After Five Decades I Really Feel Like Retiring

  Not our usual subject but worth noting. Someone in North Bristol Rescue posted this:

"Hello, can anyone help please. There is pigeon with an injured wing BS3 area. I was unable to stop at the time as had 3 dogs in the car. But did give bird food and water and pigeon ate this straight away. It looks as if a mass cull of pigeons has taken place as there are lots of dead pigeons on the road side (It is beneath an underbridge which is usually full of roosting pigeons but is now empty). I am happy to go back to the location, but unable to keep the poor soul at mine due to the dogs. Thank you so very much"

My response:

"Unfortunately every year I get reports of this. These are Bristol City Council contracted shooters and they always operate on a Sunday because they do not want people interfering with their shooting spree. Last year a man reported how he, his wife and two children had to step through 'culled' pigeons with a shooter laughing and telling them "They won't bite". In 2021 people reported shooters acting like they were grouse hunting and not caring who was going by.

"Bristol City Council is not the 'environmental' champion it claims and if you feel mass culls of nesting birds is wrong (young are also killed) then make a complaint to the Mayor's office. There are no pigeon rescues in Bristol so handed to a vet the pigeon in question will be put to sleep."

I have witnessed the destruction of bird nests and other wildlife inhabited areas by Bristol City Council and on intervening been told to "**** off!" Reported to the Council I get the response that their contractors have strict guidelines on behaviour and will always consider any habitat under threat. Basically: "We don't care"

Even a flock of former racing pigeons I had treated for injuries and ailments were killed by the Council and they admitted it (their contractors even knocked over the makeshift dovecote (leaning over the fence to do so) They actually waited until I went out to do this and a neighbour gave me the council van number and when I phoned the council I was told they had been reported as a nuisance but when I said racing pigeons suddenly the admission was followed by denial 🙄🙄🙄

There is even consideration for bringing back yearly culls of seagulls.

This is why I do not register any badger locations with Avon Wildlife, Bristol Environmental Records or any body with Council connections. If you think the City Council would protect Bristol badgers if a cull was organised you need a reality kick.

Every year wildlife groups have "photographers" suddenly start asking to join and asking where they can film or photograph badgers and foxes. Someone on one group said this was odd and it is. Why is a photographer in Glasgow, London or Norfolk interested in knowing where they can find badgers and fox dens to photograph _London has more foxes than Bristol. Glasgow has foxes as does Norfolk. Badgers also.

Odd that none of these photographers post the results of their filming or photo shoots. I ought to note that I am always suspicious as running the Exotic Animals Register (EAR) since 1977 I was often asked by 'photographers' where the best areas were for a chance to film a certain animal. Luckily, police wildlife officers back then were more about wildlife and on two occasions the photographer was found to be an employee of MAFF/DEFRA and were mapping sightings.

Until we get a City Council that is strong on wildlife and environment protection we will continue to see them turn a blind eye and contract out bird culls and use of rodenticides.

With an increasing number of hawks and buzzards in and around Bristol the damage to the food chain for wildlife is clear.

Apologies for the rant but it is a war out there to save wildlife as well as the environment and until people understand, complain or start challenging the local authority it will be a losing battle.