that myself actually. I'm guessing the good old boys in the country sports fraternity spuriously link the RSPB in with any bad news story, a bit like the Daily Mail and asylum seekers.