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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jos Stratford" data-source="post: 1381998" data-attributes="member: 12449">Madness.a. time of year - January. Even if we supported the general idea, they are quite likely killing the wrong birds. 200 Common Buzzards and 50 Goshawks would quite probably include migrants from further north (for example, significant portions of the Lithuanian populations of both migrate out), ie. they will be killing birds that breed in areas and regions that have none of the species they seek to protect (and they can't be eating them in Austria in winter, as the Tawny Pipits should have migrated out of Austria (I suppose), whilst the lizards and frogs will be hibernating). b. Is there any evidence of Goshawks, let alone Buzzards, taking Tawny Pipits at all, or least in numbers that would be a threat? Not being able to read German, I can only presume that Austrian Goshawks have not taken a fancy to small side dishes al la carte. Without such evidence, there is no justification on these grounds.c. Ditto for Buzzards, cannot see them being an issue with Tawny Pipits. Would expect to see evidence if European Green Lizards and Agile Frogs are being affected.d. With a population in Europe alone of between 2-4 four million individuals, Tawny Pipits are not rare. That said, they are now listed on the 2008 IUCN Red List Category, but as a species of 'Least Concern'. Reasons for noted declines are not listed, but I suppose 'Buzzard dinner' is not primary amongst them.e. Has Austrain government identified primary causes of decline of these species in the country? Are these being addressed? If the answer is no to either, no justification.In summary, not the most intelligent policy to have come out of Austria in the last few years, we campaign against the likes of the illegal persecution of these birds elsewhere in the European Union, and here a government within it is promoting the very same!Isn't European law supposed to protect such birds? How does this stand, is it actually legal?</blockquote>

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