I have not put the Raptor Persecution Post on here. The head line says it all up to the catalogue of events they have listed. Please read their site
72 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed since 2018, most of them on or close to UK grouse moors
For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of hen harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue of crime that suggests otherwise.
The blog below is a reply on the RaptorPersecutionUK site and the following paragraphs are my reply to that post. I have posted on that site too. If only I could do more.
THESE ARE MY WORDS AND THOUGHTS
A well considered and the full blog by John L to the recent events and blogs particularly on the RaptorPersecutionUK site make excellent reading. He makes his arguments well and there is one point that is pertinent to what could prevent the illegal killing of wildlife in the areas that he mentions. That is simply human activity in and around grouse moors or should I say National Parks. The irony with my last comment is that through royal decree we, the public, are restricted from much of the land area in England and Wales. That has to change.
It is only by ‘trespass’ that we can enter and walk on such land. The Right to Roam movement have shown how this can be done. Additionally, as was reported, some shooting activity was stopped by The Hunt Saboteurs. The point I made in the previous paragraph is that it is essential that members of the public get out there and observe at least. It is evident to me that proactive behaviour is necessary. The article on ‘cubbing’ emphasises my point. It takes motivated, determined and even courageous people to get our there and take adversity full face on. I can only applaud them for doing it.
Sadly the organisations we have are not funded enough nor should we expect the police service to have the operational strength to administer justice or oversee the shooting and hunting fraternity. This is a ‘class’ issue where patronage is still given to our protective organisations but those patrons still take part in the old pursuits of hunting and shooting. There has to be a change.
For me the problem lies in the class of people holding up those members who are in the higher echelons of society. They do it because they can and are supported by those on the ground. The, so called, gamekeepers, and as the name suggests they look after game to the detriment of our flora and fauna.
There has never been enough detection or prosecutions for wildlife crime but most of those convicted are gamekeepers. A question to be asked here is what the hell happened to ‘vicarious liability’?
To balance my response - I do read the GWCT newsletter and that in some circumstances people do have a right to hunt. That’s not for me though. But I have to accept that ‘man’ is the apex predator as we have removed all opposition.
It is best to start to change the inherent desire of some to carrying on killing regardless then the few will dictate to the many.
The next lines are John L’s & lifted from the site
A well considered and the full blog by John L to the recent events and blogs particularly on the RaptorPersecutionUK site make excellent reading. He makes his arguments well and there is one point that is pertinent to what could prevent the illegal killing of wildlife in the areas that he mentions. That is simply human activity in and around grouse moors or should I say National Parks. The irony with my last comment is that through royal decree we, the public, are restricted from much of the land area in England and Wales. That has to change.
It is only by ‘trespass’ that we can enter and walk on such land. The Right to Roam movement have shown how this can be done. Additionally, as was reported, some shooting activity was stopped by The Hunt Saboteurs. The point I made in the previous paragraph is that it is essential that members of the public get out there and observe at least. It is evident to me that proactive behaviour is necessary. The article on ‘cubbing’ emphasises my point. It takes motivated, determined and even courageous people to get our there and take adversity full face on. I can only applaud them for doing it.
Sadly the organisations we have are not funded enough nor should we expect the police service to have the operational strength to administer justice or oversee the shooting and hunting fraternity. This is a ‘class’ issue where patronage is still given to our protective organisations but those patrons still take part in the old pursuits of hunting and shooting. There has to be a change.
For me the problem lies in the class of people holding up those members who are in the higher echelons of society. They do it because they can and are supported by those on the ground. The, so called, gamekeepers, and as the name suggests they look after game to the detriment of our flora and fauna.
There has never been enough detection or prosecutions for wildlife crime but most of those convicted are gamekeepers. A question to be asked here is what the hell happened to ‘vicarious liability’?
To balance my response - I do read the GWCT newsletter and that in some circumstances people do have a right to hunt. That’s not for me though. But I have to accept that ‘man’ is the apex predator as we have removed all opposition.
It is best to start to change the inherent desire of some to carrying on killing regardless then the few will dictate to the many.
N.B. I am compiling a poetry collection on wildlife. It’s beauty and the crimes.
A recent trip into the mountain of Monnegre and on the back road to the village I was ordered to stop suddenly and there within a few feet of the car was an Ocellated Lizard - not large but of a decent size basking in the sun inches from the shade of a bush on the roadside,
I peered over the bonnet and Bryan leant out and took these two photos. it was not as colourful as some library shots indicate but the markings are clear. It is also called a Jewelled Lizard although this one was not as bright as some photos give it. The young should be appearing about now and next time we may look harder. On a morning with no mammals, butterflies or snakes this lizard made up for one that we don't often see.
This morning a little green visitor not more than 4 cm long had come to our property.
They are common in Iberia although mostly overlooked and unseen. It is classified as the European Dwarf Mantis. We try and make all visitors welcome.
An eMail arrived in my inbox & I have reproduced their intro below. I would encourage you to log onto their site and read it all.
Hunt Sabs Mobilise Against The Cub Hunters!
Hunt saboteurs have begun the gruelling fightback against cub hunting, one of the hunting world’s most sordid secrets.
The practice involves meeting at the crack of dawn – when the scent is strongest – to train new hounds to kill young foxes. Fortunately, the cub hunters are not unopposed: across the country, dedicated sabs have been up before dawn to save fox cubs wherever and whenever they can.
HOW DESPICABLE IS THIS?
I read this post (see below) on RaptorPersecutionUK this morning. I know there are nice and good people in this world and there are others who delight (it seems to me) in cruelty.
Their post carried the headline:
“Hen Harrier’s wings ‘removed’ & its Satellite Tag fitted to a crow in a sick ploy to disguise the crime.’
In December 2021 I blogged about a disturbing incident I'd heard about concerning a young satellite-tagged hen harrier whose wings had been ripped off - whether that was done when she was still alive or after she'd been killed was not known (see here). I understood the incident had happened approximately nine months earlier, in […]
The full post can be read on RaptorPersecutionUK
I’VE NICKED THIS HEADLINE FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS.
NO IFFS, NO BUTTS: SHOOTERS SHAFTED ON GLORIOUS TWELFT
On the first day of the grouse shooting season, hunt saboteurs have shut down a huge driven shoot in the Yorkshire Dales.
HSA spotting teams were on patrol from early morning across vast swathes of upland England. As expected, those in the Peak District drew a blank: shooters there have learnt its best to stay in bed on the Glorious Twelfth!
Spotters further north had more to do, quickly locating a large convoy of beaters and shooters assembling on Abbotside Common, near Hawes.
The main body of sabs was quickly on the scene, climbing the moor in sweltering conditions and bringing all shooting to a halt!
Sabs were delighted to see that the shoot appeared to have wasted money on Countrywatch, an inept ‘security’ company who claim to specialise in protecting hunt and shoots. Their hired ‘muscle’ caused nothing but mirth, with the only serious concern being for the welfare of a poor Belgian shepherd dog that had been dragged on to the moors in 35° heat.
A more serious threat was presented by the police, who arrived in an assortment of vans, cars and even scrambling motorbikes. Unfortunately, many of the officers appeared to be suffering from severe heatstroke, accusing sabs of trespassing on what was obviously open access land. One particularly confused officer began trying to de-mask sabs before being bundled away by his colleagues. Despite these distractions, sabs stood their ground and the shoot was abandoned.
A HSA spokesperson commented from the scene,
“On the day that drought was declared across the country, grouse shooters have taken to tinder-dry moorland to blast away at our wildlife. What are they thinking? Every year, these selfish, entitled people kill hundreds of thousands of birds, burn precious upland areas and litter the landscape with traps and snares. Our message to grouse shooters is a simple one: expect us.”
PRESS RELEASE FROM NATIONAL TRUST VIA RAPTOR PERSECUTION UK.
Published : 22 Aug 2022
Seven hen harriers have successfully fledged from multiple nests on National Trust land in the High Peak, making 2022 the most successful year for hen harrier breeding on land cared for by the conservation charity in the Peak District for over a decade, despite two nest failures earlier this year.
The National Trust, RSPB and Peak District Raptor Group have been working closely together to encourage more birds of prey to live and thrive in the Peak District, by protecting birds currently living there, whilst also creating rich feeding and nesting grounds.
Work undertaken by the Trust includes cutting heather to allow a more diverse range of moorland plants such as sphagnum moss, bilberry and cottongrass to grow, which helps attract the different insects and small mammals which the birds rely upon for food. The charity is also working closely with tenants to ensure their land management practices support the vision for more birds of prey in the area.
Craig Best, General Manager of the National Trust in the Peak District said: “A great deal of work has gone into encouraging more breeding pairs of these majestic birds to the Peak District, so this is brilliant news.
“The presence of the birds indicates a plentiful and healthy food source, which shows the work we have done so far to improve the landscape is starting to provide ideal conditions for different species to thrive. However, we want to see more of these important birds of prey in the High Peak, as they play an important role in creating the right ecological balance in the landscape. That is why it is crucial that we continue to work together to achieve our aim of growing the population of birds of prey in the area and doing everything we can to prevent persecution.”
To help monitor the birds progress and to aid understanding of the species, the birds have also been fitted with tracking tags by the RSPB and Natural England. The National Trust also works with the local Raptor Monitoring Group.
Mike Price from the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group said: “A mild winter, good prey availability and the fine weather during the nesting period have no doubt all contributed to what appears to be a successful year for breeding Hen Harriers both locally and nationally. It is another step along the journey to get a self-sustaining breeding population of Hen Harriers established in the area. Now the birds have fledged, the birds will face further threats, so we need to continue to work together to remain vigilant and do all we can to protect them.”
Visitors and local residents can help with conservation efforts by staying on footpaths and keeping dogs on leads during ground nesting bird season, which lasts from the beginning of March to the end of July.
Wednesday 17th August
It was Monnegre again this morning and another early start as we wanted to be on site before 8am.
The objective being to see whether Camachuela Trompetero - Trumpeter Finches were still in their breeding grounds. They were all around us and our tally for the morning was about a dozen birds. Most of which were juveniles and without a ringed bird among them. Once they have left Monnegre the search will be on as we want to know where they go.
The unreliable weather in April delayed any sightings until 21st May although we did look on 8th April for them. We only saw two or three possible breeding pairs and we are unsure if they could have produced the number of offspring that we are now seeing. It could be that there are other breeding sites close by. And also where else in Europe? The question will be asked of all contactable groups.
We were pleased with our sightings although it did not add much to our knowledge except they flew away in any direction and from any direction. One of our ideas was that they prefer vertical rock faces as part of their habitat. Obviously, as well as a water source and adequate food supplies too. It appears we will be there next week as we want an end date in the breeding area.
Our usual number of species were seen as listed in last week’s blog although Bee-eaters - Abejaruca Comun were no where to be seen or heard. We were not there long enough for raptors - it was getting hot! Hirundines were few but Pallid Swifts - Vencejo Pálido were seen and again I had two good views of Alpine Swifts - Vencejo Alpino.
No mammals, no butterflies, no snakes but one Ocellated Lizard that was photogenic. Another name is ‘jeweled’ and the photographs will show why it can have that name. Maybe when Bryan deals with the photos we can decide on what sex.
DAYS AFTER THE INGLORIOUS TWELFTH
I have this morning I searched several sites and the mornings news programmes for any of the rhetoric of past years of the skies of our moorland being being blasted by leadshot. It will have happened but maybe to a lesser extent this year. Not through a lack of blood lust, or tradition or even culture but because the seasons and nature have ‘conspired’ in their own way to make it ‘difficult’. Wildlife exists due to the kindness of nature it self. This year we have had in the UK cold wet springs and Avian Flu. All, is not well out there and, hopefully, all will not be well for the shooters. These are my comments and should not be attributed to anyone else.
I have lifted this from Elisa Allen’s article of the Yorkshire Post of 12th August.
Stop turning moors into bloody killing fields in the name of 'sport' - Elisa Allen
Over the next four months, many Yorkshire moors will become bloody killing fields. The ‘Glorious Twelfth’, as the start of the grouse-hunting season is known, opens the county’s picturesque landscape to those who get their jollies from blasting birds out of the sky.
Some pay up to £14,000 to join a shooting ‘party’, with whom they prowl the moors gunning down defenceless animals. Many have no shooting experience or training, so almost half the birds don’t die outright and are instead mutilated and left to endure lingering, painful deaths.
No sport in the UK has such a devastating impact as the game bird shooting industry, in terms of the number of animals killed. During the shooting season, hunters kill more than 5,000 grouse a day. If dogs and cats were shot for fun, we wouldn’t call it sport – we’d call it abuse. And that’s exactly what it is when it’s done to birds, who feel pain and fear just as much as any animal does. It is unconscionable to allow them to suffer for someone’s pleasure – and it must end.
I wrote these few lines to echo my feelings on the day after ‘the inglorious twelfth’ of previous years. I will wait and see what reports there are about what actually did happen.
A DEADFULL 13th
sun-up as morning comes
the guns are quiet now
some corpses remain
in every-mans-land
over the top we will
have to go
into yesterday's
resumed hell
and so it begins again;
they're coming
the cries grow louder
from the beating army
powerless we are
we have to flee
fly higher and higher
to beat the guns
it's an outrage
it's killing for fun
it's murderous
it's carnage
I wrote this poem a few years ago in response to the commencement of another grouse shooting season. There is so much more I could say.
The Twelfth? Never!
rapid upward flight
crack crash-crack
suddenly changes into
a fast whirling out-of-control
plunge
crack crash-crack
dead or worse still
only dying bombs into
the eco-system that
nurtured it to allow
a feather to break free
from the body that
was its life
crack crash-crack
they hear the call
of death once more
filling the skies
with harmed and harmless birds
with toxic lead shot
with death
echo after echo
reverberates
the vision stays
the guns go silent
the dogs begin their work
Both unsuccessful.
It’s Political now and my words in italics
Well, they outlawed fox hunting and perhaps they will swing the balance against the class system that prevails and break down the barriers that have existed for centuries. The protest will continue
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s opposition Labour Party called on Monday for a review into driven grouse shooting, saying the sport’s impact on the environment needed to be assessed.
Years ago I wrote three short poems - one for each of the days in middle of August - in protest.
NATURAL ENEMIES?
natural enemies! pa-ah!
"they don't exist no more",
but we watch the skies, just
in case... you never know.
humans come and leave
things. We peck at stuff
and then there's that bunch
of feathers tied to the post.
It's really scary, that,
and the unseeing eye
socket scares us all,
but hey-ho
we eat our way
to plumpness:
good enough to eat -
and THEN...
READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE GUARDIAN.
THIS IS JUST A TASTER ON A SERIOUS MATTER
Conservationists have called for ministers to ban the release of millions of gamebirds to prevent the UK’s wild birds being wiped out by a “catastrophic” avian flu epidemic this winter.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said there was a significant risk that pheasants, partridge and ducks released for shooting from 1 October could spread avian influenza into wild bird populations, wreaking havoc in farmland and garden birds.
It added it was surprised the UK government appeared to have done no risk assessments for a major outbreak erupting in gamebirds, and urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to impose an immediate moratorium on their release.
The hot summer sun is burning us dry. We cower and survive with aircon and the will to write is with me - just!
We are still adjusting after our UK trip to South Shropshire and Harrogate and crime writers et al. There appears to be no normality as we re-adjust to being at home. Our thoughts are miles away with conversations not only about what we’re have done but next July too. The conversations are relentless and there is joy in that. We can look ahead, meet-up with friends and people who matter the most. And then there is the wider family of writers, consumers and drinkers. In the meantime I will enjoy each day and concentrate on the present. I love to do that.
Pre Harrogate and Theakeston Old Peculier Crime Writers Festival and the arrival of their long-list I put aside the books I was reading. I have now picked two up and read small chunks at a time. The reason for that is a novel appears too easily in my hand!
I have gone back to Anni Domingo’s “Breaking The Maafa Chain” and David Olusoga “Black and British” Anni’s book has been well researched - she told me so - and her origin is Sierra Leone. The connections are obvious - Africa, Black People, Slavery and historical facts. One, an interesting ‘novel’, with detail, and hard facts with Osuloga. I have much to learn.
I have read C. L. Taylor’s “The Guilty Couple” I enjoyed it and reviewed it on this blog and on GoodReads. Just by chance a book club contact handed over a series by Frances Brody set in Yorkshires’ mighty industrial mill owning area. The first one “Dying in the Wool” I am enjoying. I dislike the word ‘cosy crime’ because it implies to me something not quite good enough! But that’s me. I appreciate good writing and she is good. Unlike ‘modern’ crime stories these are set in and after ‘The Great War’ within families that are several levels above the workers. Maybe not at an aristocratical level but wanting to be. I am loving it but I have not deserted Anni or David.
Also the writing world keeps on revolving. There is so much out there. I am re-considering each one of the poems in my collection on wildlife not jut on criminality but the beauty of our land too. We are fast approaching the ‘inglorious twelfth’ and I am wondering what will happen this August? Will Avian Flu, hot sun, drought and the threat off fires reduce the intentions of the shooters to only sip a Pimms in the shade and wondering about their need to quench their blood lust or not. I will be blogging it.
Connected with the last paragraph is Clover Stroud’s article on ‘The Right to Roam’ and the sound bite of “ TEENS HAVE MORE FREEDOM IN THE CITY THAN’ - in our beautiful countryside. There’s much room for thought and the need to write.
I am pleased to say that Nora Nadjaran made me aware of her workshop with crowcollectiveworkshops.com - Blurring the Genes between Prose & Poetry. I am already tempted without going into detail. I am working on that connection.
Woodcock petition: Thank you for such a strong start to our petition seeking shortening of the Woodcock shooting season. We have already passed 17,000 signatures and we are still in the first month. Take a look at the hotspots for signatures - click here - do you live in one of them?
Defra have responded to the petition and their response is utterly hopeless - in fact it isn't really a response.
Chris has written to the Petitions Committee asking them to seek a proper response from Defra - click here. We'd ask you to do something too - please write to your MP and tell them that you signed the petition and you are dissatisfied with the government response because it isn't really a response to what the petition asks. Ask your MP to seek a specific answer from Defra as to why they refuse to adjust the shooting season for Woodcock when even the pro-shooting GWCT want shooting to be delayed until December. The Defra response is, as Chris wrote, vague and evasive, and they should not be allowed to get away with it. Getting lots of letters from MPs, including from yours, may make them think again. Thank you.
We'll be promoting the petition hard over the coming months - this is an important issue and a very simple, cheap and effective thing for Defra to do. Remember, in theory Defra is on the side of wildlife!
I AM FLYING UNDER THE WILD JUSTICE LOGO YET AGAIN.
Their post follows on after my comments. I wish I could do more. But I know we are up against a system that has been there for centuries and, as per normal, the powers and monies lie within that system. Without sounding revolutionary and anti-monarchal it is CLASS one that is difficult to break down. I rejoice in the fact that many people care and there are different factions opposing the criminality against wildlife. These are my thoughts only.
From Legal Justice
“Good morning! It's taken a while to dry out after Hen Harrier Fest - but it was a great day. It was good to see about 900 people (a revised estimate) at Adlington Hall. It started dry but finished very wet - but a good time was had by all as best we could make out. See a photo gallery - click here.
We are already looking to hold a Hen Harrier Fest in 2024 - that'll be 10 years after the first Hen Harrier Day in 2014. We're talking to our friends in Hen Harrier Action about how we can help with smaller events dotted around the country for 2023. Watch this space.”
Please follow their website and RaptorPersecution UK - Thankyou From JE
