Trouble in Bowland (1 Viewer)

[John B (not the sloop)]

Not good....

Down my patch we're sometimes up to our ears in escaped Sakers but at least they behave themselves.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2010/090610.aspx

 

[boddie]

Not good at all. I can see this making a lot of people very angry.

I'm almost loathe to voice my opinion as I'm sure it will be met with strong opposition either way, however Is this something that should be dealt with sooner rather than later? Controlling such a magnificent bird doesn't sit well with me at all, but I happen to think it would probably be for the greater good in this case.

 

[Adam W]

This has already been disscussed at length on here on more than one thread, for the record i agree with what boddie said.

 

[Himalaya]

We can still kill all the Eagle Owls in England but the number of Hen Harriers will never grow.

The Eagle Owls are not the only predators that Hen Harriers risk. The adults face predators such as Goshawk, Peregrine. On top of that nesting Hen Harriers face Stoat, Weasel, Fox, Buzzard, Raven, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls who will all eat eggs and chicks if they find one.

On top of that these same birds will also rob HH off prey items. Most of the predators mentionned are no way common except the LBBG's which nest in thousands on the Tarnbrook/Abbeystead/Brennand estates.

 

[Amarillo]

Even with the possible (have lost track of what has been proved or not) disturbance/predation by eagle owls, the hen harriers have had a very successful nesting season in Bowland with more than double the number of chicks to last year (22 compared to 10). What this suggests, is what most rational people already assumed - that eagle owls, even if they do predate the odd rare bird, will have no impact on the population as a whole.

 

[Adam W]

Even with the possible (have lost track of what has been proved or not) disturbance/predation by eagle owls, the hen harriers have had a very successful nesting season in Bowland with more than double the number of chicks to last year (22 compared to 10). What this suggests, is what most rational people already assumed - that eagle owls, even if they do predate the odd rare bird, will have no impact on the population as a whole.

Thats good news and would surely suggest aswell that persecution is down.

 

[Gary Jenkins]

Even with the possible (have lost track of what has been proved or not) disturbance/predation by eagle owls, the hen harriers have had a very successful nesting season in Bowland with more than double the number of chicks to last year (22 compared to 10).

Believe me Amarillo, that is the biggest load of bollocks Ive read on here.
Watch this space.

 

[Adam W]

Believe me Amarillo, that is the biggest load of bollocks Ive read on here.
Watch this space.

In what respect? the impact of the Owls or the fact its been a good breeding season?

 

[nirofo]

The so-called Eagle Owl predation of the Bowland Hen Harriers has yet to be given proof that anyone can see for themselves. As far as I am aware no one else except English Nature and the RSPB has seen the film footage that is supposedly so damning. Personally I think it's a red herring to lead people away from the real problem, that's English Nature and the RSPB's inability to do anything about the uncontrolled persecution by gamekeepers of all Raptors, not just in Bowland but throughout the UK.

The Eagle Owls are not the problem, Raptor persecution is the problem.

nirofo.

 

[Gary Jenkins]

The so-called Eagle Owl predation of the Bowland Hen Harriers has yet to be given proof that anyone can see for themselves. As far as I am aware no one else except English Nature and the RSPB has seen the film footage that is supposedly so damning. Personally I think it's a red herring to lead people away from the real problem, that's English Nature and the RSPB's inability to do anything about the uncontrolled persecution by gamekeepers of all Raptors, not just in Bowland but throughout the UK.

The Eagle Owls are not the problem, Raptor persecution is the problem.

nirofo.

I volunteer for NE, and when the news is put out, maybe people will start listening. Im not in a position to say what the current situation is, but its very very poor.

 

[Gary Jenkins]

In what respect? the impact of the Owls or the fact its been a good breeding season?

That its been a good breeding season Adam

 

[Amarillo]

Gary

This is where I got it from. Are you suggesting these figures are wrong?

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/?p=1301

 

[Irish Kite]

The so-called Eagle Owl predation of the Bowland Hen Harriers has yet to be given proof that anyone can see for themselves. As far as I am aware no one else except English Nature and the RSPB has seen the film footage that is supposedly so damning. Personally I think it's a red herring to lead people away from the real problem, that's English Nature and the RSPB's inability to do anything about the uncontrolled persecution by gamekeepers of all Raptors, not just in Bowland but throughout the UK.

The Eagle Owls are not the problem, Raptor persecution is the problem.

nirofo.

+1

 

[John B (not the sloop)]

We can still kill all the Eagle Owls in England but the number of Hen Harriers will never grow.

The Eagle Owls are not the only predators that Hen Harriers risk. The adults face predators such as Goshawk, Peregrine. On top of that nesting Hen Harriers face Stoat, Weasel, Fox, Buzzard, Raven, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls who will all eat eggs and chicks if they find one.

On top of that these same birds will also rob HH off prey items. Most of the predators mentionned are no way common except the LBBG's which nest in thousands on the Tarnbrook/Abbeystead/Brennand estates.

You've missed the biggest predator of them all. The one that kills for reasons unconnected with nutritional needs......