European Eagle Owls

[billt]

There was a programe on sky this morning Return of the Eagle Owl. Think it was a repete as it was about the pair in Yorkshire that bred 23 young.The fellow who was doing the programe is trying to prove that they were here in the 1800s. He had writen prove but the RSPB needed more prove. Liked the bit when he went to Holland where the rabbits died off the found hedgehog and BOP remains that they took.(bussard wings).

I Didn't see the programme but why would the RSPB need more proof,since when did they own the wild birds in this country, as far as I'm concerned they belong to all of us and I for one am quite happy to accept them as a British bird

[Roland]

Doesn't matter a jot whether they were here before or - Though they obviously were- The goverment ruling is once here their youngsters are then legally classed as 'Native Birds' and as such are entitled to the full protection of the law! Now no one can prove that they were - or weren't bred within our boundries.... Likewise any bird.

However it is in the interests of the RSPB to try and ensure none are bred here.... Why a 1000 released woiuld mean a flipping good chance of suceeding lol.

[Guest IB]

I Didn't see the programme but why would the RSPB need more proof,since when did they own the wild birds in this country, as far as I'm concerned they belong to all of us and I for one am quite happy to accept them as a British bird

 

I saw the programme back when first shown (2006?) on TV and there is some mis-information creeping in on this thread. It's not RSPB that decide whether a bird is British or not, it's the other mob that appeared in the programme with them, BTO - British Trust for Ornothology - and it was one of their mob that put it out on the programme that these birds weren't protected, and could be shot - and despite a 'correction' broadcast at the end of the programme while the credits were rolling that these birds 'may' be protected - that is exactly what happened to the hen, she was shot with a 12-bore? shotgun, couldn't hunt, and starved to death.....

 

 

The bird has always been protected under same legislation that protects other BOP, because it is a European bird. As it is in the wild it could also be a visitor - European species visitors to other EU member states are protected.

 

But even in 2006 it was known elsewhere that this was a British bird - there is a fossil - found in Britain - of a foot bone belonging to the species - in the British Museum.