Bedford Roughyed Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The RSPB have its seems stopped tugging their forelocks to the landed gentry and have started to notice that birds of prey are suspicious by their absence over certain moorlands and woods. They have also noticed that these amazing birds only eat rat poison on certain estates, or are accidently shot (I thought it was a badger m'lud), or only land on traps, etc. The landowners it would seem have decided to fight back, led by Sir Botham (has he stopped flashing his bits on twitter yet?). That he owns a shoot has no connection to his feelings on this subject... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2805710/RSPB-spends-quarter-cash-saving-birds-Sir-Ian-Botham-leads-landowners-blast-charity.html http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/archive/2014/10/24/say-it-ain-39-t-so-beefy.aspx#.VEnoXjVo6lk.twitter With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Are you an RSPB member? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longboard Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Whilst the RSPB are not my favourite conservation group and they are not seen uncritically by many conservationists, this campaign is laughable in many respects. Announcing this just after the recent news about the huge decline of farmland birds in this country seems to be a diversionary tactic, or perhaps it is just bad timing. One thing the RSPB have going for them is a very large membership of c 1 million, which is, of course, far larger than that of any political party. So, Ian Botham and the landowning and large farming interest groups he is fronting for don't want a conservation group spending money on being involved in campaigning and on fundraising. Funny that. I wonder how he thinks conservation, the preservation of habitats and the development of new habitats to compensate for destruction of traditional landscapes can be done without campaigning. Similarly, I wonder how he thinks that evidence of the illegal killing of birds can be gathered without spending large sums of money. The landowning/shooting interests had a very good ride when Owen Patterson was the Environment etc Sec, including receiving increased conservation subsidies to maintain and improve habitats for grouse and other game birds, which are then shot. It was strange that there was such an increase when government cuts have been made in many areas; Owen Patterson owns an estate, which is no doubt an innocent co-incidence. The record of the illegal persecution of birds of prey on shooting estates in this country is a disgrace cf the decline of breeding hen harriers in the uplands in Northern England, the near eradication of goshawks in N Derbyshire and using bird carcasses laced with lethal poisons to kill peregrine falcons, as examples. I have connections through conservation work to people who investigate wildlife crimes, including bird persecutions. I can understand that some landowners and game keepers don't want people and organisations like the RSPB investigating what they do and campaigning based on the information they obtain. Ultimately though progress will be made by the interested parties agreeing the way forward and the balance between farming, shooting etc and the preservation of our countryside and flora and fauna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 As an RSPB member for many years I agree with almost everything you say. There have been, though, some changes in the approach of the RSPB as they expand their remit as "natures voice", a sort of increasing arrogance. Overall, though, a great force for good..they just need to keep an eye on themselves. Botham part of the establishment, though, according to the OP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerjon Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Botham part of the establishment, though, according to the OP? He's an associate member. Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedford Roughyed Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Botham part of the establishment, though, according to the OP? That's Sir Botham to you. With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolford6 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The RSPB is a politically motivated organisation. There was once an article in the Times where it was scaremongering about modern farming practices leading to a decline in the flocks of lapwings. It was trying to gather nationwide information and wanted members of the public to report instances of local decline. I rang in to report the development of a fairly large flock on a restored landfill site. I was told that the RSPB wasn't interested in landfill site populations, just those on farmland. It seemed to me that, essentially, the RSPB was looking for a stick for beating the farming industry. Under Scrutiny by the Right-On Thought Police Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The RSPB is a politically motivated organisation. There was once an article in the Times where it was scaremongering about modern farming practices leading to a decline in the flocks of lapwings. It was trying to gather nationwide information and wanted members of the public to report instances of local decline. I rang in to report the development of a fairly large flock on a restored landfill site. I was told that the RSPB wasn't interested in landfill site populations, just those on farmland. It seemed to me that, essentially, the RSPB was looking for a stick for beating the farming industry. looks like you've got em bang to rights but wait landfill sites aren't the same as farmland I don't think-could be wrong, and maybe there's been a bumper harvest of special brew cans and defunct microwaves this year. Y'see the entire rural surface of our nation is farmland of some kind, be it forest, mixed farming, extensive cereal what have you. This is the centuries long habitat of the lapwing or peewit as country folk know it. lapwings are found on grazing land and moorland-chiefly but not exclusively. The lapwing population has decreased alarmingly in these areas. I live on a mixed farm and have done for over 30 years. I've noticed this decrease over that time. So naturally organisations are going to be interested in the lapwing or as I and other country dwellers like to call them peewit population. Wild creatures go where the food is. There is food on landfill sites, although the chief beneficiary seems to be the herring gull. landfill sites are transient, they get covered over when the land is er filled. They are not considered a quality long term habitat for wildlife. Now you could be right and the RSPB have got it in for the farmers. But I beg you to consider this; there might, just might, be scientific reasons for monitoring the lapwing populations of farm land including moorland. I can imagine the shooting fraternity not being big fans of these delicate, interesting birds. WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry the Leit Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I'm encouraged that Wolford6 is trying to protect young birds. The Unicorn is not a Goose, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolford6 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Knee-jerk trolling. Well, the jerk bit is right anyway. Under Scrutiny by the Right-On Thought Police Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Knee-jerk trolling. Well, the jerk bit is right anyway. well don't do it then and don't beat yourself up WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 "The RSPB have its seems stopped tugging their forelocks to the landed gentry" The never have done that. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Protection_of_Birds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolford6 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 well don't do it then and don't beat yourself up You obviously know nothing about the restoration of landfill sites. Still you managed to write five paragraphs about it, telling me where I'm going wrong. Congratulations, it was well down to standard of your usual posts. Under Scrutiny by the Right-On Thought Police Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Is there any chance we could have a discussion without it descending into a slagging session? Do we actually have any views worth exchanging or is the desire to "win" at teh Internetzz too much to bear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolford6 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Give over Shads, that's those two's raison d'detre, as they say over in Wakefield and Fev . Under Scrutiny by the Right-On Thought Police Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 You obviously know nothing about the restoration of landfill sites. Still you managed to write five paragraphs about it, telling me where I'm going wrong. Congratulations, it was well down to standard of your usual posts. one does one's best The filling in of landfill sites as you rightly point out isn't something I have on my list of interests(see profile) and my life doesn't feel any less fulfilled as it were. the fact that lapwings have taken refuge(are you absolutely sure they were lapwings?) on such an unsuitable location has no bearing on drastic reduction in their numbers from their traditional and far more appropriate habitat on moorland and heathland other than to reinforce the concerns of the RSPB and individual people. WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Give over Shads, that's those two's raison d'detre, as they say over in Wakefield and Fev . no: we say raison d'être. WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 As an RSPB member for many years I agree with almost everything you say. There have been, though, some changes in the approach of the RSPB as they expand their remit as "natures voice", a sort of increasing arrogance. Overall, though, a great force for good..they just need to keep an eye on themselves. Botham part of the establishment, though, according to the OP? I agree, but I would say that Botham can reasonably be judged to be an 'establishment' figure WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 "The RSPB have its seems stopped tugging their forelocks to the landed gentry" The never have done that. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Protection_of_Birds I agree although Charles Mountbatten is an unlikely patron WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 He's patron of all sorts of of things though, isn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'angelo mysterioso Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 He's patron of all sorts of of things though, isn't he? he kills birds for a hobby this hobby is one of the reasons that some species are being driven from moorland. It's what the thread is about. WELCOME TO THE ROYSTON VASEY SUPER LEAGUE 2015 Keeping it local Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedford Roughyed Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 "The RSPB have its seems stopped tugging their forelocks to the landed gentry" The never have done that. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_for_the_Protection_of_Birds I may have played it a bit thick, but it does seem that there is a greater interest in taking on the shooting lobby. If there wasn't I doubt the said shooting lobby would be whinging to the charity commission. With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 The RSPB is campaigning vigorously for grouse shoots to be licensed: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/stuarthousden/archive/2014/07/11/rspb-scotland-calls-for-the-licensing-of-driven-grouse-moors.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff9of13 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 The RSPB is campaigning vigorously for grouse shoots to be licensed: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/stuarthousden/archive/2014/07/11/rspb-scotland-calls-for-the-licensing-of-driven-grouse-moors.aspx I'm more than slightly surprised that game shooting isn't already licenced. You can bet your life it would be if it were the pass time of people from the other end of the social scale. "it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm more than slightly surprised that game shooting isn't already licenced. You can bet your life it would be if it were the pass time of people from the other end of the social scale. Good god man!! Horny handed proletarian republicans like me being let loose with..with guns!!! "Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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