Last week we blogged about two owls (a short-eared and a tawny owl) that had been found shot on moorland in the Peak District National Park (here). West Yorkshire Police and the RSPB issued a joint statement appealing for information.
[Photo of the shot short-eared owl from RSPB]
As usual, the Northern England Raptor Forum (NERF) has issued an official response statement on its website (see here).
But what about the other members of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG), you know, that so-called ‘partnership’ whose main objective includes raising awareness of illegal raptor persecution? How many other ‘partners’ have also issued a statement of condemnation and an appeal for information on their websites?
As we’ve come to expect…… there are no public statements about these two crimes on the websites of the Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers Organisation, BASC or the Countryside Alliance.
There was also silence from the continually failing Peak District Birds of Prey Initiative (of which the Moorland Association is a supposed ‘partner’). This so-called ‘partnership’ is already in the last chance saloon so perhaps the absence of a joint partnership statement is because the Peak District National Park Authority is about to announce the termination of this pointless useless scheme?
Similarly, there are no public statements on the websites of the grouse shooting industry ‘partners’ about the discovery of a shot red kite found on a grouse moor in the Nidderdale AONB at the end of October – one of the worst places for red kite and hen harrier persecution in the entire country but apparently not significant enough to warrant a mention.
Perhaps they’re sleeping partners?
Or perhaps they’re not genuine partners at all, but are just using their membership of the RPPDG as a convenient cover to portray themselves in the media as ‘concerned conservationists’.
It’ll be interesting to see how long Police Supt Nick Lyall (the new RPPDG chair) will tolerate this long-standing inertia before he starts to put his words in to action and boots out from the ‘partnership’ those who are not contributing to tackling this filthy organised criminality.
Raptor Persecution UK 
If there is anything positive in this situation it’s the demonstration to Nick Lyall of what he’s up against!
Aye, the hegemonic power structure which allows the long continuing destruction of our uplands and much of the flora and fauna in it is now appearing like a peacock in full display.
Thank You for keeping us all up to date with these barbaric crimes against Our beautiful birds .
The moorland association how I hate those words, they have a finger in every pie and their lies and bull shit they spout make me sick. How long do we have to put up with these people turning up at meetings saying all the right things then keeping a low profile when another raptor is persecuted, when are we going to say enough is enough and show them the door, they are taking the piss and have been for years. They are as bad as the keepers because they know it’s happening and still they support these people. Talking around a table with the shooting fraternity doesn’t work and it never will .
While the toffs are talking their criminals are killing raptors and so it goes on and on until the next meeting. Get them out and fight for a ban because that is the only thing that will stop the slaughter , and do it now police supt Nick Lyle
“It’ll be interesting to see how long Police Supt Nick Lyall (the new RPPDG chair) will tolerate this long-standing inertia before he starts to put his words in to action and boots out from the ‘partnership’ those who are not contributing to tackling this filthy organised criminality.”
How long has he got until retirement and the obligatory civil service gong? That, plus one day. That is how long it will be tolerated. Then we can start asking the same old question about the next chap (with the same answer).
Counting Starlings at a roost site this afternoon in excess of 10,000 birds, couple of shooters turn up at almost dusk, ammo pouches on shotguns @nd all the outdoor clothing, not happy at my presence despite my cheerful greeting, instead as they dressed very derogation comments about the Starling murmuration (10,000 plus birds) obviously for my benefit. My question is what and why do you go shooting at dusk and for what, sitting duck (no pun intended) roosting pheasants?