rasbull

Been taking birds training the last week to the same place - 27 miles line of flight. Their times have been 1h 15 mins, 45 minutes, 34 minutes, 33 minutes and now today 27 minutes. A mile a minute they were doing! A toss from 45 miles from a different route planned for tomorrow. Then another 3 from the 27 mile point next week. I have a good feeling about next Saturday ;)

I picked the winner! ;) Nice little pick up me thinks! :) :)

We have hit 500 members to date, and have 528 signatures! This is going to spread our plight amongst the general public! Please do post your pictures, and reports of attacks and lets continue informing the general public the damage these Bird of Prey levels are causing. Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

The problem pigeon racing has it is run at the top end by people who are set in their ways! They are an older generation who are not aware of the technology and the effect this can have on attracting new members. Pigeon Racing is a dying sport, and unless this 'older' generation is removed and replaced with dynamic, enthusiastic and technology literate people we will sadly have no Pigeon Racing left. These people are PAID to run our sport and promote pigeons....hell I would do it for free and do a damn site better job! ;D ;D Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

Copy of letter that was sent to the BHW and Racing Pigeon magazines this evening. Hi, I am not sure if you aware but my letter was published last week in your magazine and has also been featured in Les Parkinson's article in this weeks edition of the British Homing World. My Facebook Action page has been setup to help save the sport of pigeons and the [plight of songbirds in this country. It is about raising awareness through a group page on Facebook. The site has taken off well this week, and currently has 390 members, with my petition standing at 478. I strongly feel something needs to be done regarding the existing problem with Birds of Prey, and if we pull together we can achieve that. What I am asking is if you will allow me to have a column in your magazine each week to help improve awareness of the group, thus helping the pigeon fanciers / bird lovers in this country. The more people that join, the greater the number of the general public that will be informed of the demise of the songbirds through pictures and comments. The articles will be used to allow people who don't have a computer to be kept informed about what is happening on the page and will be used to relay letters and articles that are sent and received from various organisations. This project will only work if the whole pigeon fraternity is behind it and supporting us fully. I currently have an on-going discussion with the RSPB that is being posted on the site. I would like everyone to have the chance to contribute to the page and help raise awareness. I am a member of 2 Pigeon forums on the internet with a large amount of members, and 99% are totally behind the project. But 2 forums are not going to achieve what the circulation of your magazine will. A lot of the pigeon fraternity are an older generation who do not use computers, but they may have family who will join and they can still contribute with or without a computer if they are able to see what is happening regarding the group. I will be emailing all Unions in the hope they will circulate paper petitions down to all federations and clubs that every member can sign, I will then upload them to the online petition. We will then have a petition worth having! This project can work, and based on some of the comments made by the general public is already opening several eyes! If it would be possible to provide me a column that can be used as a base for people without computers, this will go a long way to ensuring this group is a success and the quest of raising awareness can be realised. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank You Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

and my reply which has just been sent! Dear Mr Oakley-Martin, As suspected none of the figures I requested were forthcoming! No figures for the population levels of hawks since 1979, no figures for the last 2 years for declines of songbirds and no figures for increases in hawk populations? No figures in fact for anything. How on earth can both sets of figures be right when one set is showing a 79% decline and another showing an 25% increase? So climate and invertebrate numbers have an affect in the garden areas, but not in the wider countryside is that what you are saying? That obviously is the answer then, colder in my garden and my 2 year old little boy obviously taking too many slugs and worms into his den! Seriously who do you think you are kidding? You have been asked to provide the figures and currently 400 members of this group are seeing your overwhelming reluctance to provide these figures. Do you actually believe yourself that the Countryside is that much different compared to Urban areas that a swing of 104% in population trends is taking place? I find this very difficult to accept and so too will the members of this site. So if you are a sparrow you are 104 times more likely to perish if you live in my garden than if you lived in the Brecon Beacons according to the official RSPB figures? Very interesting indeed and true if you continue to believe your figures! Bizarre to say the least and unreal at best! So I will request again the following figures from you:- 1) What is the correct population trend for all birds if you include the last 2 years not just up to 2007? (If no accurate figures available, your estimated trends will suffice.) 2) The percentage increase in Sparrowhawks since 1979 so all figures are worked out from a equally comparison. (not just 1995-2007 as previously provided) 3) Also the correct population trend for Sparrowhawks for the last 2 years, not just up to 2007? (If no accurate figures available, your estimated trends will again suffice.) 4) The number of breeding pairs of Sparrowhawks in 1979 and also for 2009? I again eagerly await your response, please do not disappoint me and the members of this group with a reluctance to provide the information. Thank you for your time Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

This is the reply I was sent from the RSPB Hello Mr Shepherd, Both sets of figures are correct. However, the figures I quoted represent trends in the wider countryside (the Breeding Bird Survey) - not just gardens. Songbird populations have declined in gardens for a number of reasons: climate, concreting over gardens, changes in architectural practices, declines in invertebrate numbers etc (as stated in previous correspondence) but you have yet to propose any firm scientific evidence that Sparrowhawks are responsible for songbird declines. As previously mentioned, even Songbird Survival's own independently commissioned paper concluded that the correlation between songbird declines and predation was weak at best and that the possibility remained that even those correlations may be attributed to other factors. I would be most interested if you are able to furnish me with any scientifically rigorous, peer-reviewed research which proves conclusively that Sparrowhawks are responsible for songbirds declines. To my knowledge, no such paper exists, either from RSPB research or that conducted by any other independent conservation body. Best wishes, Darren Darren Oakley-Martin Wildlife Adviser

Dear Mr Oakley-Martin, Thank you for your email and I am pleased to say that your reply has now been posted on my Facebook Action page. I would like to raise a few concerns I have regarding your letter. First you state the following:- 3) These are species population trends from the RSPB/ BTO/ WWT/ CCW/ NIEA/ EA/ SNH State of the UK's Birds 2008 report. The figures are from 1995-2007 and are known as 'the Breeding Bird Survey Trend': > > Sparrowhawk: +1% > > ...and their commonest prey: > > Robin: +20% > Blackbird: +25% > Song Thrush: +25% > Blue Tit: +6% > Great Tit: +46% > Collared Dove: +27% > House Sparrow: +8% > Chaffinch: +24% > Greenfinch: +11% > Goldfinch: +42% > Wood Pigeon: +34% > > So, clearly, there is no correlation between Sparrowhawk predation and songbird declines. Can ask why the figures of the recently completed Big Garden Watch which I believe is organised by the RSPB show totally different population trends? I quote the figures given from this monitoring programme:- Population trends since 1979 - House Sparrow -62% Blackbird -18% Starling - 79% Chaffinch -27% I would like to bring to your attention figures and quotes from the Big Garden Birdwatch on the RSPB website! It totally contradicts what your figures above reflect. I have included the quote from the website:- 'Although we were particularly concerned for small birds this cold and snowy winter, some of our most familiar garden birds have also continued to suffer huge declines. House sparrows might have retained top spot for the seventh year running, but in the last five years alone these chirpy birds have declined by 17%. Blackbirds rose from third to second place, while starlings dropped to third - the first time they have been out of the top two in more than 10 years.' I think you will agree your figures just don't add up. All figures are taken from the RSPB. Lets look at the House Sparrow for instance. The figure the Big Garden Watch tells us they have declined a massive 62% since 1979. Then the RSPB quote on their website that House Sparrows have declined by 17% in the last 5 years alone and small birds also continued to suffer huge declines! Yet, as if by magic, in your reply to my email you inform myself and my group that House Sparrows have risen by 8% since 1995? I would like to know how you draw this conclusion when the figures and quotes are taken from the RSPB's own website? Equally the Starling/Song Thrush - which is quoted as 'falling out of the top 10 for the first time in more than 10 years' with a massive -79% decline in population since 1979, yet some how beggars belief by incredibly rising 25% in the figures you quote in your email? Could it be that the House Sparrow and Starling/Song Thrush populations have been declining since 1979 with the increasing levels of Birds of Prey, and during the last 5 years have been absolutely decimated? The figures you quote interestingly only go up to 2007! What is the correct population trend if you include the last 2 years as well? (2 of those 5 years are quoted by the RSPB as seeing a -17% in the House Sparrow population!) I know you will probably say that the figures are not available for those years the report is a year behind, but based on the Big Garden results I think it is clear to obtain a fair idea about what is happening! Again I believe a clever way on your behalf to fool and hoodwink the general public. You also state that sparrowhawks have increased 1% since 1995-2007, can you please me give the actual increase since 1979 as that is the base the other figures have been worked out on? I would be willing to bet that the rise will be significantly higher than the 1% you have quoted! And do you have population figures or estimated population trends again for the last 2 years? I would be very interested to know the breeding pairs of Sparrowhawks since 1979 compared to this years estimated figure? In fact I would be over the moon if you could provide this information. It is easy to cover up the demise of the songbirds when you are using and quoting figures which suit your purpose. Please confirm which set of figures is correct, what the rise/decline of bird species are from 1979, not 1995, or another year which clouds the true reflection the birds of prey are having on populations. I quote you again from your email 'So, clearly, there is no correlation between Sparrowhawk predation and songbird declines.' I think if you accurately provide the figures and data I have requested you will see the public will immediately be able to see a very clear correlation between sparrowhawk predation and songbird declines! It doesn't take a Carol Vorderman to see your figures just don't add up! I eagerly await your reply to my email, and rest assured your reply will be posted onto my Facebook Action page. Thank You Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

Just sent the Daily Mail a copy of the email I had from the RSPB, stating they are blaming them for bringing to the publics attention purely to sell more newspapers! That should get them on our side! This is what the RSPB had to say in their email, which I have kindly passed onto the Daily Mail! Incidentally, it is the daily Mail who completely mangled the story. A headline of 'Sparrowhawks not responsible for songbird declines' isn't going to shift as many newspapers as 'Where are all the songbirds? Ask a hungry Sparrowhawk!' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1256478/Where-songbirds-Ask-hungry-sparrowhawk.html

I will be emailing all the unions in the next few days asking for their support and help to circulate the petition down to all federations and clubs. It will also be featured in Les Parkinsons article in this weeks BHW. (Already on his website article). I will also be sending new letters for the letters page within the next few days. I will be asking for David Bills to support this effort. I will be stepping up my efforts this next few days and hope to get a lot more people on board. I will be asking for a paper petition to be included in the Racing Pigeon and the BHW. Thank You Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

HEY! back on myself, so at least we know facebook not closed us down! Its onwards and upwards!

this is strange, 2 other people are still on it! I think its a bug in the system and not facebook themselves that are stopping us accessing the group. If it had been banned I think they would have sent me an email to confirm I would have thought!

can even get on with that link! Everything is still on my wall though on my own facebook page so its not been deleted. I can click on the picture and go through them and also on the discussion and read that! All very strange! Facebook does have a few bugs now and again I know so hoping its just something like that! Probably crashed like the server on here does when has too many hits! ;) ;D ;D ;D

chaz can you still get on to the page? I am hoping its a technical problem as just been looking at a problem help page. I have sent them an email asking for confirmation either way. Heres hoping we are back up and running very soon!

anyone else cant get on?

well hope the email I sent to facebook gets us back up and running! Damn shame mind because this was really starting to take off! > >

anyone else having trouble getting the Facebook group up? I cant get on at all! Have just sent facebook a message regarding this.

Right guys the RSPB's reply is now on the site, so feel free to state your concerns to Mr Oakley who I will then request answer some of the concerns! Be gentle with him now ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

I will put the reply on the site later tonight and then everyone can post away and then he will have the chance to reply to your comments. When everyone has asked I will put on the facebook page a request for him to reply to our questions and concerns! As Mick said he is then in a no win situation!

Regarding this, please wait until I have copied his reply to the site and then somebody can post Oldyellows comment on the page in reply to it, believe me no one will have a different opinion and also the RSPB will actually see the replies and hopefully will be keen to send me another email!! This is what you call progress and getting somewhere!

I will be posting there replies so there is 'fair' debate going on! Cant see how they can ban people from having opinions just because they are different to theirs! It is after all a free country! (Just hope the owner of facebook is not a member of the RSPB ;D ;D ;D ;D) I have stated and will keep stating that the site in no way agrees with the persecution of Birds of Prey and just wishes to raise awareness to the current situation which is decimating the small bird population! The link for the site Lvlasked is www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk, thank you and spread the word!

Working on it m8, along with a load of other ideas I have! ;) Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

I agree Mick, but the one advantage we have is I decide what gets posted onto the Facebook Action page wall, and if I don't want there replies then they cant turn anything around because no is going to be seeing there responses!! We at last have some leverage than is in our hands and not theirs!! ;)

Exactly Bigda, its all very well fanciers telling each other,we all know the carnage and devastation that it is causing, lets tell the general public and let them decide which side of the fence they are going to stand on! Richard Shepherd www.Rasbull-lofts.co.uk

Maybe I should ask him to publish every letter and email they have had from fanciers so the general public can form a fair opinion! ;D ;D ;D ;D