Birds of Prey and British Agriculture (1 Viewer)

[derelict]

The BBC's Farming Today have been running a series this week on raptors which finished up today with the idea that peregrine falcons were "at saturation level" and would need to be controlled. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q

Topics covered include the success of raptors, the need to control them and a project to monitor the activities of sea eagles...

 

[TwoDipsfromAmsterdam]

The BBC's Farming Today have been running a series this week on raptors which finished up today with the idea that peregrine falcons were "at saturation level" and would need to be controlled. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q

Topics covered include the success of raptors, the need to control them and a project to monitor the activities of sea eagles...

Ian Newton's book on the population ecology of raptors demonstrated that raptors themselves "know" when saturation levels have been reached. Put very simply, that's determined primarily by lack of suitable food and suitable breeding habitat. Would a farmer buy more cows if (s)he had exhausted all available grazing land and food resources?

DiP
PS - thinking about the cow analogy I did, of course, forget agricultural subsidies that might make it profitable for a farmer to buy more cows in such a situation. But the natural world doesn't operate under those distortions!

 

[dubs1967]

I never new norwegian sea Eels were being imported.Slimey buggers.

 

[totaljohn]

love gamekeepers. reminds me of this guy i know who likes to take the most provocative side in whatever he's arguing about (and he loves arguing). anyway, he argues firmly that all birds are "vermin" and also tells me in so many words that i am stupid for arguing otherwise.

before listening i was theorising that the government will possibly grant farmers licences to remove whatever BoPs they want removed because farmers get whatever they want. i have no idea about gamekeepers because they've been in the spotlight for breaking the law and with the RSPB on their back, the government will be in a pickle as to who to cave in to.

i think i might even listen to the program later, although most journalism on radio 4 these days leaves me in disbelief as to level of dumbing down involved so i won't expect to learn much more.

half-cocked dreary sunday afternoon post.

do peregrines eat cows now?

 

[derelict]

I never new norwegian sea Eels were being imported.

That's what I heard! So it must be true!

 

[Farnboro John]

If farmers leave Peregrines alone they might have less trouble with the pigeons they are always complaining about!

John

 

[John B (not the sloop)]

The BBC's Farming Today have been running a series this week on raptors which finished up today with the idea that peregrine falcons were "at saturation level" and would need to be controlled. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q

Topics covered include the success of raptors, the need to control them and a project to monitor the activities of sea eagles...

I see - so we have to control wildlife that is successful now do we? That'll be tough on Avocets and Little Egrets.....