Unless someone is actually cauight in the act, it's difficult to see how we will ever stop this mindless slaughter, perhaps it's time to establish 'vicarious liablity' and prosecute landowners for birds found shot on their land?
https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/...hilst_two_others_disappear.aspx?s_id=66586714
What, again?!
RAAARGH!!!
This is getting infuriating, embarrassing,and shows just how ineffective some aspects of the police are. I remember a situation in which my bike was stolen from almost at the entrance of a police building. This reminds me of it.
Prosecution will do nothing. A more hands-on approach is required, I think. Deprive landowners of their property.
Look at some disturbing news I found whilst researching whether Dersingham Bog was worth a visit:
https://markavery.info/2017/10/24/prince-harry-woods/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/nov/07/monarchy.wildlife
Hen harriers shot down when a stupid prince was out with a gun, and then the birds removed to prevent said prince being prosecuted.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...eaths-Queen-s-Sandringham-Norfolk-resort.html
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/enviro...olk-s-rare-montagu-s-harrier-killed-1-5151544
https://www.thecanary.co/discovery/2017/08/18/rare-birds-mysteriously-dying-royal-estate-centre/
A MONTAGU'S HARRIER, Britain's rarest breeding bird of prey, killed
I think it is at least understandable to get scared for some livestock when a golden eagle appears nearby- those things can kill a deer, but when small, light, endearing little raptors like those who won't even be able to kill a chicken, I think, that is completely brainless to even get scared for them. And in none of those cases killing is acceptable. And should be punished properly- especially with hen harriers almost culled in the UK.
Nobody is afraid and goes out to shoot down a black vulture in Spain when it cruises over a farm- and those do actually look a bit unnerving. I have had magnificent observations of hen harriers, honey-buzzards in the same place in Russia, despite that being next to a village.
In Russia the black kite is feared, because when many a chicken got shreddered by a goshawk, and the owners run out to see the mess, a black kite was seen soaring nearby, whilst the real culprit was hiding in a tree.
Lammergeiers are even sometimes said to kill people. Those are vultures- they don't kill people. They very rarely kill animals.
Some raptors like vultures never kill anything living- they might stand nearby when something is dying, but never even finish it off.
It saddens me deeply to see that Montagu's harriers- which should be doing so well and nest everywhere in East Anglia, like they do even in the suburbs of Moscow, where there has recently been a population boom, are driven to the brink of extinction because of some unrepentant fools.
Hen harriers are, as far as birds go- weaklings. If something like a goshawk attacks it, it will be dead in a few seconds. They can only eat red grouse chicks, not adult birds. So why gamekeepers shoot them is stupid. All those artificial driven moors should be abolished. Walked-up moors are much better in my opinion. I can understand the threat a fox can pose to those birds, but not a hen harrier.
In Spain, we not only reintroduce birds, but provide food for them in places. I am looking forward to a trip I planned to 'Vulture Alley' right next to a city due to this.
In Russia we do hunt, that is true, but what we kill are usually black grouse, caprcaillies, willow grouse and hazel grouse. I don't think I've ever heard of a bird shot by hunters there in recent times. In the past, it was horrible. But now it is much better. Now me and my aunt can enjoy hen harriers on a close field.
So what is going on in the UK?
Is it not enough that the bus service in Cambridge is the worst I have ever seen? Is it not enough that the train service is atrocious? Some companies- like GWR, never made me angry, despite me using a London-Bristol route often. It is a million ties worse on the London- Cambridge route. In contrast, RZD and Renfe is almost perfect, to be honest. Oh, and also SNCF. That is great, too.
Do we need to have raptor persecution on the list, too?
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/enviro...o-norfolk-and-suffolk-were-scrapped-1-5007822
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10303266
I seriously don't even understand why a vote is called for this stuff. Enforce the change, deprive owners of their lands and so forth until people understand that a massive eagle is not interested in a lamb.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...oast-just-bird-brained-writes-ROBIN-PAGE.html
Take a look at this garbage, as well. Whoever wrote this must be either stupid with what I call fifth-grade control center short-circuit And I am betting anyone here my camera that if a Russian farmer sees a Goshawk destroy something, they won't run for a gun. I can even guarantee that in Spain if something of a farmer's gets ripped to shreds by an eagle, it will not cause even an outcry. When near Baikal, there were so many eagles- and there were also lots of farmers. Neither minds the other. Eagles have such large range of species they take they don't need lambs and pigs. Hen harriers too.
I enjoyed such beautiful views of one of them from quite close with my aunt and cousins as it cruised around, completely oblivious to us. Hen harriers are so beautiful and graceful... A juvenile honey-buzzard once got curious and decided to check me out, circling around me for quite some time. A goshawk once came crashing through the forest, flew over a busy path, and barrelled off through the trees into the distance. Those are the kinds of things the UK needs and the UK deserves, but is woefully lacking. In Russia you should see a Jay. Noisy, mischievous, who like to raid gardens. They never get shot for that.
Now look what happens here.
The breathtaking views of ships attended by black kites was beautiful. White-tailed eagles nesting on lands which are OPEN TO HUNTING (I saw a nest there full of three eagles, with another nearby). Why can't the UK have such birds nesting on the Avon near the sea?
In Russia we have another problem, which is at least not as idiotic: falcons caught and deported to the Arabs. It brings such a smile to my face to hear of how the Russian Special Forces prevented birds being flown out of the country.
The UK is my favourite country. Imagine how it would look to see hen harriers around in east Anglia in the summer. Montagu's harriers everywhere. Goshawks everywhere. Eagle-owls everywhere. White-tailed eagles and ospreys near water.
Golden eagles in the mountains. Falcons everywhere.
Now, look at the reality. What goes on in the UK. People have the power to stop this- and yet do nothing.
It looks like the hen harrier is heading for UK extinction, thanks to idiots with guns. Montagu's harrier as well. What's next? WTEs, GEs, Goshawks?
The same thing happened to bears in the UK. Wolves as well. In contrast, villagers in the Cordillera Cantabrica are proud of their bears. This needs to stop.
If a bird vanishes next to a grouse moor, or a racing pigeon estate, confiscated, jailed and that's it. Unless people crack down on those curs out there on the moors, hey will not stop until all raptors are extinct here, just like on Malta.
What's next after a hen harrier? Barn owl? Peregrine? Goshawk? Merlin?
Why do I have to spend tons of money to go to Spain or Russia to see hen harriers and so forth? Why can't they just be protected, fitted with satellite trackers, and that will lead to multiple arrests?
If it were only possible to start a petition to raise money to start depriving gamekeepers and so forth of their property...
I still remember and remind you of that lonely beautiful hen harrier as I watched it with my family. Just cruising around, slowly and gracefully. I want that here. But no, it couldn't be possible, could it? For me, my mum, my aunt,my granny, my girlfriend, my cousins to enjoy this beautiful spectacle here?
It would be so nice if reintroduction project to reintroduce something big and powerful like an imperial eagle, eagle owl, golden eagle was undertaken in suitable places for them. Personally, I think an imperial eagle would love East Anglia and Salisbury Plain in the summer. Imagine the furor that would generate. Then just tear down and signs which attempt to intervene and show people-the hard way- that those birds are not dangerous. Reintroduce hen harriers in East Anglia.
If only golden eagles and others were so protective of their nests like Ural Owls...
Something needs to be done about this. Bankrupt grouse moors. I am against shooting, but at least, if you really want that, leave the good, well-managed, walked-up moors where nothing gets persecuted. Protect hen harrier nests. Imprison without question and parole those proven to disturb those birds and other wildlife. That is the only thing that can be done. And when the faces of those gamekeepers are smeared in the dirt, perhaps then the hen harrier will survive.
Maybe only then will people like me and my aunt be able to enjoy those beautiful birds again. And I sincerely hope someone's going to jail due to that incident.
