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="nirofo" data-source="post: 1397034" data-attributes="member: 1854">If you add to this the threat posed by Red Grouse, Deer, Salmon and Trout, then the picture becomes more viable.  The so-called "Sporting Fraternity" must be included as a whole and not singled out for individual game species such as Pheasants and Partridge.  While species such as Red Deer may not seem on face value to be high on the predation list of our Raptors, I can assure you that the keepers see it differently!  Golden Eagle for instance are, shall we say, downsized in the modern language.  WHY, because they disturb the Red Deer being stalked by the hunters, one Eagle flying over the deer can make them spooky for the rest of the day; similarly with the Red Grouse, although in this instance the Eagles also take the birds.  Salmon and Trout also invoke the predatory instincts of the keepers when Osprey's, Sea Eagles and Cormorants take their fish.  The Pheasants and Partridges can be likened to the put and take Trout fishing industry, and lets face it, is is an industry, how can it be sport when you're fishing in a hand fed goldfish bowl ?  So the answer is still a resounding YES !!! nirofo.</blockquote>