GOSHAWK: Sky1 (1 Viewer)

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Watched a programme on Sky1 last evening "Stop, Search, Seize" about the work of the Irish Police. An officer on patrol had stopped a car for some reason and was asking the driver for his papers etc. On the front passenger seat was a bird (a big chick) sitting on a blanket. It wasn't fledged - still had white fluffy plumage. The officer asked what it was and was told by the driver it was a Goshawk. The officer said he'd not heard of one of them and proceeded to look at the driver's documents. Bird not mentioned again.

I had been waiting for the officer to delve further into why the driver had a goshawk chick in his car. How had he acquired it? Where was he taking it? etc. etc. Me & my husband were looking at each other in amazement as this bird was driven away into the sunset!! - alll our questions unanswered.

Are there perhaps not laws in Ireland about the acquisition of BoP?

 

[Simon Wates]

Are there perhaps not laws in Ireland about the acquisition of BoP?

That's awful - unacceptable, the police in this case were ignorant - there is whole load of legislation in Ireland - the European habitat and bird directives for a start - not to mention CITES.

Might be worth writing to the Sky to tell them they have shown an illegal act being (unwittingly?) condoned by the bobbies....

Of course it could have been a legal captive bred Goshawk, for falconry for eg. but they should have been asked for papers that they would have to carry while transporting the bird.

 

[mark shorten]

wildlife crime not very high on Garda agenda. Goshawk is rare in Ireland, even more so as breeding bird, even more so in Rep of Ireland. Captive bred bird more lightly as the bird was being carried openly, but.......... who knows

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

wildlife crime not very high on Garda agenda. Goshawk is rare in Ireland, even more so as breeding bird, even more so in Rep of Ireland. Captive bred bird more lightly as the bird was being carried openly, but.......... who knows

Hm - perhaps he was just taking it for a ride then - or feeding it in transit. It was too young to be able to feed itself.

Thanks for your comments.