Article on page 5 (and very pro Ruddy Duck, anti-cull editorial comment, page 8) in yesterday's (13/9) Manchester Evening News (City Edition).

This article can be read by visiting www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk and typing ruddy duck in the search facility near the top left side of the web page. Couldn't find the editorial comment on the website but this is what was printed:-

"A ruddy liberty
THE Spanish inquisition at Wigan council has not ended well for a colony of ruddy ducks.
A council officer has now confirmed that the 1OO-strong colony at Pearson's Flash are to be shot at dawn.
Why? The innocent creatures stand accused of threatening the future viability of white-headed ducks in Spain, by migrating there and breeding with them.
It seems to us that the good people of Greater Manchester are being asked to do the dirty work of a foreign government by despatching flocks here when the few that do migrate could just as easily be killed when they reach Spanish shores. Whatever would Drake make of it?"


Cheers,

Bill.

Wigan Council have now agreed to the shooting of the Ruddy Duck at Pennington and Pearson's Flashes, despite determined opposition over the last year by the main opposition party. Eventually they delegated it to the Director of Planning to deal with. Opponents were contacted by the Planning Dept ecologist and invited to put their views, at the end of July. This was rather late, considering that there had been a council resolution that this should be done in March. On 24 July, Iain Henderson of the Central Science Laboratory and possibly Baz Hughes (WWT) were invited to attend a council meeting to say why the cull should go ahead. Opponents were not invited to attend. The latest figures supplied by the WWT, for 2006 - only 4 Ruddy Duck were shot in Spain. (It is considered that all Ruddy Duck reaching Spain are shot as the Spanish have EU funding for this purpose and they are easy to find). It is not known when the shooting will take place.