Raptor Persecution

Oh no, not again. The shooting fraternity really do need to sort these horrific incidents out once and for all! This one it seems has royal connections!

https://www.birdguides.com/news/goshawk-trapped-in-suspected-persecution-case-on-norfolk-estate/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter160522&dm_i=73DM,69IW,ZVCQL,QAOG,1

We love going to the Norfolk CAMH sites to enjoy the wildlife. Shame on the privileged Van Cutsems!

Despicable action, a cover-up and an unholy alliance!

https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2022/08/25/hen-harriers-wings-removed-its-satellite-tag-fitted-to-a-crow-in-sick-ploy-to-disguise-the-crime/

What is it about Norfolk and which makes such sad news about our Montagu's Harrier population.

“Intensive conservation interventions are necessary to protect nests from agricultural operations, reduce predation risk, prevent disturbance and the possibility of illegal persecution. The latter, as for many raptors, is suspected to be an issue: satellite-tagging has revealed that two breeding females, including one featured on BBC Autumnwatch, both vanished unexpectedly from the same area in Norfolk in recent years. Last year, Montagu's Harrier was added to the Red List, the highest category of the UK's Birds of Conservation Concern assessment.”

Much of the imbalance of natural predation is of ‘our’ making and this too needs careful management. I’m also sure, with the very best of intentions, lessons will be learnt from the likes of the unfortunate Merlin incident. However the greatest unnatural and illegal loss of raptors is down to a few repeatedly performing cruel acts for selfish economics and so called sporting ‘reasons’. These despicable folk seem unable to learn their lessons.

Isolated hopefully, but repetitively frequent in some areas it happens. I however do question the idea that sporting estates are nature beneficial. Sometimes only when certain species are seen as ‘complimentary’ with the demands of the sporting estates are they allowed space and promoted.  Where conflict arises from other species or there is an historical dislike of them, a totally different attitude is adopted, even when numbers of those persecuted species are exceptionally or even dangerously low as we see on an all too regular basis as reported in the news and media. I fail to see how anyone can say they have never heard of these instances.

Furthermore, there have been studies which show where game birds are bred and released they have a significantly detrimental effect on insect, snake and other reptilian populations, sometimes eradicating some species from the sporting area.

I totally get that we have upset natural balance and some animals like foxes need their numbers controlling but this particular old chestnut is frequently dragged up as a means to support the ‘indefensible’. That argument is a red herring and not related to the persecution of raptors.

So you have heard of/seen those reports then Fish that do appear on an all to regular basis in my opinion. Yours of course may be different but the fact that it happens at all is clearly unhelpful and wrong! A few a year, every year across the UK is what I witness.

We may not believe all that is printed in the press and that works both ways. But I do sadly believe the evidence of utter cruelty and persecution we see on that video posted up thread. 

Sorry spell checker at error- Perceive not persevere!🤣

That was brilliant, Fish, unfortunately it was not the case for the rest of UK. Those few kites remaining in Wales, and the subsequent increase in numbers as a result of that hard work described gave inspiration for reintroduces elsewhere.  Today we see them all across the UK. Now we need a similar concerted effort across GB to assist them and other raptors chances and stop that persecution we all to often hear of.