One year on and nothing has happened to stop the slaughter. 11/8/2020.
I hope this doesn't come across as a rant, more a collection of other people's views who have more knowledge than me, I know that doesn't narrow it down much!
I briefly mentioned the list below in an earlier post. So when a photo appeared in yesterday's BBC evening news of a young Golden eagle flying around Deeside with what appeared to be a trap on its legs, I thought I'd post it. Today Wild Justice also announced a new petition to ban driven grouse shooting, the link is below, there's also a page on their site where you can donate.
Golden Eagle with apparent trap, click here to view
Ban Driven Grouse Shooting Wilful blindness is no longer an option. Link to a New Petition from Wild Justice, click here
Raptor Persecution view on game bird releases, click here
Link to GWCT paper via Raptor Persecution blog
Game bird releases and bags 2004, 2012 and 2016, and other species, the trend is increasing numbers for releases. From the link above.
The data above is there for all to see and I'll comment on a few species.
Firstly in 2016, 47 MILLION Pheasants, a non-native species, were reared in captivity and released into the wild to be shot. Red-legged Partridges numbering 10 MILLION, another non-native species were also released to be shot. Previously I'd read that the biomass of a total of 50 million released birds would be around 47,000 tons, compare that to native breeding birds at 19,500 tons and it's impossible not to think that this must have a great effect on our native birds and wildlife. One paper I read suggested that releasing a vast number of game birds had greatly increased the number of predators, which ultimately could affect native wildlife.
Mallard, Amber Status in the UK, 940,000 shot in 2016, which likely includes released birds. Status and numbers from Birdfacts website which currently shows 680,000 winter birds in 2008/2009.
Teal, Amber Status in UK, 140,000 shot, winter birds were 210,00 in 2008 and declining, little wonder! In recent winters locally, Teal numbers have been down, warmer winters may have contributed?
Gadwall, Amber Status in the UK, 4,900 shot. 25,000 winter birds in UK - nearly 25% of the population shot!
Pink-footed Goose, Amber Status in UK, 360,000 winter birds, 10,000 shot. Could the low number compared to population size be that shooting Pinkies is a cold, wet and early morning or dusk affair, without four wheel drive access, no beaters and no silver service breakfast, and having to carry geese over mud flats or fields?!
Some photos below of the birds detailed.
A summer Pink-footed Goose at Murton NR, doesn't appear to be able to fly, perhaps injured in winter. Safe enough on the reserve.
Mallard drake, safe at Keptie Pond in Arbroath, and helped by the public stopping feeding bread and changing to seed, lettuce, peas etc?
Teal drake at Loch of Kinnordy where limited shooting takes place in winter. Yes, it is a nature reserve!
Gadwall at Forfar Loch, an Angus Council local nature park, main threat, free-roaming dogs
Another injured Pink-footed Goose, given it has no flight and is at Montrose Basin there's a good chance it's a shooting casualty.
End of rant, Olive's description. It's maybe a simple view but the data was found on public domain sources and doesn't paint a rosy picture of how we treat wildlife in Great Britain.