Even IF this study finds that the Buzzard predation is a significant problem it will not result in the widespread destruction of Buzzards or their nests. It is most likely that a licence will be issued to individual landowner/farmers to deal with a particular proven problem on their ground, much the same as the system in place to deal with Cormorant predation on fishing lakes: the landowner has to prove he has a problem, prove that other methods have been tried and failed and then he will be issued with a licence to take a specific number of Cormorants in any one year. It will not be a general licence such as that in place to allow the culling of corvids.
The number of birds thus disrupted will not be very large and nowhere is it suggested that they will be killed. There is an outside chance that eggs may be damaged if nests are shot out a little late in the year but a code of practice could be agreed on to minimise that.
There is a divergence of opinion within the RSPB as to whether their reaction is justified and a growing concern over the 'politicising' of their policies.
http://www.birdforum....3632d6f616cd&t=231000