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Message: <blockquote data-quote="s. james" data-source="post: 1452166" data-attributes="member: 21133">Sheskinmore. I'd say around ten lapwing pairs most years, probably more over a wider area. Always see recently fledged chicks in the summer and lots of juveniles slightly later on.The foxes and other mammals there really got me into wildlife and subsequently birding to a large extent. There's loads of foxes there- I've seen up to 5 at once, they look like a pack of wolves!The adult lapwings usually mob the foxes while they pass by and I've never seen a chick taken although I'm sure it happens regularly.However it's pretty natural machair and rough grassland habitat. I believe the RSPB are looking at more extensive areas of grassland in NI to encourage breeding lapwings such as at the Co. Londonderry side of the Foyle estuary. With good habitat management there there'd be more chance of success than at a smaller isolated site. Belfast Harbour is a good enough reserve as it is, you can't have everything!<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />OK we might be going nowhere fast here but anyway a few points...Corvids are some of the most interesting of bird species. I think it's a complete contradiction for the RSPB to kill them.Why are red squirrels inherently better than greys? Is it just because they're native? I've no preference at all for either species. Are reds not doing OK on island reserves such as Brownsea(sic?) and in big conifer forestry plantations*?(serious question)*non-native trees- this can't be allowed, they must be exterminated and the red squirrels moved to our glorius native deciduous forests.</blockquote>

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