What can one shoot?

[Angelfishsolo]

I find the labelling of corvidae as pests and vermin repulsive in general. It makes me very angry.

Sam

The greatest vermin on this planet are human beings. We are the only species that do not live in harmony with our environment. To paraphrase a line from the Matrix - We are more like a Virus than a Mammal.

 

[Fnaar]

Jenny Hanley was on Magpie... don't shoot her!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Jenny Hanley was on Magpie... don't shoot her!

I'd happily shoot her with my Cannon

 

[ColinJ]

I'd happily shoot her with my Cannon

You'd get away with it if you used a Canon, but I think that using a Cannon would get you into big trouble!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

You'd get away with it if you used a Canon, but I think that using a Cannon would get you into big trouble!

It was an attempt at double an tundra. One that sadly crashed and burned

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Am I the only one who find this thread repugnant?

Also


Many people wish to control magpies in gardens because they take eggs and chicks of other birds. Since research indicates that magpies do not pose a conservation problem to garden birds, the use of general licence in this context is at best debateable.

It must be remembered that if challenged, anyone killing magpies in their garden may have to prove to a court of law that they had acted lawfully. This may be difficult given the lack of scientific evidence that magpies affect the conservation of garden bird species.

A valid point. However, if you had noticed them engaged in nest robbing, then you would be entitled to kill them IMHO.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

A valid point. However, if you had noticed them engaged in nest robbing, then you would be entitled to kill them IMHO.

So we are entitled to overrule natures laws are we?

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

So we are entitled to overrule natures laws are we?

We have a duty to manage our environment responsibly. We must recognise that human activities (particularly the provsion of food sources) can cause localised population imbalances that are detrimental to vulnerable species. Ask the RSPB whether it ever kills pest species that are raiding vulnerable birds? It likes to coyly refer to "control methods."

 

[Angelfishsolo]

We have a duty to manage our environment responsibly. We must recognise that human activities (particularly the provsion of food sources) can cause localised population imbalances that are detrimental to vulnerable species. Ask the RSPB whether it ever kills pest species that are raiding vulnerable birds? It likes to coyly refer to "control methods."

I agree that they do. It does not make it right. The RSPCA put down dogs they can not re-home. I do not agree with that either. Maybe we should look at where we choose to live and build homes rather than kill creatures that are just trying to survive as we encroach on their natural habitats.

 

[Becs]

I agree that they do. It does not make it right. The RSPCA put down dogs they can not re-home. I do not agree with that either. Maybe we should look at where we choose to live and build homes rather than kill creatures that are just trying to survive as we encroach on their natural habitats.

Usually only the dangerous or sick ones though. Mind you they do it using a humane method and the dogs don't suffer, bearing in mind the dog has no idea what's about to happen. One could argue that humanely euthanising a dangerous dog is much kinder to it than keeping it confined to a small kennel for the rest of its life.

I don't agree with shooting magpies though, even if you were an expert marksman chances are you'd leave them injured and suffering. How about shooting clays?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Rats are fair game (I've dispatched quite a few with an airgun) as are grey squirrels.

 

[asterix]

A valid point. However, if you had noticed them engaged in nest robbing, then you would be entitled to kill them IMHO.

Ah! Patrick in Cafe! Have you been made homeless?

 

[zacklaws]

Is the shooting of Magpies allowed?

Many a Sunderland or Middlesborough fan dream of such.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Magpies have co-inhabited our countryside for tens of thousands of years, a natural balance is always found without the help of us humans, pratts with air guns will not improve anything.

Yes, but short of exterminating all humans (where is NickM when you want him?) we live in an environment that we have created and manipulated. Our activities lead to environmentally degrading consequences, whether it be deforestation, the importation of alien species (grey squirrels, before the usual suspects go on about immigration) and localised high pest populations. Having caused these problems, we have a duty to ameliorate them when we can.

 

[buddha]

There was something about this on the box a few weeks ago. IIRC, the research concluded that if the magpie kills eggs/young the other birds just lay more eggs and extend the breeding season - or something like that. The overall bird population was unchanged.