Peregrine Falcon Breeding Centre

[Walter swanston]

The planning committe will meet on Wednesday 9th. February to consider the application for a Falcon Breeding Centre near Langholm.I have made representations against this application on behalf of The Solway Federation and the pigeon fancy generally in Southern and Central Scotland and Cumbria.I have now been invited to speak at the meeting, I am only given three minutes to make our case.While I do not class myself as a great public speaker I intend to do what I can for the pigeon fancy,if anyone on this site can help with any salient points that I should bring up during my three minutes I would be obliged.Please remember slagging off the RSPB is not an option here whatever we think privately.

[OLDYELLOW]

well done , I think the R.S.P.B red list speaks for itself , The lack of song birds in general in every area is down to bops , bops are at saturation point and more needs doing to addressing natures balance bops have no natural predators . R.S.P.B say farming and cats are to blame , government set aside was created to encourage wildlife , farmers haven't been using the pesticides of the past and the only thing that flourishes is bops . Why is the cuck-coo in decline simply lack of viable nest made by the more common wild birds , which there own numbers show every species in decline other than bops and inland gulls on waste sites . Even now bops are in most towns cities and away from there natural environments this supports the saturation point as there naturally countryside / cliff birds . The truth is where's the dawn chorus birds all over your garden first thing , blue tits wrens chaffinches all disappeared from my garden , wont be too long before future generations wont ever see these birds if natures balance is not re addressed

[budgie]

well done , I think the R.S.P.B red list speaks for itself , The lack of song birds in general in every area is down to bops , bops are at saturation point and more needs doing to addressing natures balance bops have no natural predators . R.S.P.B say farming and cats are to blame , government set aside was created to encourage wildlife , farmers haven't been using the pesticides of the past and the only thing that flourishes is bops . Why is the cuck-coo in decline simply lack of viable nest made by the more common wild birds , which there own numbers show every species in decline other than bops and inland gulls on waste sites . Even now bops are in most towns cities and away from there natural environments this supports the saturation point as there naturally countryside / cliff birds . The truth is where's the dawn chorus birds all over your garden first thing , blue tits wrens chaffinches all disappeared from my garden , wont be too long before future generations wont ever see these birds if natures balance is not re addressed

Well put together Old Yellow after all we only wish to race our pigeons ,which do no harm to anyone and to be alllowed to participate without being slaughtered every time they are released.

[OLDYELLOW]

Well put together Old Yellow after all we only wish to race our pigeons ,which do no harm to anyone and to be alllowed to participate without being slaughtered every time they are released.

R.S.P.B will only ever see us as a conveyor belt supplying food for bops , it's a dam shame that we don't change our ways as well to start training / racing when bops are sat nesting , would only mean starting a little later and combining the young bird racing into the old bird programme but change wont come too many fossils in the sport , unfortunately fanciers wont come together for the greater good of the sport , although probably the best pigeons on these shores than on the continent we don't have the structure they have , wouldn't it be great to have one big club divide it up into sections so everyone's happy , more structured racing a lot of combined federations going down the road together saving money or a more fragmented sport as what it's becoming

[budgie]

Legislation is needing changed to allow us a licence for the purpose of preventing serious damage to our pigeons.

 

 

[OLDYELLOW]

Legislation is needing changed to allow us a licence for the purpose of preventing serious damage to our pigeons.

I can't see the R.S.P.B issuing any licences to control bops , and any lifting of the protection order would mark open day on bop shooting , but I do think that anyone that is having problems with bops should have the right to protect there birds , so it would sort of be a halfway marker if there in the countryside as nature intended they should be protected any in built up areas should be removed

[Walter swanston]

I have got to explain to you guys that the RSPB are among the formal objectors to this planning application for a Falcon Breeding Centre.

[OLDYELLOW]

I have got to explain to you guys that the RSPB are among the formal objectors to this planning application for a Falcon Breeding Centre.

that could be a P.R stunt so no opposition but I truly hope its not allowed to go a head

[Guest IB]

My suggestion would be:-

 

(1) Introduction - No-Go Area for most of Scotland (1 minute)

 

I think the most important point to bring out at the meeting is that the West Coast already has the highest density population of peregrines in Europe. Most Scottish pigeon organisations have decided to avoid training and racing pigeons over that route because of the large number of pigeons being lost to peregrine predation. RSPB specifically advised against racing the M74/M6 Corridors for this reason.

 

 

(2) Local Conditions (1 minute)

 

Then outline what it is like 'now' for members of Solway & Cumbria Federation who live in these areas and have no such choices. While pigeons flying through the area ran the gauntlet once a week, your pigeons are at risk of daily attack - every time they are out of their lofts.

 

(3) If the breeding station goes ahead ( 1 minute)

 

Close your argument by describing the likely future effects of a breeding station on these risks. That it would become a no-go area for those fanciers who live there.

[yeboah]

Walter i am more than confident that you will go to the meeting and make a wonderful job of putting the case for all your fellow fanciers ,and make no mistake you go with the full backing and wishes of all on the basics site and further afield ,good luck .

[airdrie2]

pointers walter the need for this type of development and the effect to the wildlife birds in the area even allow captive, falcons sound alone will effect birds in the area .like the mink introduced into gb for pelts when market droped they were realeased into wild and now they have overpopulated our waterways and mass cull now been carried out , what if this happened in this instinct and bop realeased into wild . pigeon racing in the world wars highlight this and this is a main route into solway area and the whole of scotland if i can think of any more snippets walter will post a few good objectors in the application alonside yourself so a good strong objection. application wont be regected on a fly over objection alone best of luck

[Walter swanston]

My suggestion would be:-

 

(1) Introduction - No-Go Area for most of Scotland (1 minute)

 

I think the most important point to bring out at the meeting is that the West Coast already has the highest density population of peregrines in Europe. Most Scottish pigeon organisations have decided to avoid training and racing pigeons over that route because of the large number of pigeons being lost to peregrine predation. RSPB specifically advised against racing the M74/M6 Corridors for this reason.

 

 

(2) Local Conditions (1 minute)

 

Then outline what it is like 'now' for members of Solway & Cumbria Federation who live in these areas and have no such choices. While pigeons flying through the area ran the gauntlet once a week, your pigeons are at risk of daily attack - every time they are out of their lofts.

 

(3) If the breeding station goes ahead ( 1 minute)

 

Close your argument by describing the likely future effects of a breeding station on these risks. That it would become a no-go area for those fanciers who live there.

 

Thank you IB that`s helpful

[REDROCKET]

good luck mate give it your best

[Guest bigda]

if it gets passed hope, they grant you a license to kill any near your sheds or a license to breed eagle owls

[lvlasked]

maybe we should all just get eagle owls haha

[Guest bigda]

we could complain this is happnig and scared for you kids safty while out in the garden

[THE FIFER]

All the best ,maybe not come to anything

[Walter swanston]

Yeah I hope you are right but I can tell you it is creating enormous interest down here,so far this morning I have been contacted by the secretary of the SHU and the secretary of the SNFC I am advised that the vice president of the SNFC plans an appearance at the hearing.I have been struggling on my own since last autumn on this and any help will be gratefully accepted.

[Chris Little]

As a Solway Fed member I am well chuffed with your work Walter, well done mate