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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ColinD" data-source="post: 1433558" data-attributes="member: 55409">Like so many of these introduced / escaped species (Eagle Owls, Grey Squirrels etc.), conservation bodies are scared of taking action because of the possible negative backlash from an ignorant general public. The only species that I can remember any positive action being taken against is the poor old Ruddy Duck, and in my opinion, that's only because even at the peak of their population, most members of the general public would still never have seen a Ruddy Duck so couldn't care less about them.We sit back and watch as Eagle Owls contribute greatly to the demise of our English Hen Harrier population, and try to justify it by saying that there is a one in a million chance of them being wild birds, yet we quite happily wipe out thousands of Ruddy Ducks to save the White-headed Duck in Spain. The question which I'd like to ask is this, is there not a decent chance that the occasional Ruddy Duck is a wild bird? What would we do if a wild pair did get here and start breeding? Would we stop them breeding? North American ducks do arrive here, even Pied-billed Grebes make here. I'm not against the cull of Ruddy Ducks by the way, I'm just trying to point out the inconsistancies.As far as conservation bodies are concerned, it's all down to how sexy a species is and how frequently the general public sees it. It's nothing to do with whats right for British wildlife. They'll even introduce species where they don't need introducing for a quick headline (Ospreys Rutland Water, possibly White-tailed Eagles Norfolk).Even though we know that the parakeets are 100% certainly escapes, and that there can be no chance of them being wild, I'm affraid your stuck with them, because nobody has the guts to take action. If they were a non-descript duck we'd slaughter them without hesitation, but a colourful parakeet - no chance.</blockquote>

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