Beaky returned to the boat every morning in January but appeared terrified of any kind of bird. He could be fed by following him along the docks until he would hide at the far end.

He seemed to regain his courage a little every day, and on January 6 he was able to climb up on the swim step. He had lost some of his fear of other birds and successfully chased away two coots.

He later was overcome by more enemies and made his retreat.

This general pattern persists through the month of January. Beaky arrives early and is able to feed unmolested. Monday occasionally joins him somewhat later and adds her assistance. They work together well and Beaky treats her with more consideration that ever before.

When she is able to find the boat she has access to unlimited food and clean water, and Beaky shares food, or waits patiently for her to eat. Beaky can easily recognize her in the dark before sunrise, but he will attack enemy male coots.

Monday (right center) attacks two enemy male intruders. The coot at the right was the "Terror" coot, and he attacked the male coot at the left.

Beaky's dominant behavior is usually temporary. Later in the morning when enough coots arrive to overwhelm him, he quietly slips away.

Beaky gets up in the morning very early to wait alongside the boat in the water. He no longer stands on the boat in the darkness squawking loudly when I approach. He keeps his head down, his eyes open, and his beak shut. He has just a few hours to eat before the enemy coots arrive to chase him away.

This is a very large male at least a few years old. He is calm and patient, and not aggressive toward the other coots. He is in excellent condition, and can easily hop from the water onto the dock. He patiently waits to take food by hand.

And dribbles crumbs down his front.

He is usually found not far from his constant companion, Rachel.

Rachel is a small and timid young female in her first year. She is rather shy and will take food by hand, but will quickly scuttle away to eat it.

She is aggressive toward other coots, especially males. The Timid Male described later in this column is afraid of her, and will cry and yelp in fear when she paddles up to the dock.

Rachel is not physically strong or agile, and struggles to hop up on the dock from the water. She does this by hooking her beak over the top edge and scrabbling up with her toenails on the wood.

Rachel cackles when threatened by a male coot. Monday (out of sight) cackles in response to her calls in a sort of female comradery of combat.

Rachel and Big Boy are often found at the North end of the docks in the mornings. They are probably a mated pair, but their age difference is obvious. Sometimes they seem to be working together and they are never far apart.

The coots struggle to pick up crumbs with the sides of their beaks. They have so much overbite that they can't directly pick up a small object. Usually, they peck at food as chickens do. This often results in a comical procedure where a small object is "pecked" along a few inches at a time.

This is a nice young male bird of the year from last spring. He has the ability to hop out of the water onto the dock. Few birds in past years had the physical strength or agility to do this. Rachel has very rarely been able to hop up, and makes quite a difficult struggle.

This young male reacted in fear when Rachel paddled toward the dock. He was crying with submissive yelps even though it was unlikely that she could actually get at him on the dock.

It seems that, in fact, most of the new coots this winter are able to hop up onto the docks from the bay 16 inches below. Often they make a loud "whack" as their wings hit the water. Some of them "fly just like birds."

One unidentified coot flew up unexpectedly to take a Cheez-It cracker.

The best explanation for the coots' flying technique is that the shape of their wing is different, and better suited for high speed and high altitude flying. They usually take a long run across the water to get airborne.

This coot appeared about January 9. This is one of the coots that come to the boat early in the mornings to pester Beaky. This bird was first thought to be female, but because of Beaky's reaction, this may be a male. The facial appearance of the frontal shield is unusual and distinctive. The color of the bird's feet may indicate a second year bird.

This, and other non-aggressive coots sneak up to the boat in the darkness to scoop up a few kernels of corn or some pudding.

This coot is a young male on his first year. He is remarkable aggressive for his age and moderate size. He is very loud and squawks to be fed. He will chase and charge at other coots in the area. Fortunately, he usually stays on the other side of the dock until well after sunrise.

This coot, when he finally navigates around to the boat where Beaky and Monday are feeding, always results in the disappearance of Beaky.

If this coot survives another year to return next fall, he will be ten times worse than Marvin.

On January 19, a new male coot entered the area behind the boat where Beaky was defending his territory against three enemy coots. The three enemies were not aggressive, and two were trying to sneak up and grab a worm or kernel of corn, while Beaky was busy chasing the other.

The new aggressor simply charged into the coots and forced them to flee in all directions.

Beaky paddled away quietly. He was done for the day.

The male coots this winter seem more hostile and combative than ever before. Sometimes they charge at each other or fight for what appears to be no reason at all.

The Osprey nest on Sandpiper Way at G Street has been rebuilt and may hold two eggs. Chicks usually hatch in February.

These power lines have been covered with bird guards. Bird contact with high voltage power lines has been a problem for nearly a hundred years. Electrical engineers not only face consequences of equipment damage and power outages, but serious criminal penalties as well.

Recently in California, huge fires have been blamed on power line insulation failures. .

Protection methods have included insulator covers, protuberent perch guards, and design for adequate clearance between phases. Since many bird species do not easily abandon their nest sites, methods also include construction of safe nest platforms nearby.

AVIAN PROTECTION PLAN (APP) GUIDELINES The US Fish & Wildlife Service Produced this document in 2005 to aid utility companies in meeting their responsibilities to minimize adverse impacts to protected avian species while delivering cost-effective and reliable energy. Be sure to check the links near the end of this document.

Starvin' Marvin, the ugly, stupid, and kleptoparisitic coot was sighted on January 20. He is back for his sixth year making his stupid yapping call and chasing the other coots trying to steal their food.

Last winter Marvin attacked and defeated Beaky several times and drove Beaky from his territory. Beaky was slightly injured and eventually lived in fear of Marvin.

In the last week of January, Marvin attacked Rachel and chased her about 25 yards under water.

Later, Big Boy attacked Marvin and chased him away. Big Boy is obviously the dominant coot because of his size. Marvin has quickly sunk to the bottom of the coot hierarchy. Feeding Marvin is difficult because of his fear of everything.

Late in January a sewage spill polluted the water in San Diego bay. The coots in the water seem to be able to taste the difference and react by shaking their heads from side to side when tasting the water.

State and local governments display signs and posters that depict boat owners as gross polluters. This makes the general public perceive boaters as the cause of water pollution and sewage in the bay.

However, lack of maintenance by local governments cause sewer spills of tens of millions of gallons. The quantity of sewage from city sewers is virtually unlimited.

Unfortunately, boat owners (and wildlife) are the main victims of city sewage spills.

Last year the Brewers blackbirds had learned to come to the boat for worms and crackers in the mornings. They are wild and nervous little birds, and it took a few years for them to calm down and interact sensibly. The blackbirds lived short miserable lives, plagued with a crippling and progressive foot disease.

Five months has passed since last seeing them, but they swoop down from the sky showing signs of recognition and are eager to get a few crumbs to eat.

It is still not clear that these are the same birds since they don't seem crippled or diseased.

Long silvery colored fish are seen in the bay before sunrise. According to the California Department of Fish & Game these fish are Jacksmelt, Atherinopsis californiensis.

One or two blue herons can be seen catching these fish every morning. The link referenced above says that these fish contain parasites harmful to birds unless fish are cooked before eating. So far, the herons seem to survive.

This is the breeding season for the stingrays in the marina. Male stingrays grow teeth and often swim up to mistakenly attack the coots.

Coot News of February 1, 2009 gives detailed information on how the stingrays frighten the coots.

++ CROW CULL PETITION ++ Wildlife Village We the undersigned are asking the UK Government and the Scottish Government to stop the planned trial cull of Corvids

Magpies and crows to be culled to protect songbirds The Telegraph:Magpies and crows will be trapped and killed in the first cull of its kind to protect songbirds.

Crows and magpies to be trapped and killed in cull to protect songbirds Mail Online:

Urgent! Murder(ing) of Corvids and Raptors Wildlife Village:

Population change of avian predators and grey squirrels in England: is there evidence for an impact on avian prey populations? Journal of Applied Ecology: abstract

The effect of magpies on songbirds RSPB:

Bloodsport Groups 'Project' ACT Against Corvid Traps:Against Corvid Traps had joined in the criticism of SongBird Survival’s funding of a project of intensive killing of corvids.

Cull of Britain's feathered fiends to save the disappearing dawn chorus THE TIMES CROWS and magpies in Britain are to be trapped and killed in the first large-scale trial of culling to protect songbirds and save the disappearing dawn chorus.

++ CROW CULL PETITION ++ Corvid Aid Crows and magpies in Britain are to be trapped and killed in the first large-scale trial of culling to protect songbirds

Feathers fly as conservationists reveal plan to cull birds scotsman.com Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: "Whilst we have no objection to bona fide research we do not believe that there is any scientific evidence to justify a cull of magpies and crows

Charities in dispute over culling magpies The Sunday Times Archive Article

Unjustifiable Crow and Magpie Cull in March The Corvid Journal

Wildlife Charity Opposes Predator Cull Wildlife Aid according to Wildlife Aid founder Simon Cowell MBE, the cull is “misguided and pointless” and it is causing unnecessary divisions within the conservation movement

Wildlife Management and Licensing Service Natural England.org Natural England's policy on culling wild birds on their pdf form.. Specifically rooks,crows & magpies. Even they admit there is no link between numbers of songbirds and crow population. Check out the frequently asked questions within the pdf document.

STOP Songbird Survival from culling Corvids. Sign the Petition Bedfordshire Wildlife Rescue

1085281 - SONGBIRD SURVIVAL charity-commission.gov.uk

LICENCE (General) To kill or take certain birds to conserve flora and fauna (including wild birds)

"Sticks in my craw" Sound and Furry

***SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP THE CULL OF CROWS*** Wildlife Village

Find local MP's Parliament Go to the tab for MP's Lords Offices

Contact The RSPB & RSPCA to voice your concerns: RSPB:

Contact The RSPB & RSPCA to voice your concerns: RSPCA:

SAVE ME is a group founded by Brian May to promote decent treatment for animals. SAVE ME:

stop the cull now causes.com:

NEW CORVID RESEARCH PROJECT: Songbird Survival: Contact Songbird Survival the organisation who are proposing this cull and voice your concerns and defend the corvid:

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is the leading UK charity conducting scientific research to enhance the British countryside for public benefit. Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust: Contact The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – as they are the people who will carry out the cull:

Crows and magpies to be trapped and killed in cull to protect songbirds Jo Warrior in Wildlife:

According to popular media, so-called scientists in the U.K. plan to execute a cull of thousands of corvids Aves Noir:

Songbird Survival charity’s £88,000 funding to cull Crows and Magpies Raptor Politics: Are England's birds of prey really protected by law?

Are predators to blame for songbird declines? BTO: the evidence that such effects are widespread amongst songbirds has been weak, having been based on a relatively small number of studies.

Saving songbirds RSPB Blogs: "South west England is rich in wildlife - from the high moors to the coast and out to sea, it's one of the most wonderful regions in the UK. This blog celebrates all that's wild about the region. Here we will share insights into our work to protect birds and build support for wildlife in the West Country. It is written by our south west England press officer Tony Whitehead, with occasional contributions from colleagues"

Stop The Cull Of Crows anD Magpies Care2 petitionsite: "Stop The Cull Of Crows anD Magpies"

Government to cull magpies – myths busted Defra News: The Government are not culling magpies or crows. We are aware that songbirds are in decline and the best way to protect these birds is to provide the right habitat for them. That’s exactly what agri-environment schemes, such as Environmental Stewardship, aim to deliver.

General licences Natural England:

Campaign suggestions Forum 38 Degrees: Possible site for petitions

Correspondence from Natural England by email
email from Natural England:
Thank you and Corvid Aid for getting in touch about this issue. I can confirm that Natural England has not issued a specific licence to either Songbird Survival Trust or the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust to carry out research on corvid predations on songbirds. I can also confirm that the Government is not embarking on a wide scale cull of corvids as reported in at least one newspaper (see link - http://www.facebook.com/l/07389yQQylZgvkKf3Y_GQeQ7bOQ;ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/01/31/mythbusters-magpies/).
Natural England issues licences under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 on behalf of Defra. As you are aware, some species of corvids are listed under some of the General Licences permitting authorised persons to take and kill by means of specified methods for certain purposes, see link - (http://www.facebook.com/l/07389n70_p4ewq72juKJ7nswdvg;www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/generallicences.aspx). These licences may only be used for the purposes stated and use must be in accordance with their terms and conditions. There is no general licence that specifically permits the control of corvids for 'scientific, research or educational purposes'.
I hope this answers your enquiry.
Regards,
Ivan Lakin
Wildlife Management Adviser
Regulatory Service
Natural England
Floor 9, Renslade House,
Bonhay Rd, Exeter, Devon
EX4 3AW
0300 060 0871

Correspondence from Songbird Survival
Thank you for your email. I apologise for the delay in replying; it has been a little busy with emails and press calls etc here.
The fully scientific research experiment, being carried out by the scientists at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust includes paired sites where one of each pair will be the control site. Under the terms of the General Licence 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act the crows and magpies will be humanely dispatched in recognised methods – which have been developed to minimize suffering and distress of the birds that will be killed.
Our recent research found that there was not enough information on the subject of corvids to give a scientific answer and that more needs to be done to understand the problem. The RSPB also state that present research is out of date and recommend predator removal experiments as the next step towards our understanding and future.
The real agenda of SongBird Survival is to understand what the reality of the situation is with the small birds in the UK ; to try to understand what we need to do for the future, to educate the public with our findings and to help change wildlife policy if it is necessary.
We would not do this work if we did not think it was important.
Kind regards
Georgina Bradley
Office & Shows Manager
SongBird Survival

Comment on the Sunday Times article
7:45am Feb 6
It seems The Times was only giving SS spokesman Nick Forde, 'enough rope to hang himself' with his piece last week. Page 6 of Sunday Times article: "Shooters draw fire with bid to save songbirds" outlines the shooting connections & false claims of backing by RSPB and BTO, plus SS's rejection of the incovenient BTO research on songbird predation which SS commissioned but proved corvids were innocent. Damningly "Shown photographs of three of the most endangered songbirds - the meadow pipit, corn bunting and lesser whitethroat - he (Nick Forde) was unable to identify a single one correctly. He did, however, correctly identify a photograph of a cock pheasant, which he said was "very striking" " He also objected to the use of the "emotive" word "cull" preferring "experiment". "Animal Aid told The Sunday Times it would mount a challenge to the cullings".

The Langholm Moor Demonstration Project-a different way of limiting predator damage by diversnonary feeding Langholm Moor: Carrion will be provided to breeding pairs of hen harriers to limit the numbers of grouse chicks they kill.

Links documents on songbirds, shooting, wildlife culling, etc Animal Aid:

Queen's private donation to songbird charity The Telegraph: The Queen has given money from her private income to a charity that believes in exterminating magpies, grey squirrels and feral cats

One for sorrow, two for joy ... why we must protect magpies The Guardian:: The trust's reasoning comes down to the same old misinformed chestnut - that evil magpies are causing the decline in smaller songbirds

Surrey charity appeals to halt animal shootings BBC:: A Surrey wildlife campaigner has appealed to air gun users not to aim at animals after a series of shootings of squirrels, foxes, owls and swans.

Partnership for action against wildlife crime Defra:: The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) is a multi-agency body comprising representatives of the organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement in the UK.

RSPCA HQ Advice Team Email Feb 7

Thank you for your online enquiry. The RSPCA is aware that some species of songbird are in decline but considers that usually the best way to protect
these birds is to provide the right habitat for them. We understand that this is also the general position of the RSPB.
The Government recently published the latest set of indicators for wild bird populations in England and these can be accessed on the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website. As you will see from this data, there are some general trends but, within those, some species
are increasing (for example, the goldfinch and blackcap), with others decreasing (for example, the corn bunting and wood warbler).
The decline of bird species is a complex issue which cannot be attributed to a single factor. Different factors may be operating to differing extents in
relation to individual species. However; recent analysis of large-scale and extensive national monitoring data provided little underlying evidence for
large-scale impacts of widespread avian predators on avian prey populations. Please note that magpies and crows can legally be killed by authorised persons at any time of the year under the terms of the general licences issued by
statutory agencies, such as Natural England. As a result these birds are widely killed throughout the country. However, the adoption of wildlife
friendly farming techniques at the RSPB's Hope Farm has resulted in significant increases in many songbird species without, as far as we are aware,
any control of magpies or crows.
There continues to be debate about what effect predation by birds, such as crows and magpies has on populations of other species and the topic
continues to be the subject of scientific research. The recently announced project by Songbird Survival continues that process. We presume that this
is the subject of your enquiry.

Thank you once again for contacting the Society.
Kind regards
RSPCA HQ Advice Team

Stop the Corvid Cull animalaid.org:: The Songbird Survival Trust - several of whose most prominent figures own shoots or have strong shooting connections - has called for a cull on corvids (magpies, crows, jackdaws etc).

Crow’s a buddy, not a bully Sunderland:: A SCARE crow labelled a problem bird is no feathered fiend, according to a Sunderland schoolboy.But pupil Emmanuel Adams says the bird has been his companion for the last two weeks as he walks into school.

Response from SS:
Thank you for your e-mail concerning our research with the BTO and the University of St Andrews . This was our first commissioning of research into the reasons for bird declines and it made sense to use the largest observational database available, made up from the CBC and BBS datasets, as a starting point. This was to see whether or not this database would show any useful correlation between prey and predators.
However the results were inconclusive not to say distinctly strange and difficult to explain in parts, although there were a number of negative relationships including tree sparrow decline and sparrowhawk increase.
We therefore came to the conclusion that analysing this type of observational database had limited value. This was strongly confirmed by research we commissioned at the same time with Prof. Ken Norris at the University of Reading .
He was asked to look at all available research to date that has been done into predation within bird populations. He found that this is very limited and generally out of date and in fact no fully experimental work on the predation of songbirds has ever been done. He also pointed out strongly that he considered purely observational research would have limited value in this context.
The RSPB agree that more up to date research should be done and that the fully experimental work that we are now undertaking with the GWCT is the most likely to show a true prey/predator relationship.
However we certainly do not regret in any way commissioning the work done by the BTO who hold some of the world's most valuable observational data. Although we did find it rather odd that such limited work had been done on looking at bird predation by the main large and wealthy conservation organisations concerned with bird welfare.
Regarding your note about the diversionary feeding; I cannot comment as I am not a scientist, nor are the Trustees; therefore we have approached the best scientists in the field, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to do this work. They have researched the methodology, completing a pilot study in 2010.
If you wish to discuss methodology then you would need to speak with them. Their contact details can be found on their website: www.gwct.org.uk.
Regards
Georgina

Opinion from Animal Aid


As you have already read, your message was passed to me.

I am interested that you have contacted Natural England and that it has confirmed that a licence has not been issued for this cull. That is my understanding also. Wild birds on the General Licence may only be killed when they threaten agriculture and livestock, aviation or public health. I have not telephoned Natural England myself but I have corresponded in the past with Doctor Edel McGurk who is responsible for the annual renewal and amendment of the English Licence. She is one of the good guys in my estimation.

If a licence was granted – and I doubt it will, it will need to be replicated by the governments of Wales and Scotland. I note that some SS trustees own land in these parts of the UK and I believe that it is SS owned land that is being proffered for the experiment. Call me old-fashioned but corvid culls on these estates would favour game rearing and shooting.

I also believe that Songbird Survival has made a major mistake in its assumption that it has the authority to cull these birds for science, The General Licence does not convey any such authority. Witness the fuss that has been rightly generated about badger culls – the opposition and the injunctions.

I ask you to consider also that if Songbird really believes it can cull corvid birds in pursuit of a very dodgy hunch, then it must believe it can do so under the protection of game birds purpose. This can only expose SS as a sham organisation that is not motivated for the protection of songbirds but for the protection of shooting blood sports. Tomorrow, the principal trustee of SS; Lord Coke, will be anxious about the appearance of his head gamekeeper in Kings Lynn Magistrates Court, charged by police with a number of firearms, game and wildlife offences. We hope that his appearance and conviction may lead to highlighting Viscount Coke and other SS trustees as shooting estate owners with a focussed purposeful hatred of natural predators.

Yours sincerely,
Kit Davidson
Shooting Consultant
Animal Aid

Ravens 'not behind' wader decline BBC:: A large crow considered one of the most intelligent native British birds has been ruled out as the cause for a decline in the number of wading birds.

Nature reserve's gamekeeper accused of killing wild bird The Independent:: The head gamekeeper at a country estate which owns one of Britain's most celebrated national nature reserves has been charged with a string of wildlife and firearms offences

Corn buntings make a comeback thanks to farmers The Telegraph:: Corn buntings are making a comeback, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), thanks to a few simple measures to improve the environment on farms

Starlings like 'swarm of locusts' say farmers The Telegraph:: Farmers are demanding to be allowed to shoot huge flocks of starlings that are eating valuable animal feed in alarming quantities after unusually high numbers arrived in this country

Return annual crow cull: Naturalist canada.com:: Flocks of marauding crows in Abbotsford have one naturalist calling for a mass murder.

CrowsThe ubiquitous Corvidae, arguably among the most fascinating, clever and adaptable of birds - can be found on almost every contintent. The intelligence and social behaviours of crows is widely documented: roosting together in large groups; using tools; stashing food and mobbing predators are all common everyday examples of their remarkable intelligence. Indeed, so impressive is the crow that they have garnered a prominent place in our mythologies. Here in the Pacific Northwest, our indigenous people have long celebrated the Raven as both 'the creator' and 'the trickster' (( http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/native_american-mythology.php?deity=RAVEN )). On the other side of the world - the raven has long been associated with Odin - the chief godhead of Norse paganism. Crows also figure prominently in Buddhism, as it was they who cared for the first Dalai Lama - and continue to herald the birth of many subsequent Dalai Lamas including the current Tenzin Gyatso. Even from the cradle of Western Civilization - the ancient Mesopotamian Mythologies acknowledge the superior intelligence of the crow in "The Epic of Gilgamesh", one of our earliest written works. In Vancouver and Seattle, we have a remarkable hybrid cross-species that has developed: a combination of the American and Northwestern crows - who reportedly have developed their own unique language and complex social hierarchy (typically Northwestern Crows are relatively solitary - not so with our urban variants who roost in massive colonies like that found around Burnaby's Still Creek). Unfortunately for crows though, their remarkable intelligence, adaptability and omnivorous diet have created a symbiotic relationship with our urban centres and sprawling suburbs. Declining songbird stocks combined with fear-based superstitions and/ or a general dislike for crows have resulted in a local trash newspaper calling for a "crow-cull". http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=5aca5b9f-665e-4e3c-b5fd-c752a838d5d3 Then I see Facebook pages like these little pissants dispensing advice on how to poison crows (regardless of the potential to kill other birds and pets) http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2970085275 Well, I LIKE crows.. and I'm proud to stand up and say so.. I love watching the daily spectacle of them traveling en masse across the skies of the city at dusk as they return to their rookery. I enjoy their antics. I marvel as I watch them knock acorns from the oak trees on my street so that cars might crush out the meat. With their uncanny ability to thrive in an environment that is otherwise hostile to wildlife (bees are dying in record numbers, songbirds are being found to contain toxically high levels of mercury) - we should be defending these remarkable creatures.. not killing them ****** CROW FACTS: - corvid brains are among the largest in birds and are comparable in brain-to-body ratio of the great apes and cetaceans, just slightly lower than our own. In studies crows have out performed both domestic cats and dogs, displayed complex memorization, innovation and improvisation skills suggesting cognitive abilities on par with great apes. Some crows have even reportedly demonstrated a capacity for imagination - an ability previously believed to be unique to humans alone - crows mate for life, courtship involves acrobatic feats and tests of endurance - crows have a complex social system, and - crows (particularly juveniles) have been known to play games - crows have been extensively documented using tools crows in decline? http://courses.washington.edu/vseminar/survey.htm Crow FAQ http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowfaq.htm bird brains? http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/112096_crow12.shtml non-lethal means of controlling urban crows as 'pests' http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/Urban-Crow-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Rooks come home to roost YouTube:: by Mark Williams

A copy of a letter today sent to Natural England by Animal Aid!!
Wildlife Licensing Unit Officers
Natural England
Reference: TELECON DAVIDSON (ANIMAL AID) / LAKIN (NATURAL ENGLAND) dated 9 February 2011
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the Reference, I discussed on behalf of Animal Aid our disquiet about a corvid cull that has been contracted between Songbird Survival (SS)and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). We know of no authority that allows a cull for scientific study within the General Licences. Indeed I have enclosed a copy of email correspondence between one of our supporters and SS that clearly shows that SS believes it can carry out such a cull under the terms of the General Licence To kill or take certain birds to conserve flora and fauna (including wild birds).
We believe that GWCT and SS have published their reasons for the proposed cull and they do not accord in any way with the terms of the stated General Licence. In any event even if a special licence was to be granted, it should need a lot more background investigation than SS has supplied to support its wobbly single-view theory.
Animal Aid has its own view of SS motivation. I have attached our office brief which shows that many of the SS trustees are involved in game shooting and receive income from shooting. We believe that the licensed control of raptors is the next step of this organization. You should note that many of the GWCT trustees are also involved with shooting. Our office Brief is attached.
I have also attached an article written by Sunday Times journalist Rod Liddle published on 6 February. It neatly encapsulates our own findings. The accompanying video available on the Sunday Times website, shows that the SS spokesman and trustee Nick Forde is unable to identify the songbirds his organization champions at the expense of other species. We would also wish to point out that the magpie vilified by SS is a songbird.
Please confirm that
a. Neither the GWCT or SS have authority under the terms of the General Licence to complete a scientific study which includes the killing of corvids.
b. Natural England will act to prevent the illegal unauthorised killing of corvids planned by SS and GWCT in this sham study.
Yours sincerely,

Kit Davidson
Shooting Consultant
Animal Aid
The Old Chapel
Bradford Street
TONBRIDGE TN9 1AW 01691 648299

ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of email correspondence with Songbird Survival
2. Animal
Aid Brief on Songbird Survival and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
3. Copy of Sunday Times 6 February article by Rod Liddle - Shooters draw fire with attempt to save songbirds.
4. Copy of Shooting Times article Charity backs £100K crow control study dated 9 February 2011

The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales Charity Commission: /www.charitycommission.gov.uk

Copy of Email from the Charity Commission

With regard to the issues you have raised in your message: All charities must operate within the 
provisions of their governing documents and their activities must fall within their charitable objects. 
As long as the activities do further these objects, trustees have a wide discretion as to how their 
charity operates on a day to day basis nd the priorities they set for a particular year. There is 
also no requirement for charities to be fulfilling all of their purposes all of the time. As well 
as contacting the trustees with your concerns we would also direct you to our guidance on 
the website which sets out clearly what issues the Commission would become involved in - 

Very often the quickest way to answer any enquiries that you have is to look on our website, 
especially the frequently asked questions covering the main issues that we are being asked 
about. You will also find the latest news, together with our publications and guidance. You can even 
sign up for email updates.

Paul McDonald: okay, booked a radio interview for Wednesday next week to talk about the campaign on wildtime radio - dear God I hate radio/tv interviews

WILD TIME IS AN ANIMAL RIGHTS/WORLD CONSERVATION SHOW wild time radio :

Convicted Gamekeepers NWHSA : You'll see Viscount Coke has been busy before.

The role of the legal observer NWHSA :

Head gamekeeper charged with wildlife crime & firearms offences at Holkham Estate, Norfolk raptorpersecutionscotland : The head gamekeeper at Holkham Estate, Norfolk, has been charged with a series of wildlife crime and firearms offences following a police investigation.

response from ACT against corvid traps

Dear Michelle,

Thank you and also for your later email with very interesting material. I have found GWCT do not have a project licence from Natutural England for this intensive cull, so Dr Matt Hayden has asked them for a full breakdown of thie project as they may fall outside the remit of the General licence. Don't hold your breath on this though, as they could be granted a project licence even if it falls foul of he general licence. However, am keeping up the pressure. I'll keep you posted.

Simon Wild
ACT

Bird killing charge Lynn News : A MAN charged with illegally killing a wild bird is due to appear at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 2.

Caw To The Queen...open letter to Queen Elizabeth II

Dear Queen Elizabeth II,

I am Rosemary Wallace, citizen of British Columbia, Canada. I am requesting your immediate intervention to stop the planned mass killing of crows and magpies in the United Kingdom beginning this March of 2011 by an ignoble and dishonest group called, Songbird Survival. This group is knowingly deceiving the public and soliciting funds to commit torturous and unjustified genocide against British Corvids. Under the guise of protecting endangered song birds, this group is scapegoating crows and magpies as the reason for songbird population decline. Songbird Survival proposes to carry out an "experiment" by conducting mass killing and culling on private estates across Britain beginning in the nesting and hatching season of March which will leave the babies starving in their nests, their devoted parents taken from them and slaughtered.

The barbaric and archaic sensibilities and violence that many of the shooting and hunting groups commit against helpless wildlife and the attitude of Songbird Survival is a shameful reminder of the dark time in Britain when the most ignorant in the land determined who lived and died. Now its the crow and magpie who are about to be drowned to see if they're the real "witch" or not, if they're the reason songbirds aren't breeding and thriving anymore.

Songbird Survival believes they have the right to commit inhumane, mass killings of other species on British private estates with the veiled assumption, if they kill enough natural predators they'll have less competition in the field to shoot the game birds themselves.

I hang my head in shame at the state of sportsmanship the British gentry and aristocracy display in our modern times, killing everything that moves to protect the half tame "game" birds they raise to shoot on their first flight to freedom.

Most disturbing and hypocritical of all, how did this sacred avian species, whose largest member guards the Crown and Britain Herself from fall and ruination come to this state of relentless persecution by the current land and title holders of Britain?. Ravens, crows, magpies, rooks, these birds held positions of honour and respect in historical British culture. Ironically, within the gentry and aristocracy itself, crows and ravens held high status on estates and in court and gave devotedly of their hunting, protecting and entertaining skills to their human keepers and companions.

Shooting birds from the sky, trapping them in cruel and inhumane Larsen traps where they are left to starve and await having their brains knocked out then further desecrated, hung on fences and automobiles as trophies perpetuates all the painful memories of the dark ages we're trying to leave behind as an evolving species ourselves.

I believe the luminosity and majesty of Queen Elizabeth II is the only force of good that has the power to control the landed gentry and the aristocracy from destroying the already damaged natural balance of wild life in the United Kingdom and

I am asking you, Your Highness, to protect and restore the natural order of the land, to guide and formalize the shift of humanity from our dark past of violence and brutality against our fellow species in the natural world and to lead our re-birth into the full understanding that anthropocentrism is the ruin of the world and that empathic, compassionate understanding of other life forms is a most worthy and valued accomplishment of your reign.

Our most intelligent and sentient of all bird species, the crows, magpies, rooks, ravens and jackdaws are a thirty million year old family that has thrived along side songbirds and cooperatively with other species long before humans arrived.

No higher intelligence or more sentient being than humans will step forward in greeting as long as we continue to commit sociopathic atrocities against other beings here on Earth who are as intelligent and sentient as we in their own crow, magpie, raven and rook way.

Sincerely, Rosemary Wallace
British Columbia Canada

Nicholas Parker, head gamekeeper on the Holkham Estate, Norfolk, was due to appear before King’s Lynn Magistrates on Wednesday 9 February 2011 By raptor persecutionscotland :

12:26pm Feb 11

Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust seem to be trying to avoid our demonstrations - they've removed details of where their offices are from their website! If anyone who's going to either the London/Leicestershire demos and doesn't have the address of the offices let me know - was fortunate enough to have written them down.

Epsom Guardian

GE 020 8330 9554 February 3, 2011
Wildlife expert urges end to 'misguided' crow cull.
by CHARLIE MOLE

cmole@london.http://www.facebook.com/l/95d5dALNvz7c3cFWNfhki8uuYBw;newsquest.co.uk
The founder of a Leatherhead wildlife charity is urging a songbird conservation group to call off a proposed cull of crows and magpies.
TV personality Simon Cowell, who set up Wildlife Aid, called the cull "misguided and pointless", and said it caused unnecessary divisions within the conservation movement which should, in his view, "stand together" . in defence of all wildlife.
He said: "The songbirds have lost their nesting sites and their sources of food due to changes in farming practices and excessive development in the countryside this is why species such as skylarks have been in decline."
Avian predators are being blamed for the steep decline in the numbers of songbirds such as sparrows, lesser spotted woodpeckers and skylarks.
The cull of magpies and crows, proposed by the conservation group Songbird Survival and backed by the Wildlife and Game Conservation Trust, could lead to a much wider cull that could even extend to jackdaws, sparrowhawks and buzzards.
But Mr Cowell blames the decline in songbirds on habitat loss, particularly the destruction of hedgerows by farmers in the 1970s and 80s, and the loss of wildflowers.
Cowell, who presents the TV series Wildlife SOS, added: "It's easy to blame one animal species for the decline of another, but if any species is responsible for the decline in songbirds it is mankind, not avian predators."
He believes instead of wiping out thousands of avian predators the Government and conservationists should concentrate more on promoting environmentally-friendly farming and countryside management practices.
He said: "All the charities and organisations concerned with conservation and wildlife protection should get together on this.
"The proposed cull is not going to solve anything, but is likely to cause unnecessary splits within the environmental movement.
"It is already setting charities against one another. It is clearly not the right approach."

Should crows be culled?
Comment on this story at
http://www.facebook.com/l/95d5d47EkqvnEAd5LUNkBhE0btQ;suttonguardian.co.uk

The New Countryside Alliance The New Countryside Alliance : If you live in the countryside, and love the countryside but don't like the old Countryside Alliance, this is the page for you.

Songbird Survival charity’s £88,000 funding to cull Crows and Magpies Raptor Politics : If the study uncovers a link, it could lead to a much wider cull extending to protected species such as sparrowhawks and buzzards.

Mark Avery's blog RSPB COMMUNITY :Songbird Survival - this is interesting

WILD BIRD POPULATIONS IN ENGLAND Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs :20 January 2011

Songbird Survival Bloodsport Background ACT Against Corvid Traps. :True motives: support of the shooting industry

Unjustifiable Crow and Magpie Cull in March CORVID JOURNAL. :

The jury is in on magpies and sparrowhawks Mark Avery's blog. :This post is about the analysis carried out by the BTO (with the University of St Andrews and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust) on the huge datasets of the Common Birds Census and the Breeding Bird Survey.

Stop the crow and magpie cull - in conversation with Paul McDonald By WILDTIMERADIO :Meet Paul McDonald whose facebookgroup http://www.facebook.com/stopthecrowan... and protests are aiming to raise awareness re the planned culling of crows and magpies in the UK for "study purposes". 47 minutes

Corvid cull looming RSPB Forums: :This is indeed a black day for biodiversity.

Campaign suggestions Forum 38 Degrees :help save our corvids from being culled

stop the cull now 38 Degrees campaigns :

11:17am Feb 17 Hmmm... had a very long email from GWCT tonight, crafty buggers are trying to silence the protest, the email states I am not to disclose the information!

The very worst kind of conservation Wildlife Extra :Kill crows to save songbirds? Ridiculous. By Powell Ettinger

Conservation chief questioned by police after dead sea eagle found on his estate www.scotsman.com :Another of the rare white tailed sea eagles was found poisoned on the Glenogil Estate last year

Fight to save Britain’s birds Country Life :

Pictures From Save the Crows Demonstration Saturday Feb. 19

I don't know if I'm reading this incorrectly but this is infor from the new SBS website:

"During 2010 a pilot study was carried out for us by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust to test the methodology to be used to assess the impact of corvids (Magpies and Crows) on the survival of ?edged broods.

This pilot has clearly shown that the method used for this assessment worked well and we have therefore agreed to go ahead next year with a full study conducted on our behalf by the GWCT.

As many of you will know they have an extremely good reputation for ?rst rate research work which has already shown the effect of predation on certain bird species. This continues our planned scienti?c research programme which we feel is so important to the future of SBS.

This work will of course cost money! So we are seeking as many donations as possible to cover this research work and will be launching a major fund raising exercise at the beginning of 2011"

I read this to mean that the study will take place next Year, ie 2012, and not this Year?? Their website also still states that they only have £11,000 of the £88,000 needed.

Songbirdsos and lucymgreenfield on twitter are trolls, check ur friends and followers, that Georgina Bradley is watching my movements

What a waste of lives, money and time nwhsa.wordpress.com :EIGHT years on, £1.3 million spent and more than 1500 hedgehogs killed or relocated. But a new report on the attempt to eradicate the animals from the Western Isles in order to protect wading birds says there is no evidence that the culling operation has had any effect.

Protest over proposed bird cull in Warwickshire coventrytelegraph.net:" some wildlife groups say a cull is not the right solution, labelling it “the wholesale slaughter of innocent birds”.

Please help stop the Corvid cull Catbird Craft:I am writing this to you in abject despair and frustration, for my friends there are many injustices in this world that get me riled, but none moreso than when wildlife are being unnecessarily hunted down for the profit of a small number of humans that have no regard for anything except their grubby money.

Hope Farm diary rspb.org.uk: Increase in Farmland bird numbers 20 July 2010

Hope Farm diary rspb.org.uk: November 2010

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust GWCT: Home Page

Reposted Email from GWCT

Thank you for your email. You express concerns about a research proposal discussed by SongBird Survival to study the effects of predation by magpies and crows on the breeding success of other wild birds. I do hope the following answers some of your questions.

This is an important debate and it is good to know that many people like you are c...oncerned about the perilous state of some of our precious wildlife and how to reverse its decline.

The press coverage covering this proposal has not all been accurate. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has not accepted a commission of research: we are developing our own research proposal, which we will manage entirely independently of any other organisation or any funder of the work.

I should like to set out the background to this controversy as it is understood by the GWCT.

We consider that the effects of predation by crows and magpies on other wild birds, including chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), yellow hammer (Emberiza citronella) and tree sparrow (Passon domesticus), is a legitimate and pressing question which does need to be answered. The populations of these species, amongst others, are still declining in the United Kingdom. The situation is, in many cases, serious. There are many reasons for declining numbers of farmland bird species, including the loss of habitat, the modernisation of farming practices and the use of pesticides. It was our research in the 1970s that identified how pesticide use was having a devastating impact on many farmland bird populations. Since then we have successfully developed farming practices that can mitigate this effect.

Very significant progress has been made in terms of habitat improvement over the last 20 years, and a very large sum of public money spent. Many farmers and land managers, along with conservation organisations, have worked hard, contributing to this widespread improvement of habitat. Unfortunately, these efforts and many millions of pounds of public expenditure do not seem to have arrested or even slowed the decline of these species of birds. As a nation, we face the prospect of yet further losses of farmland birds. This is a matter of profound regret and concern. It is for this reason that we consider that careful and scientifically rigorous research is urgently needed to understand why this situation is not improving and what can be done to remedy it.

The research proposal we are developing would be designed to discover whether, at a very localised level, some species of bird were unable to recover from levels of egg and fledgling predation by crows and magpies such that their populations were in permanent decline. The killing of crows and magpies which this would require would be no different from the regular legal control of these birds which takes place in many parts of the country, except that it would be done in exacting experimental conditions. The sites would be compared with similar locations where no killing of crows ands magpies would take place. The GWCT undertakes all its control of predators for experimental purposes to the highest possible standards of humaneness.

It is also important to be clear that under no circumstances do we consider a widespread cull of crows and magpies to be a necessary or effective outcome of this sort of research. Our experience in other ecological circumstances suggests that when some wild bird species reach low population levels, their continued existence is even more vulnerable because population recovery is harder to achieve. Should another unfavourable circumstance occur, such as a harsh winter or drought, small populations can be particularly vulnerable to on-going levels of predation of eggs and young. This might be solved by localised control of crows and magpies. We need to discover whether this is true or not. GWCT is strongly against the wholesale culling of any native wild species and will always make that clear. Many conservation organisations already control some predatory birds at certain times of the year, but the results of this activity are rarely measured, analysed or even discussed.

Should we undertake this research project, the GWCT will publish the results whatever the outcome of the experiment. Our research results are presented as scientific papers which are peer-reviewed and which are available to all those interested in the findings of a study.

We are completely committed to accuracy and objectivity in our work as our reputation depends upon this approach.

We should emphasise that this research would not include raptors such as buzzards and sparrowhawks, contrary to what has occasionally been suggested.

I do hope this reply is helpful but if you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regardsMorag Walker

Warwickshire plan to kill magpies and crows to protect songbirds coventrytelegraph.net:DOZENS of magpies and crows could be trapped and killed in Warwickshire to help protect smaller farmland birds.

Speak Out for the Tullos Hill Deer! Ethical Voice for Animals :a large number of deer inhabit the hill and to protect the young trees a cull has been advised by Scottish Natural Heritage

Slightly off topic but you may find interesting, espicially the bit about - non lethal means should be used before using lethal means

Farm - let us shoot the birdsSponsored by problem: A flock of starlings

Published on Fri Feb 18 08:55:27 GMT 2011

A Lancashire farmer says he is being targeted by animal rights protesters after calling for a ban on shooting flocks of scavenging starlings to be lifted.

The 70-year-old farmer, who does not want to be identified, says he and other local farmers have been contacted after they spoke out about the problems caused by large flocks of the birds swooping on crops and eating up to a tonne of feed a day.

The farmers say the birds, which are a protected species, have grown in numbers since a shooting ban was introduced in 2004.

Now the flocks, including large numbers from continental Europe immigrating to Britain for winter, are descending on local barns and raiding the animals’ feeds as well as creating a mess, sparking fears of E.coli and other illnesses being spread.

The dairy farmer, whose family have run a farm near Garstang for more than 70 years, said: “We can’t cope with this any more. There are millions of them.

“Campaigners say numbers of starlings have been falling, but in the last year or two they are the biggest ever.

“We need a change in the ban allowing us to shoot them to protect our businesses.”

Farmers can obtain special licences from Natural England to shoot the birds, but the process is difficult and farmers must show they have taken every non-lethal step to rid the birds first.

Both the RSPB and local bird clubs are opposed to any culling of the birds.

RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: “We do hear the plight of farmers and know that this problem is affecting their businesses.”

Protest over proposed bird cull in Warwickshire coventrytelegraph.net:They plan to protest this weekend at the offices of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust across the Warwickshire border in Leicestershire.

Response from DEFRA

Thank you for your email of 29 January to the Secretary of State about a proposed trial cull of corvids. I have been asked to reply.

I should make it clear that neither Songbird Survival nor the GWCT have contacted Defra about the project so we have not been made aware of the full extent of the proposed research. As environmental policy is a devolved matter I can only answer with respect to the position in England.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which implements the EC Wild Birds Directive in Great Britain. Under the Act it is an offence to kill or injure any wild bird. The Act’s provisions provide a powerful framework for the conservation of wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitats.

Within this legislation, however, there exists an established system of licensing that in some circumstances allows action to be taken. Licences to kill or take wild birds can only be granted under the provisions of section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which transposes Article 9 of the EC Wild Birds Directive, allowing licences (derogations) to be granted only for very specific reasons. The licensing system in England is administered by the statutory nature conservation adviser, Natural England. Before carrying out control of wild birds, an individual wishing to take such action would need to obtain and comply with the appropriate licences from the relevant conservation adviser and with any other relevant legislation.

We understand in relation to the research that Natural England has made contact with the GWCT and made it aware of the legal constraints that apply to research and controlling corvids, including magpies.

Many specialists consider that delivering habitat for declining bird species which is of a suitable quality and quantity will have a greater influence in assisting increases in farmland bird populations than tackling predation from mammals and other birds such as magpies and crows. Indeed adverse predator impacts can often be linked with habitat degradation. For example, prey populations may be vulnerable at a local level by the additional pressure of predation if their favoured habitats have been poorly managed.

Agri-environment schemes, such as Environmental Stewardship, are currently delivering improvements to farmland bird habitats, with nearly 70 per cent of English farmland within such schemes. Improving habitats can help to increase population numbers, but we are also reviewing how we can deliver Environmental Stewardship schemes to deliver better outcomes.

Yours sincerely



Kevin Woodhouse

Defra – Customer Contact Unit

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ww2.defra.gov.uk:DEFRA Home page

RSPB grudgingly admits: predator control helps threatened birds networkedblogs.com:By James Marchington, the editor of Sporting Shooter magazine.

Show your support of the campaign to stop tyhe corvid cull by adding a Twibbon to your Facebook and Twitter Avatars http://twibbon.com/join/Stop-The-Corvid-Cull

Swooping assassin: Pictured for the first time in Britain, a soaring golden eagle clutches a bloodied lamb in its razor-sharp talons - confirming farmers' worst fears for their flocks dailymail.co.uk:

Chickens

Shop The Coop Specializing in products for pet chickens

Arsenic In Chicken Feed May Pose Health Risks To Humans Science Daily: Pets may not be the only organisms endangered by some food additives

Wrath of God and Old Testament News

New Year’s Surprise: 4,000 Dead Blackbirds New York Times: About 10 p.m. Friday, thousands of red-winged blackbirds began falling out of the sky

Massive fish kill blankets Arkansas River CNN: Arkansas officials are investigating the death of an estimated 100,000 fish

Hundreds more birds found dead, this time in Louisiana USA TODAY 500 red-winged-blackbirds and starlings were found dead along a quarter-mile stretch of highway in Louisiana

MDE: Fish Kill Caused By Cold Stress WBAL TV The Maryland Department of the Environment said that tens of thousands of small fish have died in the Chesapeake Bay

More dead birds found, this time in Sweden NATIONAL POST In a week that saw unexplained massive bird deaths in the southern United States, up to 100 birds were found lying in a snow-covered street in Sweden Wednesday

Mass Animal Deaths Links and locations on Google Maps

The Sheep Incident Damn Interesting

National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) Encylopedia of Arkansas History and Culture

Five Thousand Dead Birds May Have Just Flown into Each Other GAWKER

'Superstorm' warning for Calif. Seattle Times: California faces the risk of devastating earthquakes but also of a catastrophic storm that could tear at the coasts, inundate the Central Valley and cause four to five times as much economic damage as a large quake

Most ocean species still unknown after census CBC: At least three-quarters of the world's ocean species remain unknown following a 10-year census of marine life, Canadian researchers say.

Dead birds, fish around world spark flood of wild conspiracy theories from End of Days to HAARP DAILY NEWS Are we in the End of Days? Some fear we are, with recent animal deaths and other natural disasters spelling doom for humanity.

GLOBAL BEE EMERGENCY -- ACT NOW! Avaaz: Quietly, globally, billions of bees are being killed off threatening our crops and food. But a global ban of one group of pesticides could save bees from extinction.

Flying drunk proves fatal for bird flock (Reuters)There was nothing mysterious about the death of a flock of birds in Romania last week -- they were simply drunk, veterinarians said.

Save the planet: Swap your steak for bugs and worms Straits Times:Eat Super Worms?

Don’t Be Alarmed: Mass Fish and Bird Die-offs Occur Regularly The Log:In the past eight months, the USGS has logged 95 mass wildlife die-offs in North America

Hundreds of Yankton, South Dakota birds poisoned by USDA KTIV:Yankton police received a phone call from a USDA official who said the birds had been poisoned.

MI DNRE Considering Mute Swan Population Control Michigan Humane Society:Michigan’s Wildlife Conservation Order would be amended to ban the release of mute swans into the state. If this were to be approved, licensed swan rehabilitators will be prevented from rehabilitating sick or injured swans.

Dinos Gave Birds the Finger Science Now:"This very important paper is the final nail in the coffin for the remaining supporters of the nondinosurian origin of birds," says Kasper Lykke Hansen, a vertebrate zoologist at the University of Copenhagen.

Backyard bird count tracks avian ups, downs The Baltimore Sun:"Remember when thousands of blackbirds mysteriously dropped from the sky in Arkansas on New Year's Eve? Here's a chance to help scientists understand what's happening with those and all the other birds across North America: join the annual Great Backyard Bird Count this week.

More Corruption at NOAA?

'Catch shares' blamed for fishermen's forced ouster Gloucester Times: The displacement of commercial fishermen through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's new regulatory policy is proceeding.

Scientist: Overfishing Has Ended WCBV TV Boston: For the first time in at least a century, U.S. fishermen won't take too much of any species from the sea, one of the nation's top fishery scientists says. - another view from the chief scientist from NOAA

Editorial: Bravo to Legal CEO for taking on bogus seafood 'eco-labels Gloucester Times: Berkowitz contends that the so-called "eco-labelers" — like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which publishes Seafood Watch — are "brainwashing" not only consumers but restaurants as well, which fear the wrath of environmentalists if they serve blacklisted fish."

More problems with fishing agency Daily News: If true, this is corruption coming from the top. It would merit very harsh sanctions.NOAA's already tattered credibility sinks even further.

Avian Spy?

Saudi Arabia detains Israeli bird found with transmitter USA TODAY Saudi Arabia has taken an Israeli bird into custody on suspicion of espionage

Historical

Information Resources on Veterinary History at the National Agricultural Library February 2005 USDA

Other News

Lovesick whooping crane Romeo gets home with his Juliet in Homosassa Springs St Petersburg Times

Flirty and Maverick Cranes Put in Pens for Their Safety St Petersburg Times: Two whooping cranes that have received a lot of attention in recent days - one for courting a captive crane in a Homosassa park and the other for escaping a sure death in horrible storms - are now roomies.

Happier than Kings; Circus of the Spineless #57 Wanderin' Weeta: (With Waterfowl and Weeds)

Editorial: Wind farm plan cannot come at expense of fishery Gloucester Times: the Obama administration once again puts commercial fishing — along with the jobs it creates and preserves and the food it provides for this region and beyond — at the bottom of its priority totem poll.

Fishermen Say BP Owes Them Money Gloucester Times: Twenty fishermen from Mississippi sued BP in Federal Court, saying the oil company chartered their boats after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill but hasn't paid up.

No S*&%t Sherlock, dispersants DON’T degrade quickly Deep-Sea News: The new study from Wood’s Hole researchers shows lingering traces of dispersant in the deepwater oil plume that spread out for 200 miles southwest of the Macondo well head.

The oil industry’s ‘Culture of Complacency’ Deep-Sea News: Because of the gushing oil, 40,000 Vietnamese fisherman were put out of work and reduced to standing in line for $100 food coupons. Hotel occupancy in the Gulf was at 30% last memorial day weekend as scared tourists stayed away. Europeans were canceling vacations to Key West despite the oil never getting close.

Angler: Fish taking priority over people Post and Courier: "They want to go from two wahoo per fishermen to two wahoo per boat. People are going to say, 'I'm not spending $1,500 to $2,000 to go catch two fish,' "

Waylaid pelican wades through paperwork in Dartmouth National Post Canada: "Ralph isn’t like you and me. Ralph has feathers. Ralph is a brown pelican "

'Maria, Maria, I've Just Met A Goose Named Maria...' The Wall Street Journal: "In L.A., a Bird Bonds With Mr. Ehrler, but Renovation May Force Her Out"

Centennial of Naval Aviation February 12

Expect massive traffic jams on the streets and on the bay. Ride your bicycle.

Celebrate 100 Years of Naval Aviation! Navy Compass:100th Anniversary Parade of Flight and North Island Open House on February 12, 2011

MW&R Web site for the event US Navy MW&R : Join in the Celebration - One Hundred Years of Naval Aviation

COMNAVAIRFOR's Centennial of Naval Aviation COMNAVAIRFOR: By honoring Naval Aviation, we honor our country and assure America and our allies that their security is guaranteed by a strong Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard team.

Index:

Home

Background

Coot Food

Recipe for Coot Pudding

Coot Misinformation

Bibliography of Research

Coot Calls and Movies

Historical Summary

Links to Important Sites

Opinion