quote:

Originally posted by trans-pond:
Ahem.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7036551.stm
Anyone care to comment?

'Carcasses of the mute swans, which were last seen on Radwell Lake near Baldock, were found in a freshly-dug pit in the morning.
RSPB workers, who found the remains of the swans close to the lake, believe the birds were shot.'



Whilst abhorring the actions of whatever fool was involved in this excellent piece of public relations
- can't help wondering on what authority the RSPB were accessing & excavating presumably private ground!?!

rgds Ian

"It was like this officer I was just standing around in this field minding my own business when all of a sudden I thinks that just over there looks like a likely spot to start digging for shot swans. I'd hardly been digging for 30 seconds when I found the first shot swan. Amazing isn't it?"

Anyone else smell a rat?

have tests been run yet to see if steel shot was used?
heaven forbid if lead shot was used.that would really be taking it too far.

i should imagine the RSPB will now lobby the govt to press for licensing of all spades,spoons and other digging implements.

I find it amusing.

What I find most amusing is that here in the US the european Mute Swans are "shoot on sight" as an introduced non-native species.

I can see if the lake was created for legal shooting why someone would kill the swans, because swans drive off other species.
what I don't understand is why someone simply dumped them in a pit....

AD

There have been a few incidences over the years of "shock" photos in the press. They always involve a shallow grave....

There was a bunch of photos of pheasants that hada pparently been shot and dumped in the south west a few years ago. It turned out that the whole thing was staged bby LACS as a publicity stunt.

If this is genuinely shooting people that have dont this I hopt they throw the book at them as we really don't need this kind of press. Realistically though I don't think anyone would be stupid enugh to do that and leave the birds for all intent and purposes in full view of the public.

The other option is that it may be Kids with airrifles. It will be interesting to see what comes of the examinations.

Rgds,
FB

I think that the RSPB might have statutory powers to enter properties if they have reason to believe an offence has been committed. You might remember some discussion about 6months back over this legislation (making it an offence to deny access to about 30 statutory bodies including the RSPCA)

I'd like to see BASC fund the prosecution if they're members

I've seen articles about swans being taken for the pot by eastern european immigrants. In their countries of origin this is quite normal and they carried on as before over here.

I read on a different forum that the Landlord/game keeper could have shot the swans as they were proving to be a nuisance for the water fowl shooting there.They were believed to have been eating all the grain left for the ducks and geese.A marsh harrier and a heron were also found in the grave.

Best-
Locksley,R.

1894,
RSPB officers have to be accompanied by a police officer when doing searches. If the search is under warrant then the RSPB officers must be named on that warrant..
If they are not then entry can be refused!
If they are walking over your property then they are trespassing even in Scotland, they must have a Certificate of surveillance that can only be issued by the Cheif Constable. Any evidence that they gather without this certificate is not eligable in court..
They can however gather evidence from the air because no law of trespass has been committed.This has also been challenged and the ruling is that only officers with a surveillance certificate can do this, once again granted by the Chief Constable. Once a surveillance certificate has been granted ONLY officers who have been trained in surveillance, due to the nature of surveillance, can view the evidence, anyone who views surveillance material without a certificate contaminates the evidence which is not allowed in court..

The Cheif Constable when issuing a "Surveillance Certificate" will take into consideration that firearms are being used on this property and will err on the side of Not Granted to civilians...

If you are approached by someone who identifies themselves as an RSPB officer then they are working and must have a warrant to search and be accompanied by a Police officer..
regards
griff

Griff,

Very interesting indeed. It's funny how these guys don't always let you know this when they are advertising their new found powers...

Thanks,
FB

Yep that just about sums up the RSPB (just behind the police in their powers!!)

The next one is the RSPCA.....biggest prosecuters in the land???

RSPB and RSPCA could you please enlightning me about the difference.

regards peter

peterdk,

RSPCA - Royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals

RSPB - Royal society for the protection of birds

any of these org. got any real power ? here in denmark if a bird wacther club or an animal lib. org wants acces to my land i might let the dog out along with the 12 gauge.

peter

quote:

Originally posted by peterdk:
any of these org. got any real power ? here in denmark if a bird wacther club or an animal lib. org wants acces to my land i might let the dog out along with the 12 gauge.

peter

Peter,

In the UK vermin control is coming under much more regulation than in the past.

Rgds,
FB

Isn't it funny that at all the game fairs and country fairs there is a representation from both the RSPB and the RSPCA, now you have to ask who invites these people, I for one know that the company I work for will not confront either of them becuase our CEO does not want any disturbance of the waves, and so it goes on with all of the sporting organisations.Stand up and be counted I say...
Sleeping with the enemy ends up with you both going down the same road and your agenda becomes diluted..
I think that as an organisation with 125,000 members we should be able to go to court to get an injunction to ban ALL RSPB members from our land on the grounds that they are likely to cause a breach of the peace..
I personally would contribute money to fighting fund to see that happen..

A very good friend of mine had a run in with the RSPCA, they put a teddy bear in one of his snares and the tried to charge him for not removing it, their case was that the teddy bear remained in the snare for two days therefore the snare had not been checked and an offence had been committed.His argument for not removing was, that in this day an age with all the activities of the anti's he deemed it unsafe to touch and left it! Even the RSPB got in on the act and then started to instruct the police on the possible charges... After all the charges were dismissed no thought to charge them both with interferring with a legal snare!!

How is it that both these organisations can turn your life upside down, prevent you from going about your legal business and then have no form of litigation brought against them...
Perhaps some of the organisations that we belong too should offer insurance so that we can bring private prosecutions against these two parties..

regards
griff

Griff,

IT seems to be a very British thing to not want to upset the apple cart. unfortunately the organisation you mentions has reacted in the past in ways that seemed too intent on maintaining such relationships than supporting what the members opinions were. The National igeon Shooting day for one example.

Unfortunately the relationship between RSPB/RSPCA and the shooting/countryside groups is often beneficial to both parties. but in the public domain these Synergies are not advertised. When the RSPB or RSPCA want publicity they distance themselves and openly attack shooting.

Really I think in many instances they need us more than we need them, and as such our shooting organisations should stand up and start rocking the boat a bit. How about advertising the partnerships on certain grouse moors where shooting takes place into the wider public domain? It would be interesting to see their reaction.

FB

I know from a realiable source that swan meat is not very tasty, neither is cormorant, by the way. This might explain why the happy hunter did not make better use of his prey.

I concur, Swans meat is none too good to eat, even in a Vindaloo it still tastes like cardboard.
I am, you'll understand, refering to the Black Swan.

quote:

Originally posted by oldun:
I am, you'll understand, refering to the Black Swan.

Afro or Caucasian, would that really matter?

DUK,
Well yes, it's illegall to shoot White Swans in Pomgolia, the Black variety which come from Australia are shot here in New Zealand. As for the taste they are both