PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
This short extract from a 2019 review by John Marchant of a Poyser title, published last year - The European Eagle Owl....
"Disputed estimates of 40 (and 10) breeding pairs in Britain are repeated here but alongside a discussion of the rumours and scanty data on which such numbers are based, and pointing out the lack of clear evidence that any wild birds are involved. Of particular relevance to Britain is a discussion of interspecific interactions and the negative effect this super-predator can have on smaller birds of prey".
Countering this I've found some reference of a bird reported in Norfolk a few years ago that had isotope material suggesting it originated from the near Continent. However, it could well have related to a bird " taken " from the wild and transported to the UK, where it escaped or was released.
As yet, I have not managed to infiltrate the RSPB website to find out their press releases on the " proposed culling ", apart from an extract from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust via Sir Ian Botham! I'm not confident on the background of the content at this time.
"Disputed estimates of 40 (and 10) breeding pairs in Britain are repeated here but alongside a discussion of the rumours and scanty data on which such numbers are based, and pointing out the lack of clear evidence that any wild birds are involved. Of particular relevance to Britain is a discussion of interspecific interactions and the negative effect this super-predator can have on smaller birds of prey".
Countering this I've found some reference of a bird reported in Norfolk a few years ago that had isotope material suggesting it originated from the near Continent. However, it could well have related to a bird " taken " from the wild and transported to the UK, where it escaped or was released.
As yet, I have not managed to infiltrate the RSPB website to find out their press releases on the " proposed culling ", apart from an extract from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust via Sir Ian Botham! I'm not confident on the background of the content at this time.
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