The RSPB and Hen Harrier Action started a joint e-action 9 days ago on Hen Harrier Day and it has been supported already by over 54,000 individuals. This e-action closes at midnight on 31 August 2020 and the goal is to get the number of participants to 100,000 by then.
The e-action sends a message to your elected representative (MP in England) asking them to get in touch with the relevant environment minister about raptor persecution on grouse moors because you think it is a serious issue. The e-action doesn't specify the action needed but it highlights the subject as a matter of serious concern. The below text in bold is the text of the e-action as supplied to me (directly) by Mark Avery. They believe it will be a useful wake-up call to politicians across the UK and the more people support it - the more of a call to action it is.
I urge you to take action to end illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey, which disproportionately takes place on the UK’s driven grouse moors. Hen harrier populations have declined by 27% since 2004, with regional declines in areas dominated by intensive grouse moor management being even steeper. Furthermore, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s report in 2011 on hen harrier conservation recognised that the size of the hen harrier population in the UK is vastly below its potential size (most starkly in England) and that the overwhelming reason was illegal persecution. This is clearly an intolerable state of affairs – there is therefore an urgent need for reform to clamp down on wildlife crime associated with the driven grouse shooting industry to restore healthy hen harrier populations across the whole of the UK.
I am also concerned by the intensive management practices associated with driven grouse shooting such as vegetation burning to encourage heather growth. Repeated burning has left some protected sites in unfavourable condition and can be associated with damaging effects such as drinking water contamination and increased flood risk.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial movement to ‘build back greener’ – to recognise the importance of nature and our place in it. With regards to persecution of our birds of prey, things appear to be moving in the opposite direction - there has been a surge in reported illegal persecution under lockdown.
I urge you to seize this moment and contact the relevant environment minister today, to call for action on driven grouse shooting in a way that will deliver enormous benefits to our birds, our landscapes and our people and positive steps towards tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis.
And here is the weblink that allows you (your friends and contacts) to add your voicewww.wildjustice.org.uk/sos
Mike Chorley said
Tue Sep 3 3:10 PM, 2019
Yes, focus on the general and ignore the particular problem.
Mike Berry said
Tue Sep 3 11:32 AM, 2019
I have received a communication re the petition. The usual fobbing off with a statement, and I quote:
"The Government appreciates that many people hold strong views on the issue of driven grouse shooting. The Government considers that shooting activities bring many benefits to the rural economy and can in many cases be beneficial for wildlife and habitat conservation. "
Ludicrous! Don't they have a conscience?
John Rayner said
Sun Sep 1 9:20 PM, 2019
Just passed the 100,000 this evening. So that will give 'em something else to debate other than Brexit.
Paul Risley said
Sat Aug 31 6:33 PM, 2019
89,000 plus at the moment, if anyone hasn't signed please consider doing so as John says it will keep it in the public eye and with Chris Packham at the helm our MP's will be better equipped to counter the ignorant arguments presented by the shooting fraternities representatives
John Watson said
Wed Aug 28 8:43 AM, 2019
It keeps it high in the public profile, esp if the press mention it - they love a good argument
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Aug 25 9:49 PM, 2019
Does it matter how many signatures are obtained? I'm sure you must have all read the garbage that sprouted from the House of Commons when this was last debated there. What we need to do is vote for whichever Party pledges to legislate on driven grouse shooting in their manifesto (if you can believe those). How many would do that if it meant voting Labour or The Green Party against their usual instincts?
Paul Risley said
Sat Aug 24 7:17 PM, 2019
signed, gone past the 75,000 mark now!
Mike Berry said
Fri Aug 23 10:48 AM, 2019
Petition nearing 74000. Please pass on to your email contacts.
This e-petition only went live the day before yesterday but it already has over 40,000 signatures. If it gets 100,000 signatures then it will be debated by backbench MPs in Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall debates do not compel the Westminster government, or the devolved parliaments, to do anything but they are very useful in airing issues and putting the public pressure on our politicians.
So, please sign this e-petition if you agree with it and ask your friends to do the same (you could simply forward this email to them, perhaps).
Mark Avery Standing up for Nature 9 Lawson St, Wellingborough, Northants NN9 6NG, UK
Hopefully more opposition MP's will turn out for this one than the rather pathetic showing they made last time.
This e-petition only went live the day before yesterday but it already has over 40,000 signatures. If it gets 100,000 signatures then it will be debated by backbench MPs in Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall debates do not compel the Westminster government, or the devolved parliaments, to do anything but they are very useful in airing issues and putting the public pressure on our politicians.
So, please sign this e-petition if you agree with it and ask your friends to do the same (you could simply forward this email to them, perhaps).
Mark Avery Standing up for Nature 9 Lawson St, Wellingborough, Northants NN9 6NG, UK
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Mar 10 9:57 PM, 2018
Hope it's enough money to bribe the judiciary as the rich landowners appear to be doing to avoid persecution at the moment. If you ask me there is some sort of 'star chamber' sitting somewhere which has the sole purpose of defeating the push of decent people in trying to bring these Victorian throwbacks into line with the Law.
Craig Higson said
Fri Mar 9 11:33 PM, 2018
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Update on Justice for Hen Harriers! #justice4henharriers
(written by Mark Avery)
Here is a podcast which I recorded with Charlie Moores of Lush a couple of days ago where we talked generally about the plight of the Hen Harrier but also about #justice4henharriers and the amazing response to this crowd funding appeal.
It's quite long, 37 minutes, but you might find it passes a train journey or your commute into work.
Well done to all those that contributed to the crowd funding!!!
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 9th of March 2018 11:34:31 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 9 12:29 PM, 2018
Update on Justice for Hen Harriers! #justice4henharriers
(written by Mark Avery)
Here is a podcast which I recorded with Charlie Moores of Lush a couple of days ago where we talked generally about the plight of the Hen Harrier but also about #justice4henharriers and the amazing response to this crowd funding appeal.
It's quite long, 37 minutes, but you might find it passes a train journey or your commute into work.
I simply can't get my head around the cost of this 'sport'. £150 + VAT per brace of grouse, and a party of eight guns aims for a 200 brace day. That's £30,000 + VAT per day!!! To go out and kill stuff. That's 400 birds per party, per day. My maths isn't great, but I reckon a hen harrier would struggle to do that in a year.
It makes me ashamed to be a human that people will poison one of the most majestic birds that grace our land, for the profit that is made off killling even more!
hear hear...couldn't agree more Rick!
Rick Hall said
Wed Oct 30 7:07 PM, 2013
I simply can't get my head around the cost of this 'sport'. £150 + VAT per brace of grouse, and a party of eight guns aims for a 200 brace day. That's £30,000 + VAT per day!!! To go out and kill stuff. That's 400 birds per party, per day. My maths isn't great, but I reckon a hen harrier would struggle to do that in a year.
It makes me ashamed to be a human that people will poison one of the most majestic birds that grace our land, for the profit that is made off killling even more!
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Oct 30 4:24 AM, 2013
Mike,
Sorry to say it will take a change of Government at least to move this forward. The latest proof of this is quite clear. The Tories are letting business profits (although not solely that, I understand) influence the onslaught currently facing badgers in the South West of England. What message is this ending out to any 'business' which makes its livelihood in the countryside? I'll tell you. If there is anything out there which is preventing you from making the maximum possible profit for your business, snuff it out, and we will turn a blind eye (or even help you as with the case of destroying buzzard nests to protect pheasant interests). Those presently in charge of this country's economy care not one jot for wildlife, especially if it stands in the way of making money (progress in their book). Sadly, a real alternative to Shameron and Co does not seem to be in sight.
Mike Passant said
Mon Oct 28 5:29 AM, 2013
Judging by the featured articles (concerning the plight of our Hen Harriers) in the last few issues of its quarterly magazine, the RSPB thankfully seems now to be giving this problem the exposure it deserves. The tone of recent articles at last shows some sign of going onto the offensive against self evident blatant flouting of the law : -
"If driven-grouse shooting is only viable when birds of prey are routinely disturbed and killed, then we question the legitimacy of driven-grouse shooting as a sustainable land use."
Simon Barnes takes up the theme on page 47 of the RSPB magazine (2013 winter issue); the quote above is taken from the body of his article.
On the face of it, if just a few keepers on just a few estates were acting illegally, and if they were just a tiny minority in the killing of Hen Harriers, we'd not notice it, - there would still be a healthy viable population, such is the size of the potential habitat available to them in N. England.
But the reality is however that presently there are no Hen Harriers at all breeding, so rampant and widespread and "successful" as a modus operandi is the persecution, and so to anyone with any intelligence it does rather beg the question :- Just how few shooting estates are there where Hen Harriers aren't persecuted? In other words, the persecution has been so "successful", there's really no denying it with a straight face! You could say that it's like finding an empty deserted bullion van with the doors blown off down a lonely country lane and still pretending there's been no money stolen.
This is not going to be quickly stopped, but at least the RSPB is now up in arms and shouting loud and clear; - a good start. The next and logical step is a concerted campaign to get the law changed to bring in vicarious liability (as it exists in Scotland). After that, penalties for criminal behavior must be seen to be severe and painful; offenders must be made not just to respect the law, but to fear it. Only then, when it is just unprofitable to repeatedly break the law, will our raptors be safe.
Mike Passant said
Thu May 9 3:31 AM, 2013
re; Hen Harrier persecution- an update:
In March I wrote a long letter to the CEO of RSPB as part of my campaign (which effectively amounts to my WAR against certain selfish landowning interests) to help save our Hen Harriers.
In early April, I was very pleased to receive in response a three page letter approved by Dr. Mike Clarke and signed in his absence, which confirmed that RSPB is very seriously focused on the self same suggested priorities which were set out by me.
The RSPB confirms its commitment to the following:
1.To achieve the writing into English Law the principle of vicarious liability (as it presently exists in Scotland).
2. The establishment of stronger sanctions should the shooting sector continue to fail to tackle criminality.
3. RSPB is undertaking a major investment in its "Skydancer Project" aimed at increasing public awareness of and empathy with the plight of the Hen harrier. The project provides education and information to local communities, schools and gamekeeping colleges. This latter aspect is of course a particularly important component.
$. RSPB is looking hard at how best to target its enforcement work, (details confidential) with emphasis not just on protecting nesting birds, but also on tackling the problem of persecution away from nesting sites (e.g. at winter roosts as well).
Regards, Mike P.
Keith Mills said
Tue Mar 5 4:53 AM, 2013
High speed service to Bolton. Dun and dusted in the blink of an eye!
Mike Chorley said
Tue Mar 5 4:37 AM, 2013
Tried at lunchtime & still waiting for the repeat confirmation email. They must be really busy!
andrew chapman said
Tue Mar 5 4:32 AM, 2013
just signed and i was number 2,328.
andy
John Rayner said
Mon Mar 4 7:16 PM, 2013
I have just signed. Let's hope it gains momentum as with the Buzzard debacle. Perhaps it will if everyone who reads this considers signing up.
Cheers, John
Mike Passant said
Mon Mar 4 5:51 PM, 2013
-Now 2,100+ have signed; plus two more with Barb and me.
After two days he's already got nearly 1,400 signatures!!
Neil
Steve Suttill said
Wed Feb 27 5:44 PM, 2013
Mike Passant wrote:
M.P.s opposing the required change in the law necessary to afford meaningful effective protection for raptors should be named and shamed so that they are exposed to ultimately face due sanction at the ballot box. They are in parliament first and foremost to serve a voting majority of the electorate;
If only this were so...
Fully agree with the penalty of removing shotgun licences - gamekeepers might think twice about doing their bosses' dirty work if it meant losing their job.
Thoroughly recommend reading "The Gamekeeper" by Barry Hines (author of "Kes") for a rounded view of this topic.
Joe Wynn said
Wed Feb 27 5:20 AM, 2013
I'm obviously no expert, but the injustice of the whole thing seems particularly pertinent, as if some people (or indeed animals) have any right to be on the moors than others. And whilst the RSPB should be commended for its work with saving habitats for breeding birds it can be argued that what we don't need is a series of isolated areas in which birds breed, rather a countryside that is more tolerant of birds breeding anywhere, including birds of prey. It is no good preserving certain moorlands for raptors, as raptors can't distinguish between a grouse moor and normal heathland, its small wonder Red Kites are struggling to leave the Black Isle on the Moray Firth, if they go a mile inland they're on prize grouse moors and it appears that here they're 'fair game'. It just seems so unfair that if brought to the attention of people it couldn't fail to raise some sort of reaction.
Mike Passant said
Wed Feb 27 2:58 AM, 2013
Steve mentions the government being well stocked with grouse moor owners and their public school pals;- quite so. It is because that does indeed represent a real obstacle to change and progress that the RSPB needs to discard its kid gloves, and to escalate this into a well publicised and well supported campaign to have wildlife crime in the UK raised to carry the same stigma as drink driving.
M.P.s opposing the required change in the law necessary to afford meaningful effective protection for raptors should be named and shamed so that they are exposed to ultimately face due sanction at the ballot box. They are in parliament first and foremost to serve a voting majority of the electorate; - if they need forcibly reminding of this then so be it. If we are determined enough, vicarious liability (to "rope in" those offending landowners) will be written into law in England.
As regards punishment, as a starter, any keeper convicted should lose for life his/her shotgun licence on first offence, and serve a prison sentence. The landowner on such first offence should suffer a minimum fine of £10,000. On second offences, fines and prison sentences to increase, with the landowner also facing a prison sentence.
If these penalties seem harsh, it is necessary to drive home the message that the law will be respected; after only a few initial convictions, it will become apparent that Hen Harrier populations will be showing a noticeable and surprising recovery.
I think the above is not to much to expect if enough people care; -speaking for myself, I'd quite happily bring back the stocks for these people; but then again, that's just me.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Feb 26 5:41 PM, 2013
The gamekeepers are just doing what they are told by their estate-owning bosses who are happy to pay off these measly fines.
I believe that Scottish law now allows the landowner to be charged with offences carried out by their staff on their land - but has it happened yet? We need English law to follow suit and prosecutions made. But how will this happen when the government is well-stocked with grouse moor owners and their chums from public school?
I'm sure the RSPB could do more on this issue but at least they did fight (and win) the proposal to persecute Buzzards put forward by our grouse moor-owning Environment Minister
Mark Rigby said
Tue Feb 26 6:57 AM, 2013
No need to apologise Mike as 99.99% of the forums members will share your views. I do sometimes wonder why I am a member of the RSPB.
Yes they do a great job of providing and protecting threatened habitats and make birds more accessible to the general public, but like you, I think it is time for a concerted effort to afford not only the Hen Harrier but other raptors such as Goshawk more protection.
There also needs to be a dramatic change in the severity of court sentencing. I have recently read some of the pathetic sentences handed out from the courts to gamekeepers who have been caught 'red handed'. Here are a few from Scotland:-
"SGA gamekeeper Whitefield sentenced for poisoning four buzzards (he already had an earlier wildlife crime conviction). His sentence this time? 100 hours community service. Scottish gamekeeper McLachlan, convicted for possession of the banned poison Carbofuran. Fined £635. Scottish gamekeeper Barrie lost an appeal for his sentence of £520 for illegal possession and control of a wild bird. COPFS choosing not to prosecute a Scottish gamekeeper who had been filmed beating birds to death with a stick inside a crow cage trap. Scottish gamekeeper Christie convicted for wildlife crimes relating to the illegal use of a crow cage trap. His sentence? An admonishment (a telling off). Scottish gamekeeper Graham convicted for allowing a buzzard to starve to death inside a crow cage trap. Fined £450. Scottish gamekeeper McKellar convicted for possession of banned poison. Fined £1,200. Scottish gamekeeper Scobie convicted for using banned poison. Fined £270. A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared in the Angus glens. A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared to the North East of the Cairngorms National Park. Peregrine chicks mysteriously disappeared from a nest site in Dumfries & Galloway. A golden eagle was found dead, poisoned in Lochaber. A golden eagle was found dead in suspicious circumstances on the Isle of Harris. Still awaiting results. A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared in the Monadhliaths. A poisoned raven, crow, and three poisoned baits were found in the Borders. A satellite-tagged golden eagle was found dead near a lay-by in Aberdeenshire. Its injuries and its sat tag data suggested it had been illegally trapped on an Angus grouse moor and then dumped during the night and left to die. A golden eagle was found shot and critically injured on a grouse moor in Dumfries & Galloway. Barry, the sat-tagged hen harrier from Langholm mysteriously disappeared. Buzz, the sat-tagged buzzard mysteriously disappeared in the Angus glens. (More on this case in the New Year). Willow, a sat-tagged marsh harrier mysteriously disappeared in Galloway. A hen harrier was found shot dead on an Aberdeenshire grouse moor"
Grim reading-and this is just the tip of the iceberg!
Mike Passant said
Tue Feb 26 5:42 AM, 2013
Another rant, and no apology!
"Inside Out" on BBC1 at 19.30 earlier tonight had a good ten minute spot on the plight of Hen Harriers in Northern England, with evidential input from those conservationists working hard and monitoring the decline and crucially its causes, putting the spotlight clearly where it belongs; - criminal persecution of a legally protected species by gamekeepers, almost certainly for the most part under pressure from their landowning bosses anxious to maximise the precious "bag" from their autumn shoots.
The grouse moor faction put up a spokesman (also allegedly understood to be a lawyer) who tried to suggest that the decline was due to poor weather during the last few breeding seasons, and that in any case it was hardly an important topic, just an over - hyped fuss by a few conservationists, and that there was no need to change the law ; surely the priority should be to address real crime like murder and rape, (as if all these things were mutually exclusive). Another spokesman for the landowners said that any gamekeeper killing/persecuting a protected raptor species would lose his job. I'd really like to believe that individual; - if he were telling the truth he would surely represent a tiny minority. I do know from previous conversations with ex gamekeepers however that such "public speak" is the standard verbal response by any working gamekeeper, but the overwhelming reality is the opposite in practice. Ex keepers have spilled the beans too many times as to what really goes on. The programme hit the mark when an ex keeper admitted that killing 8/10 Harriers and a few Peregrines in a season was expected on some estates.
These peoples' arrogance is breathtaking; do they really think that blanket denial by a minority of wealthy landowners is acceptable/credible and that the rest of us are so stupid as to believe or accept such nonsense in the face of the evidence?
The next step should be to now pressure the conservative party to start to take the matter seriously with a view to changing the law by making the landowners liable for the crimes of their employees, as in Scotland, where vicarious liability is now written into law. It would appear that labour MPs are generally supportive of any move to afford increased legal protection, but sadly the conservatives are reported to be inclined to drag their heels on this.
The above aim will be most effectively achieved by challenging the RSPB to throw down the gauntlet with the weight of over a million members behind it. That would best be done by the RSPB firstly educating its membership via a focused magazine campaign concerning the needs and life history of the species, backed up with a publicity campaign, with the emphasis on displaying stunning photographs of (particularly male) Hen Harriers, and secondly by galvanising the membership with an in - depth analysis of the causes of the decline and a clear explanation of the obvious remedy; - a change in the law bringing in "vicarious liability" on the rationale for the self evident need in England to do so.
Much would rest on the willingness of the RSPB to initiate such a campaign. It publishes its magazine (quarterly?) whatever, so there would be no/little additional expense involved. I checked back over the last 6 publications and saw nothing mentioned whatever concerning Hen Harriers; - there was plenty of stuff pitched at the level of "garden birds" and indeed there was hardly anything approaching "controversy" in a domestic context.
I do believe that the RSPB should step up and do what it says on the tin; - show its teeth, and in a political way, if that can play a decisive role in saving the Hen Harrier in England; if it did so in an effective way, the conservative party would get a well deserved boot up the arse to remind it that the voting majority count for a bloody sight more at the ballot box than the landowning minority.
Any added input /views are welcome, as I am shortly to take this up directly with RSPB.
Regards, Mike P.
Ian Boote said
Sun Dec 9 11:24 PM, 2012
Article in Independent of sustained persecution in York Dales and terminal decline of this bird
The RSPB and Hen Harrier Action started a joint e-action 9 days ago on Hen Harrier Day and it has been supported already by over 54,000 individuals. This e-action closes at midnight on 31 August 2020 and the goal is to get the number of participants to 100,000 by then.
The e-action sends a message to your elected representative (MP in England) asking them to get in touch with the relevant environment minister about raptor persecution on grouse moors because you think it is a serious issue. The e-action doesn't specify the action needed but it highlights the subject as a matter of serious concern. The below text in bold is the text of the e-action as supplied to me (directly) by Mark Avery. They believe it will be a useful wake-up call to politicians across the UK and the more people support it - the more of a call to action it is.
I urge you to take action to end illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey, which disproportionately takes place on the UK’s driven grouse moors. Hen harrier populations have declined by 27% since 2004, with regional declines in areas dominated by intensive grouse moor management being even steeper. Furthermore, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s report in 2011 on hen harrier conservation recognised that the size of the hen harrier population in the UK is vastly below its potential size (most starkly in England) and that the overwhelming reason was illegal persecution. This is clearly an intolerable state of affairs – there is therefore an urgent need for reform to clamp down on wildlife crime associated with the driven grouse shooting industry to restore healthy hen harrier populations across the whole of the UK.
I am also concerned by the intensive management practices associated with driven grouse shooting such as vegetation burning to encourage heather growth. Repeated burning has left some protected sites in unfavourable condition and can be associated with damaging effects such as drinking water contamination and increased flood risk.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial movement to ‘build back greener’ – to recognise the importance of nature and our place in it. With regards to persecution of our birds of prey, things appear to be moving in the opposite direction - there has been a surge in reported illegal persecution under lockdown.
I urge you to seize this moment and contact the relevant environment minister today, to call for action on driven grouse shooting in a way that will deliver enormous benefits to our birds, our landscapes and our people and positive steps towards tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis.
And here is the weblink that allows you (your friends and contacts) to add your voice www.wildjustice.org.uk/sos
"The Government appreciates that many people hold strong views on the issue of driven grouse shooting. The Government considers that shooting activities bring many benefits to the rural economy and can in many cases be beneficial for wildlife and habitat conservation. "
Ludicrous! Don't they have a conscience?
89,000 plus at the moment, if anyone hasn't signed please consider doing so as John says it will keep it in the public eye and with Chris Packham at the helm our MP's will be better equipped to counter the ignorant arguments presented by the shooting fraternities representatives
Does it matter how many signatures are obtained? I'm sure you must have all read the garbage that sprouted from the House of Commons when this was last debated there. What we need to do is vote for whichever Party pledges to legislate on driven grouse shooting in their manifesto (if you can believe those). How many would do that if it meant voting Labour or The Green Party against their usual instincts?
signed, gone past the 75,000 mark now!
Hopefully more opposition MP's will turn out for this one than the rather pathetic showing they made last time.
Standing up for Nature
9 Lawson St, Wellingborough, Northants NN9 6NG, UK
Hope it's enough money to bribe the judiciary as the rich landowners appear to be doing to avoid persecution at the moment. If you ask me there is some sort of 'star chamber' sitting somewhere which has the sole purpose of defeating the push of decent people in trying to bring these Victorian throwbacks into line with the Law.
Well done to all those that contributed to the crowd funding!!!
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 9th of March 2018 11:34:31 PM
Update on Justice for Hen Harriers! #justice4henharriers
(written by Mark Avery)
Here is a podcast which I recorded with Charlie Moores of Lush a couple of days ago where we talked generally about the plight of the Hen Harrier but also about #justice4henharriers and the amazing response to this crowd funding appeal.
It's quite long, 37 minutes, but you might find it passes a train journey or your commute into work.
Here is the link http://player.lush.com/channels/times/radio/mark-avery-challenging-brood-meddling
Many thanks for all your support (I'm going to keep saying that because I really can't thank you enough!)
Mark
Crowdjustice link
hear hear...couldn't agree more Rick!
It makes me ashamed to be a human that people will poison one of the most majestic birds that grace our land, for the profit that is made off killling even more!
Sorry to say it will take a change of Government at least to move this forward. The latest proof of this is quite clear. The Tories are letting business profits (although not solely that, I understand) influence the onslaught currently facing badgers in the South West of England. What message is this ending out to any 'business' which makes its livelihood in the countryside? I'll tell you. If there is anything out there which is preventing you from making the maximum possible profit for your business, snuff it out, and we will turn a blind eye (or even help you as with the case of destroying buzzard nests to protect pheasant interests). Those presently in charge of this country's economy care not one jot for wildlife, especially if it stands in the way of making money (progress in their book). Sadly, a real alternative to Shameron and Co does not seem to be in sight.
Judging by the featured articles (concerning the plight of our Hen Harriers) in the last few issues of its quarterly magazine, the RSPB thankfully seems now to be giving this problem the exposure it deserves. The tone of recent articles at last shows some sign of going onto the offensive against self evident blatant flouting of the law : -
"If driven-grouse shooting is only viable when birds of prey are routinely disturbed and killed, then we question the legitimacy of driven-grouse shooting as a sustainable land use."
Simon Barnes takes up the theme on page 47 of the RSPB magazine (2013 winter issue); the quote above is taken from the body of his article.
On the face of it, if just a few keepers on just a few estates were acting illegally, and if they were just a tiny minority in the killing of Hen Harriers, we'd not notice it, - there would still be a healthy viable population, such is the size of the potential habitat available to them in N. England.
But the reality is however that presently there are no Hen Harriers at all breeding, so rampant and widespread and "successful" as a modus operandi is the persecution, and so to anyone with any intelligence it does rather beg the question :- Just how few shooting estates are there where Hen Harriers aren't persecuted?
In other words, the persecution has been so "successful", there's really no denying it with a straight face! You could say that it's like finding an empty deserted bullion van with the doors blown off down a lonely country lane and still pretending there's been no money stolen.
This is not going to be quickly stopped, but at least the RSPB is now up in arms and shouting loud and clear; - a good start. The next and logical step is a concerted campaign to get the law changed to bring in vicarious liability (as it exists in Scotland). After that, penalties for criminal behavior must be seen to be severe and painful; offenders must be made not just to respect the law, but to fear it. Only then, when it is just unprofitable to repeatedly break the law, will our raptors be safe.
re; Hen Harrier persecution- an update:
In March I wrote a long letter to the CEO of RSPB as part of my campaign (which effectively amounts to my WAR against certain selfish landowning interests) to help save our Hen Harriers.
In early April, I was very pleased to receive in response a three page letter approved by Dr. Mike Clarke and signed in his absence, which confirmed that RSPB is very seriously focused on the self same suggested priorities which were set out by me.
The RSPB confirms its commitment to the following:
1.To achieve the writing into English Law the principle of vicarious liability (as it presently exists in Scotland).
2. The establishment of stronger sanctions should the shooting sector continue to fail to tackle criminality.
3. RSPB is undertaking a major investment in its "Skydancer Project" aimed at increasing public awareness of and empathy with the plight of the Hen harrier. The project provides education and information to local communities, schools and gamekeeping colleges. This latter aspect is of course a particularly important component.
$. RSPB is looking hard at how best to target its enforcement work, (details confidential) with emphasis not just on protecting nesting birds, but also on tackling the problem of persecution away from nesting sites (e.g. at winter roosts as well).
Regards,
Mike P.
Dun and dusted in the blink of an eye!
just signed and i was number 2,328.
andy
Cheers, John
-Now 2,100+ have signed; plus two more with Barb and me.
Thanks for pointing this out !
Regards,
Mike and Barbara P.
After two days he's already got nearly 1,400 signatures!!
Neil
If only this were so...
Fully agree with the penalty of removing shotgun licences - gamekeepers might think twice about doing their bosses' dirty work if it meant losing their job.
Thoroughly recommend reading "The Gamekeeper" by Barry Hines (author of "Kes") for a rounded view of this topic.
Steve mentions the government being well stocked with grouse moor owners and their public school pals;- quite so.
It is because that does indeed represent a real obstacle to change and progress that the RSPB needs to discard its kid gloves, and to escalate this into a well publicised and well supported campaign to have wildlife crime in the UK raised to carry the same stigma as drink driving.
M.P.s opposing the required change in the law necessary to afford meaningful effective protection for raptors should be named and shamed so that they are exposed to ultimately face due sanction at the ballot box. They are in parliament first and foremost to serve a voting majority of the electorate; - if they need forcibly reminding of this then so be it.
If we are determined enough, vicarious liability (to "rope in" those offending landowners) will be written into law in England.
As regards punishment, as a starter, any keeper convicted should lose for life his/her shotgun licence on first offence, and serve a prison sentence. The landowner on such first offence should suffer a minimum fine of £10,000. On second offences, fines and prison sentences to increase, with the landowner also facing a prison sentence.
If these penalties seem harsh, it is necessary to drive home the message that the law will be respected; after only a few initial convictions, it will become apparent that Hen Harrier populations will be showing a noticeable and surprising recovery.
I think the above is not to much to expect if enough people care; -speaking for myself, I'd quite happily bring back the stocks for these people; but then again, that's just me.
I believe that Scottish law now allows the landowner to be charged with offences carried out by their staff on their land - but has it happened yet? We need English law to follow suit and prosecutions made. But how will this happen when the government is well-stocked with grouse moor owners and their chums from public school?
I'm sure the RSPB could do more on this issue but at least they did fight (and win) the proposal to persecute Buzzards put forward by our grouse moor-owning Environment Minister
Yes they do a great job of providing and protecting threatened habitats and make birds more accessible to the general public, but like you, I think it is time for a concerted effort to afford not only the Hen Harrier but other raptors such as Goshawk more protection.
There also needs to be a dramatic change in the severity of court sentencing. I have recently read some of the pathetic sentences handed out from the courts to gamekeepers who have been caught 'red handed'. Here are a few from Scotland:-
"SGA gamekeeper Whitefield sentenced for poisoning four buzzards (he already had an earlier wildlife crime conviction). His sentence this time? 100 hours community service.
Scottish gamekeeper McLachlan, convicted for possession of the banned poison Carbofuran. Fined £635.
Scottish gamekeeper Barrie lost an appeal for his sentence of £520 for illegal possession and control of a wild bird.
COPFS choosing not to prosecute a Scottish gamekeeper who had been filmed beating birds to death with a stick inside a crow cage trap.
Scottish gamekeeper Christie convicted for wildlife crimes relating to the illegal use of a crow cage trap. His sentence? An admonishment (a telling off).
Scottish gamekeeper Graham convicted for allowing a buzzard to starve to death inside a crow cage trap. Fined £450.
Scottish gamekeeper McKellar convicted for possession of banned poison. Fined £1,200.
Scottish gamekeeper Scobie convicted for using banned poison. Fined £270.
A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared in the Angus glens.
A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared to the North East of the Cairngorms National Park.
Peregrine chicks mysteriously disappeared from a nest site in Dumfries & Galloway.
A golden eagle was found dead, poisoned in Lochaber.
A golden eagle was found dead in suspicious circumstances on the Isle of Harris. Still awaiting results.
A satellite-tagged golden eagle mysteriously disappeared in the Monadhliaths.
A poisoned raven, crow, and three poisoned baits were found in the Borders.
A satellite-tagged golden eagle was found dead near a lay-by in Aberdeenshire. Its injuries and its sat tag data suggested it had been illegally trapped on an Angus grouse moor and then dumped during the night and left to die.
A golden eagle was found shot and critically injured on a grouse moor in Dumfries & Galloway.
Barry, the sat-tagged hen harrier from Langholm mysteriously disappeared.
Buzz, the sat-tagged buzzard mysteriously disappeared in the Angus glens. (More on this case in the New Year).
Willow, a sat-tagged marsh harrier mysteriously disappeared in Galloway.
A hen harrier was found shot dead on an Aberdeenshire grouse moor"
Grim reading-and this is just the tip of the iceberg!
Another rant, and no apology!
"Inside Out" on BBC1 at 19.30 earlier tonight had a good ten minute spot on the plight of Hen Harriers in Northern England, with evidential input from those conservationists working hard and monitoring the decline and crucially its causes, putting the spotlight clearly where it belongs; - criminal persecution of a legally protected species by gamekeepers, almost certainly for the most part under pressure from their landowning bosses anxious to maximise the precious "bag" from their autumn shoots.
The grouse moor faction put up a spokesman (also allegedly understood to be a lawyer) who tried to suggest that the decline was due to poor weather during the last few breeding seasons, and that in any case it was hardly an important topic, just an over - hyped fuss by a few conservationists, and that there was no need to change the law ; surely the priority should be to address real crime like murder and rape, (as if all these things were mutually exclusive).
Another spokesman for the landowners said that any gamekeeper killing/persecuting a protected raptor species would lose his job. I'd really like to believe that individual; - if he were telling the truth he would surely represent a tiny minority. I do know from previous conversations with ex gamekeepers however that such "public speak" is the standard verbal response by any working gamekeeper, but the overwhelming reality is the opposite in practice. Ex keepers have spilled the beans too many times as to what really goes on. The programme hit the mark when an ex keeper admitted that killing 8/10 Harriers and a few Peregrines in a season was expected on some estates.
These peoples' arrogance is breathtaking; do they really think that blanket denial by a minority of wealthy landowners is acceptable/credible and that the rest of us are so stupid as to believe or accept such nonsense in the face of the evidence?
The next step should be to now pressure the conservative party to start to take the matter seriously with a view to changing the law by making the landowners liable for the crimes of their employees, as in Scotland, where vicarious liability is now written into law. It would appear that labour MPs are generally supportive of any move to afford increased legal protection, but sadly the conservatives are reported to be inclined to drag their heels on this.
The above aim will be most effectively achieved by challenging the RSPB to throw down the gauntlet with the weight of over a million members behind it. That would best be done by the RSPB firstly educating its membership via a focused magazine campaign concerning the needs and life history of the species, backed up with a publicity campaign, with the emphasis on displaying stunning photographs of (particularly male) Hen Harriers, and secondly by galvanising the membership with an in - depth analysis of the causes of the decline and a clear explanation of the obvious remedy; - a change in the law bringing in "vicarious liability" on the rationale for the self evident need in England to do so.
Much would rest on the willingness of the RSPB to initiate such a campaign. It publishes its magazine (quarterly?) whatever, so there would be no/little additional expense involved. I checked back over the last 6 publications and saw nothing mentioned whatever concerning Hen Harriers; - there was plenty of stuff pitched at the level of "garden birds" and indeed there was hardly anything approaching "controversy" in a domestic context.
I do believe that the RSPB should step up and do what it says on the tin; - show its teeth, and in a political way, if that can play a decisive role in saving the Hen Harrier in England; if it did so in an effective way, the conservative party would get a well deserved boot up the arse to remind it that the voting majority count for a bloody sight more at the ballot box than the landowning minority.
Any added input /views are welcome, as I am shortly to take this up directly with RSPB.
Regards,
Mike P.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/tests-reveal-that-rare-bird-of-prey--was-shot-illegally-8397633.html
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 9th of December 2012 11:26:14 PM