Robins under threatRobins under threatFor anyone that hasn't heard about this, Natural England wants to bring in a new
ruling that would allow birds including Robins and starlings to be killed and their nests destroyed with a "common license". Its in the guise of health & safety but it appears that the new leader of NE is a businessman rather than an environmentalist, and used to be a property developer which makes the motives rather suspect. It makes a mockery of all the efforts of environmentalist to protect our birds while the numbers dwindle, signatures are even coming in from other countries. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/877/675/ ... 1358718505" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Anyone concerned about this please sign the petition and spread it around your bird-loving friends! "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant Re: Robins under threatSigned
Was only saying the other day I havent seen Starlings for ages and this year only two Robins, they havent already started have they? Makes you wonder what they will come up with next! Re: Robins under threatWe have a few starlings in the garden but there seems less of them each year,
they're on the critical list now. "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
Re: Robins under threatIf they go on building the way they are and filling every bit of green with concrete, all will eventually disappear without any culling.
That's before we look at 100% Patio Gardens and not leaving some areas for overgrowth giving birds, insects and other creatures a chance of survival. Not in my, maybe all Members lifetime's, mankind will understand that every creature has a purpose to other things, to us, or even to us via another creature or plant. Once those start to go, nature will turn on us - and that will be that! Protecting creatures, plants and general nature is also protecting our families of the future. The man's a prat ! Thanks for bringing this to our attention Kitla. Richard New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
Re: Robins under threatIt sounds bad the way it is being reported.
But look at it the other way round. You sometimes see newspaper articles about people going to great lengths to preserve a birds nest. Not using their car.... because a bird nested somewhere. If a bird nested on a half finished building it might cost a fortune to delay (and the fledglings might still be eaten by a cat). There never used to be laws stopping you carrying on as normal regardless of birds nests, and I think not all birds are protected now. Egg collecting was a schoolboy hobby. Now the CAP rules stop farmers cutting hedges in the nesting season, but I don't think that applies to gardens and if it does how many gardeners know that and who would enforce it anyway. You sometimes see netting over hedges that need to be cut/removed later in the year, to stop birds nesting. I've just looked for the article I remember reading about it. Discovered 2 things. The consultation has already ended. Reading the small print There are 3 ways people can do things that are normal forbidden because they harm wildlife. An individual Licence (apply each time) a Class Licence (apply before you use it first) General Licence (I think that states certain conditions where anyone can do a certain thing). Always a balance, but I suspect people do what they want to anyway and hope no-one knows. Dance caller. http://mo-dance-caller.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-i-do.html
Sunny Clucker enjoyed Folk music and song in mid-Cheshire Re: Robins under threatI believe its the 3rd type of licence, the General licence, that it causing the concern,
it is a licence to destroy the birds, eggs and nests without any controls on how or limit to numbers, no evidence, permission or impact assessment required, The licence is already used but NE wants to add more species to it - several geese, collared doves, mallard ducks, pied wagtails,robins, starlings and others. The licence can be revoked if its used incorrectly, but as it gives free rein with no one checking up I'm betting that rarely happens. I'm aware the consultation has just ended, wildlife issues don't seem to be thought of as important enough to bring to the publics notice, or more likely are kept as quiet as possible to avoid backlash. Mo a lot of these birds didn't need protecting years ago, think of the clouds of starlings we used to see as children, what with all the development here & the awful mass trapping in Europe they need all the support they can get now. "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
Re: Robins under threatI am amazed Springwatch haven't picked this up ,why do the Ne want to do this ,what are the criteria for destroying these birds?
Maggie Re: Robins under threatAs I understand it, its a health and safety thing. If their nests are in places that
threaten h&s like in a flue or something, they can be moved or destroyed under a general licence without having to apply for permission. However, as far as I can see having a "general" licence gives totally free rein without checking or reporting how or why its done. So developers with a General licence can basically destroy any of those bird's nests for any reason without questions asked. If I'm understanding this wrong I'm very happy to be corrected. "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant |
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