constructive comments please

[Mealy Cock]

Below is a letter I am going to send to the RSPB. Before I send it any comment points to add or take away

would be helpful.

 

Thank you for your e-mail.

 

I am somewhat perplexed at some of the things you have stated in your e-mails to me. As my wife and I are bird and animal lovers we are somewhat baffled by your comment, “but by feeding birds in the garden you automatically attract all birds closer to view and as a result you will see nature in it rawest form". So what you are telling use don't feed the birds as we will attract BOP. Yet we see adverts telling people to feed birds over the winter.

 

Just to remind you, the Sparrow hawk attack we witnessed happen in the middle of the road

 

You say “In the British Isles peregrines do not migrate, and the majority stay within 100 km of their birthplace.

Then how do you account for the fact they are now living in towns and cities when you stated “areas where cliff-ledges, quarry  faces, crags, or sea-cliffs are available. Recently, they have started

To use man-made constructions, especially tall buildings

 

This is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one.

 

BOP is now becoming a pest and a nuisance, see attached copy of a local Towns news paper.

The Tax payer will have to foot the bill for the repairs, or are the RSPB going to contribute towards

The repairs, after all your organisation are the ones that are protecting this bird so surely you have to accept some responsibility.

 

This is a comment I copied off a forum of a genuine bird lover.

 

I notice that they are saying that the White Tailed Eagle has returned to Scotland. NO. They brought it there. Now there are farmers going out of business because this bird is taking their lambs. Not weak or small lambs, big robust healthy lambs. These felons should be removed so that the situation can go back to how it has been for hundreds of years. And the RSPB should be made to compensate the Farmers for their losses. When they introduced the wolf to Northern America the agreement was that if it killed livestock there had to be compensation. The same should apply in the case of the White Tailed Eagle. I cannot see why they have to mess about with things that do not need to be changed. If they stuck to protecting birds properly, I am sure we would all appreciate what they are doing. Now they are very likely to start a war. I say this because there are a lot of people who are not going to sit back and allow the RSPB to dictate how they are going to live. British People have always fought against unjust laws and I think it is going to happen again.

 

I also looked at one of your links of the RSPB web site; I see that you show a video of some kind

Of trap to catch BOP as proper gander to support better protection for BOP.

 

Firstly I do not support any form of trapping, poisoning, shooting, baiting of any type of animal

Cruelty, but the question must be asked why anyone would want to do such an act, to achieve

What, or to gain! Why have the RSPB not show a fair and balanced view seeing both sides of the story, why don’t the RSPB show the death and destruction caused by BOP how they have cost

Animal and bird owners thousands of pounds each year, if this type proper gander was to be show on the TV as a documentary the British Broadcasting Authority would have something to say about the biasness of it.

I also ask again, why are there forums and discussion groups, organised petitions!

From all walks of life who see the other side of the coin, joining together to get a change in the law

Or to ask this Government for help, or are all these people wrong and the RSPB is 100% right

In what they are doing.

 

To finalise a piece of British History for you, I had the great privilege to meet a man who

Trained carrier pigeons during the war, his efforts and that of the pigeons help to save many an

Allied lives, they returned home shot at, one bird had and eye missing and still returned home

In all there were 16 Dickens medals given out to pigeons, that is the human equivalent of the VC.

 

But do you know what their biggest obstacle was on getting those great birds back to England with those vital messages; THE PERAGRINE FALCON and the Government of the day had the foresight  

To have the killers removed to give them a fighting chance on getting home.

 

 

Any comments please    

 

 

[johno]

pigeons won 31 or 32 dickin medals I think. "in excess of thirty" cher ami also won the french legion d`honour their highest military honour I believe. suggest you do a spell check on your letter. this is advice not a criticism.

[Guest bakes]

a piece of information about sher ami some bird  

 

Cher Ami

 

Probably the most famous of all the carrier pigeons was one named Cher Ami, two French words meaning "Dear Friend".  Cher Ami several months on the front lines during the Fall of 1918.  He flew 12 important missions to deliver messages.  Perhaps the most important was the message he carried on October 4, 1918.

 

Mr. Charles Whittlesey was a lawyer in New York, but when the United States called for soldiers to help France regain its freedom,  Whittlesey joined the Army and went to Europe to help.  He was made the commander of a battalion of soldiers in the 77th Infantry Division, known as "The Liberty Division" because most of the men came from New York and wore a bright blue patch on their shoulders that had on it the STATUE OF LIBERTY.

 

On October 3, 1918 Major Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill.  Surrounded by enemy soldiers, many were killed and wounded in the first day.  By the second day only a little more than 200 men were still alive or unwounded.

 

Major Whittlesey sent out several pigeons to tell his commanders where he was, and how bad the trap was.  The next afternoon he had only one pigeon left, Cher Ami.

 

During the afternoon the American Artillery tried to send some protection by firing hundreds of big artillery rounds into the ravine where the Germans surrounded Major Whittlesey and his men.  Unfortunately, the American commanders didn't know exactly where the American soldiers were, and started dropping the big shells right on top of them.  It was a horrible situation that might have resulted in Major Whittlesey and all his men getting killed--by their own army.

 

Major Whittlesey called for his last pigeon, Cher Ami.  He wrote a quick and simple note, telling the men who directed the artillery guns where the Americans were located and asking them to stop.  The note that was put in the canister on Cher Ami's left leg simply said:

 

"We are along the road parallel to 276.4.

"Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us.

"For heaven's sake, stop it."

 

 

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw him rising out of the brush and opened fire.  For several minutes, bullets zipped through the air all around him.  For a minute it looked like the little pigeon was going to fall, that he wasn't going to make it.  The doomed American infantrymen were crushed, their last home was plummeting to earth against a very heavy attack from German bullets.

 

Somehow Cher Ami managed to spread his wings and start climbing again, higher and higher beyond the range of the enemy guns.  The little bird flew 25 miles in only 25 minutes to deliver his message.  The shelling stopped, and more than 200 American lives were saved...all because the little bird would never quit trying.

 

On his last mission, Cher Ami was badly wounded.  When he finally reached his coop, he could fly no longer, and the soldier that answered the sound of the bell found the little bird laying on his back, covered in blood.  He had been blinded in one eye, and a bullet had hit his breastbone, making a hole the size of a quarter.  From that awful hole, hanging by just a few tendons, was the almost severed leg of the brave little bird.  Attached to that leg was a silver canister, with the all-important message.  Once again, Cher Ami wouldn't quit until he had finished his job.

 

 

Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division, and the medics worked long and hard to patch him up.  When the French soldiers that the Americans were fighting to help learned they story of Cher Ami's bravery and determination, they gave him one of their own country's great honors.  Cher Ami, the brave carrier pigeon was presented a medal called the French Croix de guerre with a palm leaf.

 

 

 

Though the dedicated medics saved Cher Ami's life, they couldn't save his leg.  The men of the Division were careful to take care of the little bird that had saved 200 of their friends, and even carved a small wooden leg for him.  When Cher Ami was well enough to travel, the little one-legged hero was put on a boat to the United States.  The commander of all of the United States Army, the great General John J. Pershing, personally saw Cher Ami off as he departed France.

 

Back in the United States the story of Cher Ami was told again and again.  The little bird was in the newspapers, magazines, and it seemed that everyone knew his name.  He became one of the most famous heroes of World War I.

 

 

[Guest spin cycle]

IMO pretty good i'd say ....they'll answer to para 3  '....since the banning of harsh agrochemicals and having recieved protection peregrines have started to spread as numbers  recovered' . so you may want to try rewording that. personally i'd loose the last 2 paras as they  (sadly) carry no weight. finally 'propaganda' is the correct spelling. best of luck to you

[clayton moore]

Dont call them Bop call them Birds of pray.Explain there is nothing sadder than watching one of these Birds of pray eating a wren.Also these peaple are there to protect all birds not just these assasins.Good luck.

[Mealy Cock]

Thanks Bakes, did not know of this bird, will amend to include him

[BLACK W F]

all i can say is well done its a good letter  and you have set it out well good luck and please let us see what kind of reply you get

[Guest stb-]

10 out of 10 for your effort m8 nothing ventured nothing gained  

[OLDYELLOW]

werent there a video or a bop eating another bop think was sparrow hawk , it shows that there is too many also one were on that saw a wood cock been eaten which is on red list

[Guest bakes]

werent there a video or a bop eating another bop think was sparrow hawk , it shows that there is too many also one were on that saw a wood cock been eaten which is on red list

 

the wood cock being eaten was on that derby webcam mate they have put up for percy nest site dont no about the video clip of pob eaten pob never seen it bud

 

all the best

[Guest lenwadebob]

Well thought out......... I hope it is one of the of the very few letters that gets a favourable response, rather than the usual waffle and factless hogwash they try to fob the majority of us all of with.

 

The problem is with such a large amount of the population giving donations to them for the protection of Birds and nature in general, they will never admit they have cock ed up big time, for fear of losing face with the very people who keep them running.

 

But the best of luck, you may well be the very person who touches a nerve end.

[Guest bakes]

derby webcam of the percy killing woodcock

 

[OLDYELLOW]

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2008/12/prey-update.html?showComment=1232815560000

[Guest lenwadebob]

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2008/12/prey-update.html?showComment=1232815560000

 

I notice that on the list of prey at the derby cathedral nest site since 2005, NOT A MENTION OF A RACING PIGEON. We all know that to be incorrect, which only goes to emphasise the point that they try to feed the general public with bull muck. Sad but that is our biggest battle.

[OLDYELLOW]

 

I notice that on the list of prey at the derby cathedral nest site since 2005, NOT A MENTION OF A RACING PIGEON. We all know that to be incorrect, which only goes to emphasise the point that they try to feed the general public with bull muck. Sad but that is our biggest battle.

 

quite right no mention of racing pigeons , i brought that up as most spiecies on red list  

[Roland]

Might ask ifs the majesti beauty, you want us to appreciate, is them ripping to pieces family pet birds, or is it for th childen to enjoy .... watching them tear pieces out of doves etc. in their' back garden.

[gulkie]

brill letter m8,but could u include if bop are so scarce why do they have to

populate the city,s with them or is there not enough room in the country side

for them?.well done again100% ;)

[Guest bigda]

you can add this old chestnut   they say the  bop was  near wiped out  by dtt but hit them  with this  as why they are  not interested in all the other birds that suffered from ddt and   there are now  very few  skylark,  the curlew,  the corn craig,  about   to name but a few.   

[Mealy Cock]

pigeons won 31 or 32 dickin medals I think. "in excess of thirty" cher ami also won the french legion d`honour their highest military honour I believe. suggest you do a spell check on your letter. this is advice not a criticism.

 

Quite correct johno, 32 pigeons got the Dickin medal, see you learn something every day

it's another story I can tell my patients.

[Guest beautyhomer]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100310/tuk-75-starlings-crashed-to-death-6323e80.html

 

Just seen this on yahoo

[willow]

Micheal you are doing a great job there , we should all copy the same letter to RSPB and sign it and send it to them and see how it goes , i will go and see Duncan tomorrow night to see what i can do with his site .I have also joined save our song birds on face book and so have a few of my friends so the numbers have went up a bit . Let me know the result Micheal . Avril x

[Guest wattle]

when are ye all going to learn that rspb don,t give a sh-t what we think or want, there is only one way to get rid of the bop menace, and that is to take action yourselfs to protect your birds one way or another,the rspb don,t give a sh-t.

[Guest Owen]

wattle, the pen has always been mightier than the sword. There would be no point in taking direct action, although it is very tempting. If Pigeon Faciers can be branded as vandals and brutes that would be a wonderful boost to the RSPB cause. We are not mindless fools and we must not play into their hands. We are respectable members of the public doing something we love and are caring individuals who go to endless trouble to be kind and considerate to dumb birds and animals. They are the ones who take pleasure from watching killers doing their horrible work. They are the ones who suport slaughter in all it's forms and I am very sure that the British Public do not like that sort of thing. People want the birds to visit their gardens and enjoy feeding them. The last thing that they want is to see them eaten alive by preditors. This is especially true when the killers have been released into the wild by uncaring people who have not bothered to find out what the rest of us think or want.

[lawrie]

i know BOP's are a pain, but isnt it natural for them to survive? i dont think theres much anyone can do to stop them.

the letters worth a try, but i personally think its pointless trying to tell RSPB.

[Guest Freebird]

Hi, it's 34 pigeons 3 dogs and one horse that received the medal. I put this up about a week ago http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/m-1267787620/s-5/#num5 Well done for putting in the effort and good luck but from past experience with RSPB don't think you will get anywhere but hope you do.