BASC issues statement in response to RSPB hen harrier report

[Conor O'Gorman]

In response to the publication of the RSPB’s report on hen harriers, BASC has issued a statement:

“BASC, alongside other rural organisations, is a signatory to a zero-tolerance declaration on the illegal killing of birds of prey. We have always strongly condemned such activity; it has no place in our community and those convicted should face the full force of the law. We make it unequivocally clear that any member convicted of wildlife crime will be expelled.

“However, the RSPB’s report once again conflates suspicion with fact, presenting unproven allegations as evidence. These claims do not withstand independent scrutiny. Based on publicly available data from Natural England (NE) and RSPB, of the 294 tags fitted to hen harriers between 2013 and 2024, less than five per cent, or fewer than 14, have been listed as ‘confirmed persecution’. Policy must be driven by robust, objective evidence, not emotive headlines."

BASC statement in full:

BASC issues statement in response to RSPB hen harrier report

BASC, alongside other rural organisations, is a signatory to a zero-tolerance declaration on the illegal killing of birds of prey.

basc.org.uk

RSPB report:

Bird Crime Report 2023

The Bird Crime Report 2023 summarises 15 years’ worth of data around illegal raptor persecution and other bird crimes in the UK. Read the latest report here

www.rspb.org.uk

There is still time to email your MP ahead of the parliamentary debate about grouse shooting on 30 June:

Speak up before the next grouse debate

Explore the debate surrounding grouse shooting as a new petition challenges its legality. Understand the political implications now.

www.shootinguk.co.uk

 

[jall55]

I know you dont want to hear it again ....
But it really is time we started pushing back - and by we i mean some of our shooting representatives as i certainly am already - we need to call the RSPB out have them fight some internal fires we start by highlighting their failures - their culling of birds and animals
No excuse for raptor persecution but its not conducted by shooting people - its conducted by criminals


MP s addressed and one pretty positive response received and forwarded

 

[Liveonce]

They have published now just before the parliamentary debate on grouse shooting, clearly an attempt to influence the debate.

 

[cjm1066]

The RSPB membership probably has Jourdain Society members??

 

[countrryboy]

The 4 folk foind guilty of raptor persecuruon last year were all illegal egg collectors!!!
No keepers.

Also the rspb had 9 yes 9 HH chicks killed by a fox on there forest of bowland reserve.

Also publise the fact rspb and EN were against the continuation of HH recovery project which has been vastly succesful in eng.

Basc should also be making it very well know that r spb are probably 1 of the largest individual killers of foxes and crows in the uk.

They dont give a flying fcuk about working hand in hand with any shooring body.

Basc or other org should be going throu the millions in grant money theyve had for Capercallie projects which are a completr failure and cost absolute fortunes of tax payers money.

 

[jall55]

The 4 folk foind guilty of raptor persecuruon last year were all illegal egg collectors!!!
No keepers.

Also the rspb had 9 yes 9 HH chicks killed by a fox on there forest of bowland reserve.

Also publise the fact rspb and EN were against the continuation of HH recovery project which has been vastly succesful in eng.

Basc should also be making it very well know that r spb are probably 1 of the largest individual killers of foxes and crows in the uk.

They dont give a flying fcuk about working hand in hand with any shooring body.

Basc or other org should be going throu the millions in grant money theyve had for Capercallie projects which are a completr failure and cost absolute fortunes of tax payers money.

Yes i think its time to call so many out
BASC also granted WWT money and then had them really attempt to stab them in the back over lead

 

[cjm1066]

Alas as a NGO the RSPB aren't covered by the Environmental Information Regulations so what they necessarily kill can remain hidden.

Chris P####### privately supports deer control on woods near his home as song birds have increased as the habitathad improved - I suspect getting him to go public with that view might be challenging

 

[Mickeydredd]

This might help illuminate RSPB failings

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I know you dont want to hear it again ....
But it really is time we started pushing back - and by we i mean some of our shooting representatives as i certainly am already - we need to call the RSPB out have them fight some internal fires we start by highlighting their failures - their culling of birds and animals
No excuse for raptor persecution but its not conducted by shooting people - its conducted by criminals


MP s addressed and one pretty positive response received and forwarded

Attacking the messenger perhaps loses sight of the key issue - the ongoing illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey. We can challenge these reports as they arise, and we do, but the inescapable fact is that every new incident reported in the media undermines the argument that shooting is essential to nature recovery.

As regards media coverage on the RSPB report on hen harriers the Moorland Association and BASC have provided counter points in the various places the article has appeared. See below. If you or anyone else sees coverage in your local media please write to them with counter points.

• Record number of hen harriers killed or missing: BBC News
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Independent
  
  
  
• Record numbers of rare bird found in Forest of Bowland have been killed or gone missing Lancashire Evening Post
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Worcester News
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Darlington & Stockton Times
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Wandsworth Guardian
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Redditch Advertiser
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Irvine Times

 

[Liveonce]

Attacking the messenger perhaps loses sight of the key issue - the ongoing illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey.

Conor shooting looks to take the blame for illegal killing of hen harriers so is not licensing the grouse shooting the way forward.

clearly nobody wants to see the illegal killing to continue.

 

[Mickeydredd]

Conor shooting looks to take the blame for illegal killing of hen harriers so is not licensing the grouse shooting the way forward.

Licensing is probably the worst “way forward” as undoubtedly those innocent estates currently having evidence-less accusations thrown at them by the usual suspects would have their licence to shoot grouse withdrawn on the same lack of evidence.

You only need to look at RaptorPersecutions website to see how Ms Tingay’s skewed statistics are compiled - every disappearing HH is a victim of persecution in her statistics.

 

[Liveonce]

Licensing is probably the worst “way forward” as undoubtedly those innocent estates currently having evidence-less accusations thrown at them by the usual suspects would have their licence to shoot grouse withdrawn on the same lack of evidence.

You only need to look at RaptorPersecutions website to see how Ms Tingay’s skewed statistics are compiled - every disappearing HH is a victim of persecution in her statistics.

so what is the way forward to make the issue go away? is it not similar to lead shot? in that to make the issue go away we likely have to tolerate a move to non toxic shot.

 

[Mike1979]

so what is the way forward to make the issue go away? is it not similar to lead shot? in that to make the issue go away we likely have to tolerate a move to non toxic shot.

Sorry if Im missing the point but those who break the law will continue to break the law regardless of licensing the law abiding.

Does the license system for firearms stop illegal gun crime? I would suggest not.

 

[Liveonce]

Sorry if Im missing the point but those who break the law will continue to break the law regardless of licensing the law abiding.

Does the license system for firearms stop illegal gun crime? I would suggest not.

does not the firearms licensing stop 99.9999% of illegal gun crime with legal guns?

Is not the suggestion it is with licensed guns that hen harriers are shot?

Would livening grouse shooting not place responsibility on the operators to ensure nobody breaks the law.

Appreciated that is a very simplistic view.

 

[Mike1979]

does not the firearms licensing stop 99.9999% of illegal gun crime with legal guns?

Is not the suggestion it is with licensed guns that hen harriers are shot?

Would livening grouse shooting not place responsibility on the operators to ensure nobody breaks the law.

Appreciated that is a very simplistic view.

Good question indeed and one I don't know the answer to. Just dont think additional licensing will stop people breaking the law.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Conor shooting looks to take the blame for illegal killing of hen harriers so is not licensing the grouse shooting the way forward.

clearly nobody wants to see the illegal killing to continue.

BASC is opposed to shoot licensing and has long argued against its introduction for grouse shooting in Scotland, however it was introduced last season and here is the latest on that:

Scotland's first licensed grouse shooting season comes to an end

This year's grouse season in Scotland was the first with the new licensing regime in place; we debunk some of the myths that have emerged.

basc.org.uk

 

[jall55]

Attacking the messenger perhaps loses sight of the key issue - the ongoing illegal killing of hen harriers and other birds of prey. We can challenge these reports as they arise, and we do, but the inescapable fact is that every new incident reported in the media undermines the argument that shooting is essential to nature recovery.

As regards media coverage on the RSPB report on hen harriers the Moorland Association and BASC have provided counter points in the various places the article has appeared. See below. If you or anyone else sees coverage in your local media please write to them with counter points.

• Record number of hen harriers killed or missing: BBC News
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Independent
  
  
  
• Record numbers of rare bird found in Forest of Bowland have been killed or gone missing Lancashire Evening Post
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Worcester News
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Darlington & Stockton Times
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Wandsworth Guardian
  
  
  
• Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns Redditch Advertiser
  
  
  
• RSPB warns hen harriers killed or missing is at new high Irvine Times

Do you not see they are attacking us now on a daily basis
We never need to be rude but pointing out that its criminals doing the killing and questioning hypocrisy in some of these organisation cannot be a bad thing

 

[countrryboy]

BASC is opposed to shoot licensing and has long argued against its introduction for grouse shooting in Scotland, however it was introduced last season and here is the latest on that:

Scotland's first licensed grouse shooting season comes to an end

This year's grouse season in Scotland was the first with the new licensing regime in place; we debunk some of the myths that have emerged.

basc.org.uk

No offence but that was just the usual basc patting basc on the back press release.

Licences were only unveiled less than 1 month before shooting potrntially started.
But very few moors would actually shoot last year due to poor numbers.

The problem with licensing is wot is writtrn in the detail and how it is applied.
Very few folk have a problem with most firearms laws ( possibly airgun licence being exemption) its the way they are applied is the problem.
In scotland SNH/NS only has to SUSPECT u off a wildlife crime to suspend ur general licence. Not sure much of a right to apeal if ur only suspected.
While a licence itself is not the end off the world its rhe creep over time.
Will it creep into lowland shoots?
Look at eng this year again refusing to grant licences to release birds in some places, if that creeps to Sssi's in future.

And the very sad fact is NONE of the shooting orgs really truely have any influence at all over any legislation.
WJ has far more influence than any shooting org, which is a joke since only new and 3 folk.

Do the rspb not publish wot it kills? Ive definately seen figures meant to be from rspbs own figures.
The rspbs upland reserves are an open goal how little red listed birds nesting succesfully on them.
If any grant money being claimed highlight wot a waste it is.
Then u have the rspb capercallie recovery project wot a joke, cost millions and failing massively.
That really is a tap in, they should be held to account.

I get sent stuff a farcebook from various moorland groups, and the amount of positive imagine and PR their creating is brilliant.
Ive seen more positive from a few keepers with mobiles than bascs fancy media centre. Not only rspb that should be held to accoubt for failing miserably!!
Seem to be fledging and ringing good numbers off merlin on many moors this year

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Do you not see they are attacking us now on a daily basis
We never need to be rude but pointing out that its criminals doing the killing and questioning hypocrisy in some of these organisation cannot be a bad thing

There have been daily attacks on shooting for eons. We must pick our battles and right now the focus has been on briefing MPs ahead of the grouse shooting debate this Monday - and thank you again for your exceptional effort lobbying MPs.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

No offence but that was just the usual basc patting basc on the back press release.

Licences were only unveiled less than 1 month before shooting potrntially started.
But very few moors would actually shoot last year due to poor numbers.

The problem with licensing is wot is writtrn in the detail and how it is applied.
Very few folk have a problem with most firearms laws ( possibly airgun licence being exemption) its the way they are applied is the problem.
In scotland SNH/NS only has to SUSPECT u off a wildlife crime to suspend ur general licence. Not sure much of a right to apeal if ur only suspected.
While a licence itself is not the end off the world its rhe creep over time.
Will it creep into lowland shoots?
Look at eng this year again refusing to grant licences to release birds in some places, if that creeps to Sssi's in future.

And the very sad fact is NONE of the shooting orgs really truely have any influence at all over any legislation.
WJ has far more influence than any shooting org, which is a joke since only new and 3 folk.

Do the rspb not publish wot it kills? Ive definately seen figures meant to be from rspbs own figures.
The rspbs upland reserves are an open goal how little red listed birds nesting succesfully on them.
If any grant money being claimed highlight wot a waste it is.
Then u have the rspb capercallie recovery project wot a joke, cost millions and failing massively.
That really is a tap in, they should be held to account.

I get sent stuff a farcebook from various moorland groups, and the amount of positive imagine and PR their creating is brilliant.
Ive seen more positive from a few keepers with mobiles than bascs fancy media centre. Not only rspb that should be held to accoubt for failing miserably!!
Seem to be fledging and ringing good numbers off merlin on many moors this year

I agree, the moorland groups are doing great work on Facebook showcasing biodiversity on land managed for grouse shooting. As for BASC we have been supporting Let's Learn Moor this week and again next week. This year the event is two weeks long. Perhaps get behind the positives rather than seeking opportunities to knock BASC.

Let's Learn Moor

Let’s Learn Moor, the UK’s largest upland classroom, is an annual event spread over the first week of July.

basc.org.uk