CCX

For many years Animal Rights advocates have tried to expose the truth
that CONservation hooligans were coining it in at the taxpayers
expense in grants and public donations supposedly to protect wildlife,
but were in fact killing animals and often partnered by pro hunt
groups. Well now the truth is out.

http://tinyurl.com/29azyr

RSPB hands out licence that lets nature reserve visitors kill up to 10
birds a day for sport
Last updated at 11:36am on 11th January 2008
 
A bird charity has raised eyebrows by letting ducks and geese be shot
on a nature reserve. 

The RSPB hands out shooting licences on its land at Langstone Harbour,
near Portsmouth, Hants, where wildfowlers can kill up to 10 birds a
day - for sport. 

The shooting has been allowed for years, but was only revealed when a
pellet-riddled duck carcass was found by a walker. 

The charity today defended its decision, saying shoots are very
carefully monitored and the alternative would be to have illegal
poachers causing havoc. 

But wildlife lovers say it is against what the RSPB stands for -
protecting birds. 

Barry Hugill, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I find it
exceedingly distasteful. It's a wildlife sanctuary. 

"How on earth can it be a sanctuary if someone is going to come and
kill the birds that are resident there simply because they enjoy
killing things? 

"I think it's scandalous and I do hope the RSPB will reconsider their
decision." 

Keen twitcher and conservationist Robert Hill, who discovered a dead
widgeon duck covered in pellet wounds, is horrified. 

There are signs up in Langstone Harbour saying wildfowling takes
place, but he said it has never been publicly announced. 

There is no mention of the shooting licences on the RSPB's website. 

Mr Hill, 43, of Waterlooville, Hants, said: "I don't think it's
acceptable. It's a blood sport. 

"I can't see any justification for it. It's a macho, egotistical, self
gratifying act and I think it's disgusting. 

"No-one owns wildlife. These poor animals come in for sanctuary and
end up getting blown out of the air." 

Local wildfowling group, the Langstone & District Wildfowlers &
Conservation Association, has had shooting rights on the land since
1979 and wildfowling has taken place in the harbour since the 1600s. 

They are allowed to shoot between September and January on two of five
islands in Langstone Harbour, which can be accessed by walking across
the mudflats, and on saltmarshes at the northeast of Farlington
Marshes. 

At the end of each month they have to report every bird shot to the
RSPB so bird levels can be monitored. 

They must not shoot more than 10 birds each in one day, but in reality
the club's members say they have only killed a handful of birds
between them since September. 

Chris Cockburn, RSPB warden for Langstone harbour, said: "If
wildfowling was banned the only way we could make it work would be by
policing it. 

"The reality is that would be very difficult whereas by licensing it
we are effectively controlling the amount of shooting that can occur. 

"At the moment the controls in place are pretty stringent. The
alternative to the situation we have is grim. 

"Poaching would be disastrous for the harbour. It would be disastrous
for the bird populations." 

He said one of the rules is that wildfowlers must always have a dog
with them, which would usually collect up any dead birds. 

He added: "The RSPB does not have any axe to grind against any sport
unless it affects the conservation issues and then we would be very
much against it." 

Nick Horten, from the wildfowlers association, said the group carries
out huge amounts of conservation work in the area and is extremely
careful about the types of birds they shoot. 

All members are vetted by the police and must train for a year before
they are allowed to shoot alone. 

He said: "We have been a tenant of the RSPB which is the foremost bird
conservation group for 30 years and if they had the slightest concern
about the way we conduct ourselves they would have thrown us off years
ago." 

Wildfowlers also defended their sport saying it is more humane to eat
a shot duck than a battery farmed chicken. 

Nick Horten shoots with the Langstone club and like most wildfowlers
eats all the birds he shoots. 

He said: "I prefer to go and shoot a duck that's led a completely wild
life and that has never been contained or mistreated like a battery
chicken." 

"It's the healthiest food you can get. It dies very quickly. I don't
have a problem with causing its demise. 

"I'm not hypocritical like people who rant against wildfowlers but
then go to the supermarket and buy a battery chicken." 

He said as with other wildfowling groups his does a lot of manual work
to preserve the harbour area and he said the club's wardens are
regularly out and about looking out for people shooting illegally. 

When they spot poachers they report them to the police so they can be
prosecuted. Three were recently spotted on Farlington Marshes and
reported. 

David Knowles, regional director of the British Association for
Shooting and Conservation, said wildfowling clubs all work very
closely with conservation bodies to preserve natural areas and often
wildfowlers are bird lovers as well. 

He said: "Very few birds are actually shot. It's a very sustainable
harvest. 

"There are tens of thousands of widgeon around the south coast and
probably no more than 300 are shot each year." 

Only certain species of bird are legally allowed to be shot in
Langstone Harbour by those with a licence. Others, such as Brent
Geese, are protected

More details about the RSPB and other CONservation hooligans can be
seen at


http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=rspb+slaughter&meta=

http://tinyurl.com/2xgmbg

THIS is where our donations are really going and I for one will no
longer be supporting them.

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:47:07 +0000, Alan Hill. wrote:

> CCX

ever 'thought' of converting to Islam?
-- 
Peter.
You don't understand Newton's Third Law of Motion?
It's not rocket science, you know.

Alan Hill. wrote:
> CCX
>
> For many years Animal Rights advocates have tried to expose the truth
> that CONservation hooligans were coining it in at the taxpayers
> expense in grants and public donations supposedly to protect wildlife,
> but were in fact killing animals and often partnered by pro hunt
> groups. Well now the truth is out.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/29azyr
>

Wow what a detective, you uncover somthing that has been openly going on for 
four hundred years. Nothing gets past you.

Gaz

On 15 Jan, 21:39, PeterC and alan Hill wrote a pile of nonsensical OT
bullshit:
> "...bla bla bla..."
>

Tell you what morons...why don't you just fuck off with your
irrelevant shit and let people who value critical thinking and realism
get on with their business on a group like this which has nothing to
do with your insecurities / religious nonsense.
Groan.

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:47:07 +0000, Alan Hill. 
wrote:

>CCX
>
>For many years Animal Rights advocates have tried to expose the truth
>that CONservation hooligans were coining it in at the taxpayers
>expense in grants and public donations supposedly to protect wildlife,
>but were in fact killing animals and often partnered by pro hunt
>groups. Well now the truth is out.
>
>http://tinyurl.com/29azyr
>
>RSPB hands out licence that lets nature reserve visitors kill up to 10
>birds a day for sport
>Last updated at 11:36am on 11th January 2008
> 
>A bird charity has raised eyebrows by letting ducks and geese be shot
>on a nature reserve. 
>
>The RSPB hands out shooting licences on its land at Langstone Harbour,
>near Portsmouth, Hants, where wildfowlers can kill up to 10 birds a
>day - for sport. 
>
>The shooting has been allowed for years, but was only revealed when a
>pellet-riddled duck carcass was found by a walker. 
>
>The charity today defended its decision, saying shoots are very
>carefully monitored and the alternative would be to have illegal
>poachers causing havoc. 
>
>But wildlife lovers say it is against what the RSPB stands for -
>protecting birds. 
>
>Barry Hugill, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I find it
>exceedingly distasteful. It's a wildlife sanctuary. 
>
>"How on earth can it be a sanctuary if someone is going to come and
>kill the birds that are resident there simply because they enjoy
>killing things? 
>
>"I think it's scandalous and I do hope the RSPB will reconsider their
>decision." 
>
>Keen twitcher and conservationist Robert Hill, who discovered a dead
>widgeon duck covered in pellet wounds, is horrified. 
>
>There are signs up in Langstone Harbour saying wildfowling takes
>place, but he said it has never been publicly announced. 
>
>There is no mention of the shooting licences on the RSPB's website. 
>
>Mr Hill, 43, of Waterlooville, Hants, said: "I don't think it's
>acceptable. It's a blood sport. 
>
>"I can't see any justification for it. It's a macho, egotistical, self
>gratifying act and I think it's disgusting. 
>
>"No-one owns wildlife. These poor animals come in for sanctuary and
>end up getting blown out of the air." 
>
>Local wildfowling group, the Langstone & District Wildfowlers &
>Conservation Association, has had shooting rights on the land since
>1979 and wildfowling has taken place in the harbour since the 1600s. 
>
>They are allowed to shoot between September and January on two of five
>islands in Langstone Harbour, which can be accessed by walking across
>the mudflats, and on saltmarshes at the northeast of Farlington
>Marshes. 
>
>At the end of each month they have to report every bird shot to the
>RSPB so bird levels can be monitored. 
>
>They must not shoot more than 10 birds each in one day, but in reality
>the club's members say they have only killed a handful of birds
>between them since September. 
>
>Chris Cockburn, RSPB warden for Langstone harbour, said: "If
>wildfowling was banned the only way we could make it work would be by
>policing it. 
>
>"The reality is that would be very difficult whereas by licensing it
>we are effectively controlling the amount of shooting that can occur. 
>
>"At the moment the controls in place are pretty stringent. The
>alternative to the situation we have is grim. 
>
>"Poaching would be disastrous for the harbour. It would be disastrous
>for the bird populations." 
>
>He said one of the rules is that wildfowlers must always have a dog
>with them, which would usually collect up any dead birds. 
>
>He added: "The RSPB does not have any axe to grind against any sport
>unless it affects the conservation issues and then we would be very
>much against it." 
>
>Nick Horten, from the wildfowlers association, said the group carries
>out huge amounts of conservation work in the area and is extremely
>careful about the types of birds they shoot. 
>
>All members are vetted by the police and must train for a year before
>they are allowed to shoot alone. 
>
>He said: "We have been a tenant of the RSPB which is the foremost bird
>conservation group for 30 years and if they had the slightest concern
>about the way we conduct ourselves they would have thrown us off years
>ago." 
>
>Wildfowlers also defended their sport saying it is more humane to eat
>a shot duck than a battery farmed chicken. 
>
>Nick Horten shoots with the Langstone club and like most wildfowlers
>eats all the birds he shoots. 
>
>He said: "I prefer to go and shoot a duck that's led a completely wild
>life and that has never been contained or mistreated like a battery
>chicken." 
>
>"It's the healthiest food you can get. It dies very quickly. I don't
>have a problem with causing its demise. 
>
>"I'm not hypocritical like people who rant against wildfowlers but
>then go to the supermarket and buy a battery chicken." 
>
>He said as with other wildfowling groups his does a lot of manual work
>to preserve the harbour area and he said the club's wardens are
>regularly out and about looking out for people shooting illegally. 
>
>When they spot poachers they report them to the police so they can be
>prosecuted. Three were recently spotted on Farlington Marshes and
>reported. 
>
>David Knowles, regional director of the British Association for
>Shooting and Conservation, said wildfowling clubs all work very
>closely with conservation bodies to preserve natural areas and often
>wildfowlers are bird lovers as well. 
>
>He said: "Very few birds are actually shot. It's a very sustainable
>harvest. 
>
>"There are tens of thousands of widgeon around the south coast and
>probably no more than 300 are shot each year." 
>
>Only certain species of bird are legally allowed to be shot in
>Langstone Harbour by those with a licence. Others, such as Brent
>Geese, are protected
>
>More details about the RSPB and other CONservation hooligans can be
>seen at
>
>
>http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=rspb+slaughter&meta=
>
>http://tinyurl.com/2xgmbg
>
>THIS is where our donations are really going and I for one will no
>longer be supporting them.
>

Reply from RSPB:

There are 11 other RSPB reserves where wildfowling takes place.  At
four, there are similar arrangements to the one at Langstone Harbour
where there are overall conservation benefits.  At the other seven we
do not have control over the shooting rights - although we always
strive to acquire these if the opportunity arises.

Best wishes


Valerie Osborne
Wildlife Enquiries

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:47:07 +0000, Alan Hill. 
wrote:

>CCX
>
>For many years Animal Rights advocates have tried to expose the truth
>that CONservation hooligans were coining it in at the taxpayers
>expense in grants and public donations supposedly to protect wildlife,
>but were in fact killing animals and often partnered by pro hunt
>groups. Well now the truth is out.
>
>http://tinyurl.com/29azyr
>
>RSPB hands out licence that lets nature reserve visitors kill up to 10
>birds a day for sport
>Last updated at 11:36am on 11th January 2008
> 
>A bird charity has raised eyebrows by letting ducks and geese be shot
>on a nature reserve. 
>
>The RSPB hands out shooting licences on its land at Langstone Harbour,
>near Portsmouth, Hants, where wildfowlers can kill up to 10 birds a
>day - for sport. 
>
>The shooting has been allowed for years, but was only revealed when a
>pellet-riddled duck carcass was found by a walker. 
>
>The charity today defended its decision, saying shoots are very
>carefully monitored and the alternative would be to have illegal
>poachers causing havoc. 
>
>But wildlife lovers say it is against what the RSPB stands for -
>protecting birds. 
>
>Barry Hugill, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I find it
>exceedingly distasteful. It's a wildlife sanctuary. 
>
>"How on earth can it be a sanctuary if someone is going to come and
>kill the birds that are resident there simply because they enjoy
>killing things? 
>
>"I think it's scandalous and I do hope the RSPB will reconsider their
>decision." 
>
>Keen twitcher and conservationist Robert Hill, who discovered a dead
>widgeon duck covered in pellet wounds, is horrified. 
>
>There are signs up in Langstone Harbour saying wildfowling takes
>place, but he said it has never been publicly announced. 
>
>There is no mention of the shooting licences on the RSPB's website. 
>
>Mr Hill, 43, of Waterlooville, Hants, said: "I don't think it's
>acceptable. It's a blood sport. 
>
>"I can't see any justification for it. It's a macho, egotistical, self
>gratifying act and I think it's disgusting. 
>
>"No-one owns wildlife. These poor animals come in for sanctuary and
>end up getting blown out of the air." 
>
>Local wildfowling group, the Langstone & District Wildfowlers &
>Conservation Association, has had shooting rights on the land since
>1979 and wildfowling has taken place in the harbour since the 1600s. 
>
>They are allowed to shoot between September and January on two of five
>islands in Langstone Harbour, which can be accessed by walking across
>the mudflats, and on saltmarshes at the northeast of Farlington
>Marshes. 
>
>At the end of each month they have to report every bird shot to the
>RSPB so bird levels can be monitored. 
>
>They must not shoot more than 10 birds each in one day, but in reality
>the club's members say they have only killed a handful of birds
>between them since September. 
>
>Chris Cockburn, RSPB warden for Langstone harbour, said: "If
>wildfowling was banned the only way we could make it work would be by
>policing it. 
>
>"The reality is that would be very difficult whereas by licensing it
>we are effectively controlling the amount of shooting that can occur. 
>
>"At the moment the controls in place are pretty stringent. The
>alternative to the situation we have is grim. 
>
>"Poaching would be disastrous for the harbour. It would be disastrous
>for the bird populations." 
>
>He said one of the rules is that wildfowlers must always have a dog
>with them, which would usually collect up any dead birds. 
>
>He added: "The RSPB does not have any axe to grind against any sport
>unless it affects the conservation issues and then we would be very
>much against it." 
>
>Nick Horten, from the wildfowlers association, said the group carries
>out huge amounts of conservation work in the area and is extremely
>careful about the types of birds they shoot. 
>
>All members are vetted by the police and must train for a year before
>they are allowed to shoot alone. 
>
>He said: "We have been a tenant of the RSPB which is the foremost bird
>conservation group for 30 years and if they had the slightest concern
>about the way we conduct ourselves they would have thrown us off years
>ago." 
>
>Wildfowlers also defended their sport saying it is more humane to eat
>a shot duck than a battery farmed chicken. 
>
>Nick Horten shoots with the Langstone club and like most wildfowlers
>eats all the birds he shoots. 
>
>He said: "I prefer to go and shoot a duck that's led a completely wild
>life and that has never been contained or mistreated like a battery
>chicken." 
>
>"It's the healthiest food you can get. It dies very quickly. I don't
>have a problem with causing its demise. 
>
>"I'm not hypocritical like people who rant against wildfowlers but
>then go to the supermarket and buy a battery chicken." 
>
>He said as with other wildfowling groups his does a lot of manual work
>to preserve the harbour area and he said the club's wardens are
>regularly out and about looking out for people shooting illegally. 
>
>When they spot poachers they report them to the police so they can be
>prosecuted. Three were recently spotted on Farlington Marshes and
>reported. 
>
>David Knowles, regional director of the British Association for
>Shooting and Conservation, said wildfowling clubs all work very
>closely with conservation bodies to preserve natural areas and often
>wildfowlers are bird lovers as well. 
>
>He said: "Very few birds are actually shot. It's a very sustainable
>harvest. 
>
>"There are tens of thousands of widgeon around the south coast and
>probably no more than 300 are shot each year." 
>
>Only certain species of bird are legally allowed to be shot in
>Langstone Harbour by those with a licence. Others, such as Brent
>Geese, are protected
>
>More details about the RSPB and other CONservation hooligans can be
>seen at
>
>
>http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=rspb+slaughter&meta=
>
>http://tinyurl.com/2xgmbg
>
>THIS is where our donations are really going and I for one will no
>longer be supporting them.
>


Reply from RSPB:

There are 11 other RSPB reserves where wildfowling takes place.  At
four, there are similar arrangements to the one at Langstone Harbour
where there are overall conservation benefits.  At the other seven we
do not have control over the shooting rights - although we always
strive to acquire these if the opportunity arises.

Best wishes


Valerie Osborne
Wildlife Enquiries