The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Not read it in full yet but an updated paper on the eradication program in the latest BB suggests that 90% of the birds will have been removed by this winter and I think the campaign ends next year? So just a quick query -- are all reports received by the LBC submitted to the Ruddy Duck program? Not sure what happens after the campaign finishes. My thoughts have always been that even if you miss 3% they will proliferate and in 10 years time will be back to 50% of the present population but will there be follow up removals and if so reports of birds from odd locations may be more important and have more impact. On the Barton - Barrow Haven pits the first pair appeared in 1984 and reared 2 broods in the same year; 10 years later there were 12 breeding females and an autumn peak of 41 birds. Since the program was initiated here there have been very few birds down from peaks of 150 in 2006 but such is the nature of the species that occupation of small isolated water bodies will always mean that there are birds that are never found. This is not a case for Ruddy Ducks or vice versa just a general comment / query.

I wonder what will happen if one turns up in Shetland in September, with a US ring on its foot?

Andrew

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

I had a similar thought about the eradication of birds in Iceland? could they be sure that odd ones were not from across the pond or maybe no-one was bothered

Lee Evans, who clearly oposes the cull and the reasoning behind it, posts the following on the Northants website. He raises a valid point that the cull agency may monitor bird club websites to find the last remaining stragglers. so I guess it's up to individuals whether they report sightings of Ruddy Ducks. Personally I'm not in either camp on this issue.

Alan

Rather timely and topically, Iain Henderson has published a detailed review
of the UK Ruddy Duck eradication programme in this month's British Birds
magazine (102: 680-690). It is very selective in the data it presents and
the author is clearly convinced and influenced by the facts provided and
continues to repeat the nonsensical statement that 'the Ruddy Duck is now
regarded as the greatest threat to the long-term survival of the White-headed
Duck'.

It explains how the UK population originates from four males and three
females imported to the WWT at Slimbridge (Gloucs) in 1948. A captive breeding
programme started in 1949 but, following a series of escapes in the mid to
late 1950s and the deliberate release of three immature females in 1961, a
small feral population became established at Chew Valley Lake (Avon).

Well, Ruddy Ducks are still surviving in the North American pen at
Slimbridge in a free state (but pinioned) and still breed each year. I wonder what
precautions are in place to prevent further juveniles escaping from that
site?

Iain reproduces official statistics provided by Fera, including the
selective figures detailing collateral damage. The list of native birds killed or
wounded during the programme since just September 2005 include a Common
Scoter, Black-necked Grebe and 2 Little Grebes (in fact 29 birds in total of 7
species - which is incorrect, as I have personally witnessed other species
killed not included in their figures).

There is no doubt however that Fera have been exceptionally successful in
their campaign, totally eradicating some 6,200 or more 'sitting ducks' -
perhaps 90% of the pre-cull population.

It openly admits that some birdwatchers and WeBS counters withhold
information but that they have got round that by employing their own counters and
have received help from site owners and managers. They have targeted the
birds at key breeding sites and main wintering sites. The increasing
co-operation of site owners bodes well for the final stages of the programme, as
does the behaviour of the Ruddy Duck. It also concludes by saying that
complete eradication is expected by this spring.

I hereby suggest, particularly if you support my stance on the subject,
that you do NOT report any more Ruddy Ducks in Britain wherever they may be,
as Fera are likely to follow up any known sightings and attempt to kill them.

Yes, Alan, I agree with a conspiracy of silence.

Regards..................Richard...

my deeper thoughts are that the cash could have been much better spent on eg Mink eradication -- the collateral damage species admitted to by the gunners is a sad indictment of the accuracy of even notable marksmen eg Black-necked Grebe, Common Scoter --

i have not reported a ruddy duck to anyone for 5 years except to people i am sure of by word of mouth. the trouble with the shooting fraternaty is that to get a gun licence and join a shooting club you only have to be of good character without a criminal record (not always the case)or state it is for the eradication of vermin and a licence is usually granted. as much as i dislike the american gun culture there system is better than ours where field recognition tests apply so at least you can recognise what you are shooting and should recognise the difference between ruddy duck scoter and black necked grebe. after nearly 40 years involvement with conservation i have never knowingly hurt anything and as such have no problem looking in the mirror in the morning except for being ugly that is but i wonder how many so called conservationists can do the same. all in the good name of science.
terry whalin

Worthy of a read if you want the alternative view; the fact that the boost in the Spanish population came from Pakistan via a plane and some eggs is widely reported but makes a mockery of genetic integrity; the deeper implications of international politics and incidental references to the natural world does not surprise anyone who knows anything of government -- look no further than Saudi Arabia


http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot. ... ck-my.html

Having just read the paper I see that the Black-necked Grebe and Common Scoter were the result of shooting mis-identified birds by the professional rifle men -- incredible really -- apparently they have all now had training on what a Ruddy Duck looks like or maybe a White-headed Duck! I think the education system encouraged me to read too many Aldous Huxley novels

it is an absolute disgrace that they have been elevated to the status of professional only on the ability to hit what they are aiming at, regardless of what it is and then hired by defra. only after the shooting of the wrong birds was any thought given to showing them a picture of a duck with an arrow stating this one.
terry whalin

loads of people will spend lots of money going to see it.... other than that it won't mean very much.



the Icelandic birds which were tested were of European origin:

http://www.ebd.csic.es/jnegro/articulos ... uction.pdf

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees

.......but let us not forget that from the ongoing Ruddy Duck saga there hangs a stiff cautionary tale/tail for the shooters but which for the Ruddy Duck at least has a happy ending, .......a tale so vividly penned by Dr. Gurpal Gosall of Manchester (adapted) :

" Two officially contracted and trigger-happy Special Agents travel up from Sandy, Beds to shoot Ruddy Duck in North Lincolnshire. After an hour's shooting their only kills are a collateralised Grebe sp, two Scoter and a White-headed Duck escape. Suddenly, one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are glazed and he is lying motionless on the ground. The other Special Agent whips out his mobile 'phone and calls the Emergency Services. He gasps, "Oh, my God! I think my colleague is dead. I'm totally confused! What should I do?" The operator says, "Calm down! Calm down! I am sure we can help. First, let's make sure your colleague really is dead." There is silence. Then a shot rings out. Back on his 'phone, the confused Special Agent shouts, "OK! OK! What should I do next?" "

Casualty Totals (Shot) at this stage :
(in addition to the collateralised species)
RUDDY DUCK - 0 -: CULL HQ SHOOTERS HILL SANDY BEDS - 1 (R.I.P.)

(VIVA OXYURA!)

I emailed Fera this week about the Ruddy Duck cull,as they are still shooting them in the West Mids.
I had a brief email from Iain Henderson the Field Project Officer today simply stating that the cull is scheduled to end on the 31st of August this year.
Lets hope that thats the last of it, I'm sure if the cull had lasted 50 years,there would have still been some birds remaining.
Geoff

Interesting short article in the Sunday Telegraph today: EU's £3m duck cull is a 'ruddy waste of money'.

David