BROONS VERSUS BUZZARDS

Poor farmers get a lot of stick around Ber-wickshire: mud on roads, irritating tractors impeding Mr Toad's impetous progress, noisesome slurry, concreting over good farming land, that sort of thing. But poisoning Buzzards?

The top story in the Berwickshire is headed :

POISONED BAITS USED TO KILL BIRDS AT GREENLAW

and describes how 25 poisoned baits to kill birds of prey have been discovered on private estates around Greenlaw, within a one square mile radius-the highest number ever recorded in one location- thus showing how, in one activity at least, Berwickshire leads the civilised world.

The poison Carbofuran was discovered in carcasses of hares and rabbits leading to the death of six buzzards, two crows and a magpie over a six month period last year. A member of the public apparently blew the whistle but 'no one was held to account' as 'it is understood that issues over land ownership may have complicated the question' Whatever that may mean: 'No Officer thats Farmer Broon's field, not mine, honest' Or something.

And its not just Buzzards, Magpies and crows. Last August one half of a breeding pair of Golden Eagles was killed by poisoning in the Borders. The RSPB says that this kind of crime is on the increse and that 'poisoning is still sadly considered par for the course by some people in Scotland' But no collar has been felt (or as my father would have put it : 'no one has been put up against the wall and shot.' Lothian and Borders Finest claim that 'these cases were notoriously difficult to prosecute due to the lack of witnesses in rural areas such as the estates around Greenlaw' One should perhaps ask whom on the 'Private Estates' has the motive and the oppurtunity and then go around breaking down a few front doors in the wee small hours.

And one might also ask why, given that the last poisoning incident was September, no publicity has been given until now. The Police Spokeswoman was asked this same question and 'could give no information'

Rural ranks closing with a resounding clang might explain it.

Labels: Berwickshire, Buzzards, Poisoning Birds

  ¶ 11:08 AM