I thought some of you might be interested in hearing what happened to one UK
birder, Wes Halton, when a peregrine falcon ruffled the feathers of a
pigeon-fancier. I attach Wes's original posting to UK mailing list and
would ask everyone to respect his plea that we don't flame the pigeon
fancier. Wes is considering taking legal action and I'd hate to think we
jeopardised his chances.
>From <>
>Just to let everyone know about a rather disturbing occurence over
>the Easter weekend.
>
>I have been targeted by several pigeon fanciers world wide following
>a posting to an american listserv by a guy in Lancashire. The
>reason I have been targeted is that my Greater Manchester Web
>Pages list the local RSPB meetings!.
>
>It appears from the posting I forward below that the Lancs guy
>choose me because he could only find RSPB on my web pages !
>
>Following his open enticement to people to flood me with emails, In
>the last few hours I have had 30 emails, worryingly some with virus
>attachments as well !
>
>So beware of others catching on to your web sites .. or from any
>emails from
>
>Please do not flame or flood this guy ( yet ! ) his isp are taking the
>matter very seriously ( I Hope) . just as I hope the RSPB do when
>they get all the forwarded mails ! I have also complained to the
>listserv sysop in Buffalo
The original posting to the pigeon fanciers
>Dear PML Subscribers, (6:40 pm UK time)
>
>I have just witnessed yet another peregrine falcon attack on my race team. I
>have a small backyard loft, approximately 30 pigeons left!!!! This makes 9
>birds in two weeks that have been taken. My options are limited for the
>following reasons:
>
>1: These killers enjoy the protection of the law.
>
>2: As a fellow subscriber (well respected in my country) has pointed out in
>the last few days, the RSPB is run by raptor lovers to the detriment of
>every other species.
>
>3: Gun laws in my country are such that the ordinary man cannot obtain a
>licence to hold a gun other than a BB (airgun).
>
>4: I have spent half an hour searching for an RSPB E-Mail adress to complain
>and all I have got is a "join our happy band" form. I have registered my
>displeasure by flaming them in the address column. I have however found the
>address of a raptor loving member. Can my friends on the PML help me by
>sending a copy of this mail to the said person at the following address:
> . If this RSPB member gets flooded by E-Mails,
>it may attract the attention of the RSPB. The text of my open letter is as
>follows:
>
>Open Letter to the RSPB
>
>Dear Sirs
>
>As a racing pigeon flyer, I am devastated by the depradation that your
>introduced raptors are causing on my loft. I cite your own figures which
>relate to the reduction in the population of native birds over the last 25
>years:
>
>House Sparrow - down 64%
>Hedge Sparrow - down 31%
>Tree Sparrow - down 90%
>Starling - down 44%
>Yellow Hammer - down 59%
>Blackbird - down 33%
>Songthrush - down 53%
>Linnet - down 40%
>Meadow Pipit - down 28%
>Redpoll - down 85%
>
>You claim that this is due to new farming methods. This is BULL***T. Farming
>methods have not changed significantly since the '60's despite the EEC. Your
>raptors are responsible! They have eaten the little birds and are now having
>to stalk my valuable racers. I put it to you that you are in dereliction of
>your charter.
>
>Be advised that it is my intention to challenge your charity status (reg.no.
>207076) in the courts. I will petition on the following grounds:
>
>1: Dereliction of Duty
>
>2: Misrepresentation
>
>3: Wildife and Countryside Act - You have wiliingly and WILFULLY introduced
>a species to an environment in which it is not indigenous.
>
>I am willing to go broke to pursue this. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!!
>
>John Ledger
>48, Osborne Terrace
>Stacksteads
>Bacup
>Lancs
>OL13 8JY
>England
>
>PML subscribers. Please forward this missive on to the address above. There
>are over a thousand of us out there, we must surely count as a sizeable
>lobby. I will take any flaming or flak on this mail willingly. All I am
>asking for is my friends on the PML to support me.
Food for thought, don't you think.
Julian
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