I have just read in the newspaper about Goldfinches being trapped and sold for £100 each. Two men have been taken to court and given suspended sentences. Why suspended? The way they are trapped is so cruel. I have around 18 of these beautiful birds in my garden so they would be worth lots. I want my grandchildren to be able to continue seeing ALL wildlife.This cruel heartless practice must be stopped and stopped now.
Birds Rule
Its so infuriating. It must make the RSPCA want to give up prosecuting. They should be strung up and kept in a cage with people gawping at them.
Cheers, Linda.
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I just despair of human beings sometimes. I believe keeping them was popular in Victorian times, I thought we had improved since then.
The thought of these charming, sociable little birds stuck in a cage is obscene.
Kind regards Jane.
You really don't want to know about some techniques used to increase the capture rate - trust me on that one.
Increased vigilance from all of us will help limit this barbarity. Please report any instances of people using bird lime (it would look like they're spreading glue on bushes and twigs) or of native birds being offered for sale in dubious places. Illegal trappers also use mist nets, but so do licensed ringers. Perhaps one of our community ringers could advise on how to differentiate between legal and illegal trapping with mist nets.
JBNTS
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
I read about this today also. It really saddened and angered me!
These sort of practices are barbaric and outdated. Times have changed and things like this should be left in the past - and viewed with some (or rather, a great) deal of embarrassment that our ancestors committed such acts!
I believe, from what I read, that its increasing in popularity within a community of settlers from overseas where the practice isn't as frowned upon as here.
Although, some of you will remember a few weeks back when I posted about a man who was prosecuted in this town for it. I had him banned from our store, he can take his sickening poaching ways elsewhere, he's not welcome.
The penalties for crimes against wildlife really need an overhaul, they're inconsistent between different forces and in my opinion, nowhere near as severe as they should be. Although I have a feeling with the overcrowding of prisons, wildlife crimes aren't deemed important.
This is appalling - why would anyone want to do such a thing? Seeing a beautiful bird in it's natural environment is so rewarding...I can't see that trapping them would have any appeal whatsoever to anyone with half a brain and it's always so sad to hear these stories. I know they have had suspended sentences, but it's a start and now communities will be aware and hopefully vigilant, sending a message out to all the people out there who do this for a 'living.'
Nikki x
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nix107/
well done on having this person banned. we all need to be extra vigilant.