On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:31:37 +0100, Robert Seago
 wrote:

>In article , BAC
> wrote:
>
>> > They have always suffered the problems of that journey though.
>
>> I think it may be possible that circumstances might have changed for the
>> worse somewhere along their route through Europe, over the Med and down
>> the length of Africa (and back) over the past sixty odd years, and that
>> may partly account for the suspected worsening of the first year
>> survival rate held responsible by some for the population's downwards
>> trend.
>It may.
>> >
>> > Clearly I have no evidence and there is probably none about this, but
>> > my reserve probably never had RS, and certainly there were no greys
>> > when I started there.  After they arrived I had to abandon nest boxes
>> > for tits, as they were all prised apart for the young in them.  Now
>> > tits find enough natural holes in the trees at the reerve to do well,
>> > but I find it difficult to believe that the rampant numbers of GS
>> > wouldn't have a big negative effect on birds such as SC. They have
>> > ceased to breed there now. I have certainly seen the nests of Long
>> > Tailed Tits predated by Grey Squirrel, though again that species are
>> > doing very well.
>
>> I'm glad to hear they are doing well, in spite of the grey squirrel
>> presence, and the absence of nesting boxes.
>It is a surprise to many that the reserve which is really scrub rather
>than mature trees, has enough nesting holes but it does, and probably the
>density of breeding birds would not get higher with a lot of boxes. 
>Squirrels can't break them open either.
>> > I return to my original posting.  I would like to see research done in
>> > Northumberland and Durham where it sounds as though concerted effort
>> > is reducing their numbers of GS, on the woodland birds as well as on
>> > the Red Squirrel.
>> >
>
>> Seems a bit late to do 'before and after' research, if the grey
>> squirrels have already been eradicated. 
>I don't think they are eradicated, but if as has been suggested there has
>been a considerable reduction, and it is largely self financing it should
>be possible to move into North Yorkshire or Cumbria to do before and after.

How do you work out that it would be largely self financing?


Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident. 
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

In article ,
    wrote:


> How do you work out that it would be largely self financing?


It has been reported that the meat is being sold in supermarkets, and its
popularity is meaning that those who are shooting (or trapping) them have
had to move in to Durham from Northumberland where they started.