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Message: <blockquote data-quote="s. james" data-source="post: 1523441" data-attributes="member: 21133">I pretty much agree with you.1. "of course not all invasive species are harmful" :t: That's my point and it's one of the reasons I dislike the constant focus on natives in conservation (although on a semantic note I'd prefer "not all non-native species are harmful". "Invasive" species are possibly harmful by definition? and I suppose could include native plants like nettles and docks). Isn't the UK mandarin population quite important on the world scale?2. "flagging up these instances, or picking holes in the ruddy scheme, isn't really a pro argument for harlequins, mink or parakeets" True. I know very little about the ruddy scheme, harlequins or parakeets. I know a tiny bit about mink. When asking questions about the ruddies in Spain I was genuinely looking for info not (necessarily!) trying to pick holes in the scheme. I know that I instinctively like ruddies, parakeets and mink and think they're interesting species. Harlequins sound nasty but all I know about them is what the papers say. In Ireland I don't think mink have done much damage. I know across the water they're bad for water voles, moorhen etc. However I read a mammal society publication on them years ago that said in the British Isles they may just be occupying the vacant niche of the European mink. Otters near have them all munched now anyway.3. "shame on the suggestion WHDs should be doomed to extinction because they're not the most attractive of ducks to human eyes" Whoever suggested this it certainly wasn't me. My views on WHD are nothing to do with what they look like (I'm a big fan of corvids- not conventionally attractive). I just said I'm fairly apathetic about the species <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />eek!:shock horror but at least I'm being truthful). Hybridisation between diving ducks happens all the time, if they were being poisoned or shot I might care more. All species will go extinct at some stage, at least they're having a bit of fun doing it. Now if some Spanish WHD enthusiast comes on here and tells me how great they are it might make me more enthusiastic about them.You don't know I'm "well-intentioned" at all<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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