Robins to be slaughtered in UK

Before signing this petition I went surfing to see if I could find a rationale for Natural England's proposal to enable licences for folk to

• destroy the nests or eggs of several species if they pose a health or safety risk to people. E.g., nests in chimney flues, eggs on mallard nests in the vicinity of outdoor eateries
• shoot certain species that might damage crops

What I found, from where I'm sitting in Australia, was quite disturbing.

It turns out, if I've got this right, that Natural England is the UK government's qango which advises the government on conservation issues. The chair is a property developer who regards nesting birds as "one of the biggest problems facing property developers when they attempt to develop brownfield sites for residential housing". This in itself should raise people's eyebrows if property developers in the UK are anything like property developers in Australia.

The destruction of birds, their nests & their eggs is a very blunt instrument to wield in dealing with a problems which might warrant the sophisitication for which the Brits are usually reknown. I could find no consideration being given to habitat protection & restoration in order to bring bird numbers into a more natural balance; there seemed to be no thought given to making nesting birds an attraction for outdoor eateries' customers; nor was there any mention of using decoy crops, natural food sources or other non-invasive methods for dealing with Greyling Geese which might damage crops.

I could find no reference to the distinction between native & introduced bird species & there's certainly a strong impression that Natural England places a very low value on native birds.

I shall now sign the petition.

I already had signed the petition before I saw Richard's post. I do get care2 info.

Woko, you will find the same attitude to any birds here too. About 15 years ago, when I noticed some Helmeted Honeyeaters around my property a Real Estate agent warned me, to never tell anybody, because those "bloody greenies" would want to preserve them, and we would never be able to sell the property. Same advice was given to us when we discovered an Aboriginal Scared Tree, we were told not to show it to anyone, because they would come and declare it a sacred site.

What more can you say?

Your not dreaming, Woko.

http://www.bellarinepeninsulafarm.com.au/magnificent_birdlife_on_the_bellarine_peninsula

Wildlife myths.
.
1. Natural England is allowing the destruction of robins’ nests to help developers

This is not true.

The proposal in no way changes the narrow set of circumstances in which it is legal to take action. The removal of nests for development purposes is not a licensable activity under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. Proposal 2 on the consultation is quite clear that General Licences permit the destruction of pied wagtail, robin and starling nests where the location of those nests represents a potential health and safety hazard ONLY. This could be where the birds are nesting in areas of hospitals or food-handling premises - such as in ventilation flues - which have the potential to spread infection. It could also be where nesting in gas pipework or a railway signal box could lead to a serious accident. The proposed licence change would allow essential action to be taken more quickly. The destruction of a nest outside the circumstances proposed would remain illegal under the Act.