Buzzard Poisened in Fife

On the brighter side


WS

That is sad news WS and I hope they find the person responsible. There may be plenty of Buzzards around at the moment but they are a beautiful bird and poisoning is horrible and painful.
The other news is a good step in the right direction....wildlife prosecutors is fantastic

littlewid-x-

Verry very Sad news! I love birds of prey and to do this to such a wonderful creature makes me sick. Hope these wildlife prosecutors are in action soon and though I know there will be some that slip through the net, there presence will help cut down on this sort of thing.

SM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-13001960

Now Perthshire,these idiots who own these estates should have them confiscated,there really is no need for this.

Sad news - birds of prey are amazing and wonderful. I hope the people found guilty are prosecuted and locked away.

Lai

Great idea TB, it certainly needs something stronger than fines to deter these Morons. Take away thier land, and turn it into a nature reserve.
WS

That is just so sad. Birds of prey are magnificent birds and deserve better. I too hope these sick people are caught. I am sure a fine to them is nothing, WS's idea is a good one and it would serve them right. I wished we had the answer to stop this kind of thing from going on.

littlewid-x-

I agree with WS & TB, something more severe is needed. If that means losing their land so be it!

SM

That would be an interesting approach -

Lai

Trouble is the law at the moment means you have prove you have the right person,which is usually a low paid keeper who would never work again if he didn't do as he's told.The absantee owners who give out the demands sit in some office far away claiming they know nothing about what is going on.The law needs to be strengthened so that the person in charge carries legal liabilities. as happened in safety at work legislation for exmple.

Controversial - the assumption being made is that the landowner is guilty not the gamekeeper.

Lai

It is based on some fact,but if the top person is responsible the one at the bottom won't do it,as has been proven by my example of safety at work.Hence the knee jerk over reaction to H&S at work.
and people now being threatened with dismissal if found interferring with safety(which I have to say is sensible)

I think the landowner should be accountable. If he/she owns the land then it is their duty to ensure the safety of the wildlife on that land. If they want to give out instructions that could harm or kill that wildlife then they have to be made accountable but surely the person carrying out those instructions also has to take some responsibilty for carrying out those instructions as well.

littlewid-x-

So you think the landowner is accountable for everything that goes on on their land whether or not they have control over it, this presumably includes tenant farmers and what they allow, poachers, fly-tipping, trespass, and a lot more besides.


Lai

No that isn't what I said. I said, what I said above. I always seem to cause offense or an upset on these posts, so I apologise if what I said has been taken the wrong way. I will bow out of this one.

littlewid-x-

Ditto - I was not having a go at you Littlewid, it's just that my post followed yours!

I was merely adding to the thread as it was started and was on a roll.

Lai

I will try to put into context my comment that the land should be confiscated, as it was a brief comment at the time.
I believe that the Landowner if they are hands on or an absentee one who has appointed a management team is responsable for the running of that estate, and its policy towards conservation, wildlife, and in this case Birds of Prey. Clearly they cant have control over things like fly tipping, poachers, trespass by individuals, and I dont think any of us would suggest or expect them to.
But they are or should be in control of the way the estate is managed, and the action of their employees. Where it is found that the managements policy or orders is to poisen Birds of Prey, then confiscation should be a considered option, especialy if more than one case has happened. As TB, the Scottish Police, and the RSPB have said. It's difficult to find the proof, but where proof is found then confiscation should come into play. That should apply to Tenant Farmers as well, as part of their contract, that if they are found to have poisened Birds then their tenancy is forfiet, that is under the Landowners control. But at the end of the day, it will proberbly never happen. I think people are expressing their disgust at this type of thing, and really these types of sanctions are aimed at the large shooting estates who seem to think they can do what they whant, and this is the only sort of thing that would make them sit up, and take notice
I hope that has put into context more clearly, not only my thoughts, but all the other comments as well

WS

The debate shows we care and have an opinion,none are wrong and I hope I do not cause offence,birds of prey and predators in general,are my main interests in wildlife.
The fact we are having a debate is a victory,better than apathy and no one commenting.

- You are right TB debate is good, apathy a shame.

Lai :)

Just catching up with this thread. Debate is good and this forum is an open platform to debate. No one is right or wrong! That is the nature of debate.

My reference to land confiscation comes from a different slant. I have worked within the building and development industry for over 20 years and the thing that gauls me most are developers acquiring cheap land due to multiple TPOs on them and clearing the site, trees and all knowing that the maximum fine per tree is small change compared to the profits they will make on the finished development. I say they need to hit these people were it hurts and make a major dent in their profits as the only way to deter them from their blatant arrogance for money.

It was in that vein that I equated the bird of prey poisoning. Penalties that have no impact are not penalties!

SM