Culling of the crow: Predators will be destroyed in bid to save songbirds UK

[Donna]

Scientists are to cull crows and magpies to find out whether they are wiping out the nation’s songbirds.

A dramatic decline in farm and woodland birds over the past 50 years has been linked to rising numbers of avian predators.

If the study finds a link, it could lead to a much wider cull extending to protected species such as sparrowhawks and buzzards.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1351054/Crows-magpies-trapped-killed-cull-protect-songbirds.html

[Donna]

I think the british folks get off on killing birds! 

Might that be a bit of an over-generalization, and offensive to our members and/or readers who are "british folks"?

Oh Mercy, I don't think she meant it that way. Have to admit though, they haven't been to kind to the birds in the past, especially to the falcons. Just a percentage of the people, (definitely, not all). 

[Patti from Kentucky]

I think the british folks get off on killing birds! 

Might that be a bit of an over-generalization, and offensive to our members and/or readers who are "british folks"?

Oh Mercy, I don't think she meant it that way. Have to admit though, they haven't been to kind to the birds in the past, especially to the falcons. Just a percentage of the people, (definitely, not all). 

I'm sure she didn't mean it that way...I just sort of wanted to raise awareness...people sometimes over-generalize without thinking about it, and may not realize the impact on others.

[Paul Hamilton]

It seems clear that this Songbird Survival organization (check their website) is very sure that predation, not habitat destruction is the main threat to bird populations.  Most wildlife biologists strongly disagree.

Blaming a reduction in species diversity on crows and magpies gets a lot of real estate developers off the hook.  I'd imagine that Songbird Survival would be a good charity for them to support.

On the other hand it's comforting to blame predators when the real cause is a lot closer to home.


Paul

[MAK]

I have deleted my comment from earlier today. My whole hearted apologies to anyone that was offended.