BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="_TheBirdNerd_" data-source="post: 3415455" data-attributes="member: 135767">Signed. I have had to stay on a driven grouse reserve in Scotland (the head gamekeeper was friends with my dad and we went up for his wedding service). Overall, it was not a pleasant experience. Some of the keepers there knew I was a birder, and as soon as I got there I was given a lecture on how 'it should be legal to cull Buzzards'. When a beautiful Red Kite glided above us later that day, and I pointed it out to everyone, a keeper joked (I hope joked) 'I've got a whole one in the freezer if you'd like to have a look!'. The next day, I met a keeper who , very surprisingly was also a bird ringer. He, and another very arrogant keeper told me how 'the RSPB brainwashes me into loving birds of prey'. They also told me that the 'BTO lied about there being a small amount of breeding Hen Harriers' and told me that they 'had loads on the reserve (to them, loads they mean 2 nests) that needed to be culled'. Through the night the Arrogant keeper became quite aggressive towards me, and this made me upset to the point of crying  (I was only 12 at the time).  Along with this, I also overheard a keeper planning to kill an Otter that was supposedly eating the eggs of nesting Grouse.The whole experience has made me realize how much of a bloody 'sport' driven shooting is. It is not a 'civilised pastime' , but a selfish demonstration of human cruelty and lust for power.  I hope it is one day banned.</blockquote>

Verification