Ruddy Ducks

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

RE: Ruddy Ducks

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

for those following this there is an article in 15/03/07 wigan evening post covering the forthcoming ex gm .and the plight of our ruddy ducks.

cheers geoff

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

There is to be an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council on 21st March to discuss this issue alone. Nothing will happen before then. Only 43 are left there now anyway.
Representatives from Leigh OS, Wigan and Bolton RSPB groups and GMBRG met Andre Farrar (RSPB PR Officer) and Iain Henderson (DEFRA official at the Central Science Laboratory i/c of the culling) today for what might be called a frank exchange of views. Basically, the government is halfway through this £3.3m cull (funded 40% EU and 60% taxpayer) and nothing is going to stop them. Whilst it's likely that "our" duck won't be shot this winter, I expect they are doomed next winter!

PS. In 2006, only 4 Ruddy Ducks reached Spain to be shot there, and 2 hybrids were also shot. The Spanish get them all.

-- Edited by Judith Smith at 22:51, 2007-03-14

Gary Gorner · Status: Offline

Hope this rumour turns out to be true these ducks are quite stunning to watch and far more interesting than politics.

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Latest informed rumour is that they won't be shooting them at Pearson's this year - official reason is they've mostly dispersed to breeding grounds. But, local elections are looming and a well-publicised massacre wouldn't look good, especially as a couple of schools have got involved...