Grouse Moors

[melv16]

I just signed the petition "No moor management for grouse-shooting on two National Trust estates in Derbyshire" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.

This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no-moor-management-for-grouse-shooting-on-two-national-trust-estates-in-derbyshire

Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward this email or click these links:

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Thank you!

[jourdain2]

Thank you for asking, but the answer is a definite 'No'. Without management the moors would revert and the grouse, amongst other species, would suffer. Sorry to disoblige.

[Zacs-Master]

What about the grouse bred for shooting Jourdain?

[melv16]

Or the birds of prey that are shot or poisoned.

[gness]

That is conveniently ignored, Zacs....

You have my support, Melv.......and that's not knee jerk support......it's informed support.....xxx

[Zacs-Master]

Yes Gness, another well,thought out comment on Answerbank.

[jourdain2]

I don't see anything wrong with breeding grouse for shooting. They are a major food source and income in poor areas. A farmer's mum I know is fed up of making grouse and pheasant dishes, but that's the way it is. It is food.

Birds of prey shouldn't be poisoned, I agree. That is a question of policing. A balance does have to be achieved and so much conservation of birds of prey is leading to a bit of an imbalance, it seems to me. Not an expert on this by any means, but if you preserve, say, Red Kites, then they will take young birds. I get really quite upset about the poor moorhens losing their chicks year on year to a local sparrowhawk - but that is nature. It is not kind, but grouse moor preservation does keep a balance. I like to walk our moors and want to keep things as they are. It has worked for a long time. I expect to be unpopular for this, OK. 'night :)

[Zacs-Master]

So how do you equate them being shot with them not suffering?

[gness]

I'm really lucky...I can sit on my patio every day and watch red kites and buzzards.....I do have to travel to see other raptors but that's a joy....

It angers me that many beautiful birds of prey are killed every year for numpties to "enjoy" a blood sport....it's beyond sickening.....:-(

[jourdain2]

No worse than wringing chickens' necks.

[Zacs-Master]

But if the sport of shooting didn't exist, they wouldn't be bred. So again, how is that stopping them suffering?

[237SJ]

If the eating of meat didn't exist then there are an awful lot of animals that wouldn't have been bred so what's the difference?

[gness]

You need to educate yourself, J...red kites do not take young birds! They are carrion feeders.

So that is one area where your support for grouse shooting falls down.....x

[237SJ]

Kites are birds of prey - they are not carrian feeders.

[Zacs-Master]

Not the point I'm making 237. Jourdain claims that non management of the moors would lead to Grouse suffering. She seems to forget that the vast majority are bred for sport and their lives are cut short by being shot. A slight juxtaposition with looking after them. See?

[237SJ]

*carrion*

[gness]

Regulation and control, 237........grouse breeding and shooting is a sport that includes the poisoning of endangered birds......Jourdain is in favour of the slow death of a beautiful bird of prey....I'm not....

[gness]

237......please google red kite and then come back and tell me what they feed on.
But if you're not willing....they are weak and opportunistic feeders......relying on carrion and worms and occasionally a small mamal.

Where on earth did you get the idea they are not carrion feeders?

[goodgoalie]

You're quite correct, Gness:
http://www.yorkshireredkites.net/red-kite-info/red-kite-feeding-habits

[melv16]

A little knowledge is very dangerous, gness.

[sunny-dave]

From the RSPB page on Red Kites :

What they eat :

Mainly carrion and worms, but opportunistic and will occasionally take small mammals.