Ian Whittle
Well-known member
Comments welcome on an article highlighted in the local press today, that I have been monitoring for a while now;
"A gamekeeper for the duke of Northumberland yesterday walked free after being cleared by a court of attempting to trap birds of prey on the aristocrats estate"
"Gary Taylor of Powburn in Northumberland appeared before Alnwick magistrates accused of committing five offences under the Wildlife and countryside act 1981. the two day trial dramatically ended with the 29 year old being cleared of all the allogations centered on practices at the 1200 acre game shooting estate at Linhope, in the Cheviots."
RSPB investigators found a live pigeon held within a large cage trap at comb fell, which they believed was an attempt to catch peregrins and other birds of prey.
The traps can only be allowed to catch birds including members of the crow family, pigeons,sparrows and starling, and must be checked daily.
The investigators monitored the cage covertly for three days before approaching Mr Taylor with the police.
In his defence Mr Taylor stated he had no knowledge of how this pigeon as bait got into the cage, and stated he did not deliberatley set out to entrap birds of prey.
He said " as long as the main preditors such as foxes, stoats and weasels are controlled, birds of prey cause us no harm"
" They are protected by law and we do not persecute them in any way"
Mr Taylor did admit he may not have properly inspected the cage at close hand (for 3 days), to see if it contained any birds, after a live crow he had placed there days earlier had managed to escape!
He also admitted that he had not de-activated two similar cage traps at Het burn and Great Standrop until RSPB officials questioned him. One of the cages contained two dead mistle thrushes.
Guy Shorrock, investigating officer for the RSPB said "We believed our case was firm, but we will continue to pursue prosecutions where ever we feel they are justified."
Yes Gamekeepers need to use traps I suppose, but isnt it as big a part of their responsability to ensure they are used correctly, checked as required, after all if you use your gun inappropriatley, your licence is (or should be) removed. Why then are they free to carry out using traps again, all be it, more discreatly.
Is this the same Mr Taylor in the headlines a few year ago for alledged poisoniong at a North estate?, I wonder?
Ian
(source The journal 23.7.03, page7) (for Michael!)
"A gamekeeper for the duke of Northumberland yesterday walked free after being cleared by a court of attempting to trap birds of prey on the aristocrats estate"
"Gary Taylor of Powburn in Northumberland appeared before Alnwick magistrates accused of committing five offences under the Wildlife and countryside act 1981. the two day trial dramatically ended with the 29 year old being cleared of all the allogations centered on practices at the 1200 acre game shooting estate at Linhope, in the Cheviots."
RSPB investigators found a live pigeon held within a large cage trap at comb fell, which they believed was an attempt to catch peregrins and other birds of prey.
The traps can only be allowed to catch birds including members of the crow family, pigeons,sparrows and starling, and must be checked daily.
The investigators monitored the cage covertly for three days before approaching Mr Taylor with the police.
In his defence Mr Taylor stated he had no knowledge of how this pigeon as bait got into the cage, and stated he did not deliberatley set out to entrap birds of prey.
He said " as long as the main preditors such as foxes, stoats and weasels are controlled, birds of prey cause us no harm"
" They are protected by law and we do not persecute them in any way"
Mr Taylor did admit he may not have properly inspected the cage at close hand (for 3 days), to see if it contained any birds, after a live crow he had placed there days earlier had managed to escape!
He also admitted that he had not de-activated two similar cage traps at Het burn and Great Standrop until RSPB officials questioned him. One of the cages contained two dead mistle thrushes.
Guy Shorrock, investigating officer for the RSPB said "We believed our case was firm, but we will continue to pursue prosecutions where ever we feel they are justified."
Yes Gamekeepers need to use traps I suppose, but isnt it as big a part of their responsability to ensure they are used correctly, checked as required, after all if you use your gun inappropriatley, your licence is (or should be) removed. Why then are they free to carry out using traps again, all be it, more discreatly.
Is this the same Mr Taylor in the headlines a few year ago for alledged poisoniong at a North estate?, I wonder?
Ian
(source The journal 23.7.03, page7) (for Michael!)