Turtles explain missing Golden Eagles (1 Viewer)

[John Cantelo]

Nothing underscores the inherent dishonesty and bad faith within the grouse shooting community than the way in which they pay lip service to the condemnation of illegal persecution but then twist, turn and manufacture spurious excuses to avoid the blindingly obvious fact that deaths and disappearances can be ascribed to their 'sport'. It's very hard to see this as anything other than a cynical and knowing attempt to deflect justified criticism and excuse their inaction in stopping abuses.

First, we had 'windfarmgate' where non-existent windfarms were blamed for the concentration of missing Golden Eagles on grouse moors. Now, comically, we have 'turtlegate'. An SCA (Scottish Countryside Alliance) press release (since picked up and repeated by others) claimed that the 'apparent' disappearance of Golden Eagles could be put down to the fact that 49% of transmitters fail. No reference was given, of course. After heroic digging by Raptor Persecution UK it now transpires that the 49% figure applied not to satellite transmitters but to radio tags. Not radio tags on birds, though, but on Ridley Turtles and was caused (understandably) by salt water damage. For more on the ornithological expertise of the CA see http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=330186 ) See also https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/ for details of the turtle story.

 

[edenwatcher]

Lots of salt water in the Monadhliath!

Rob

 

[Ratal]

Lots of salt water in the Monadhliath!

Rob

Yeah, in the buckets of water to wash the blood off their hands easier...

 

[DMW]

Given the identification skills of the grouse-shooting community, including their apparent inability to distinguish the legal from illegal, it comes as little surprise that they can't tell the difference between a marine reptile and an eagle.

 

[Nutcracker]

Given the identification skills of the grouse-shooting community, including their apparent inability to distinguish the legal from illegal, it comes as little surprise that they can't tell the difference between a marine reptile and an eagle.

:clap::clap::clap:

 

[Chosun Juan]

Nothing underscores the inherent dishonesty and bad faith within the grouse shooting community than the way in which they pay lip service to the condemnation of illegal persecution but then twist, turn and manufacture spurious excuses to avoid the blindingly obvious fact that deaths and disappearances can be ascribed to their 'sport'. It's very hard to see this as anything other than a cynical and knowing attempt to deflect justified criticism and excuse their inaction in stopping abuses. ....

Very well said John, and very true. They are condemned as utterly guilty by their complicit silence and continuing obfuscation and refusal to put their own house above reproach.


Chosun :gh:

 

[MJB]

Now, comically, we have 'turtlegate'. An SCA (Scottish Countryside Alliance) press release (since picked up and repeated by others) claimed that the 'apparent' disappearance of Golden Eagles could be put down to the fact that 49% of transmitters fail. No reference was given, of course. After heroic digging by Raptor Persecution UK it now transpires that the 49% figure applied not to satellite transmitters but to radio tags. Not radio tags on birds, though, but on Ridley Turtles and was caused (understandably) by salt water damage. For more on the ornithological expertise of the CA see http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=330186 ) See also https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/ for details of the turtle story.

...and to quote the old lady, who (rather like the much-missed Terry Pratchett) had described the universe as being on the back of a turtle, was asked by the TV reporter,

"In that case, Ma'am, what does the turtle stand on?"

she replied,

"It's turtles, all the way down!"

Countryside Alliance, eat your heart out!8-P
MJB