Post by Psamathe on Oct 2, 2020 10:23:17 GMT
Not a good post title as Pheasants can't help the failings of those who breed and release them but for years I've been very anti the hunting practice of breeding loads of pheasants and releasing then (so somebody can later get their jollies blowing their heads of with a gun).
I recognise there are some benefits from the pheasant industry but I doubt those benefits outweigh the damage. For example, where I used to live in Oxfordshire, farmers (who bread/released/hunted pheasants) would plant patches of maize in field corners and then leave that to provide food and protection for their pheasants and I'm sure those patches would provide for other wildlife. But far better to keep a few hedgerows and uncut field margins.
What prompted my comment here is a report out yesterday:
Ian
I recognise there are some benefits from the pheasant industry but I doubt those benefits outweigh the damage. For example, where I used to live in Oxfordshire, farmers (who bread/released/hunted pheasants) would plant patches of maize in field corners and then leave that to provide food and protection for their pheasants and I'm sure those patches would provide for other wildlife. But far better to keep a few hedgerows and uncut field margins.
What prompted my comment here is a report out yesterday:
Game birds 'could wipe out adders in most of Britain within 12 years'
The adder, Britain’s only venomous snake, could become extinct across much of Britain within 12 years because of the uncontrolled release of millions of game birds, according to an expert.
The warning comes at the start of the pheasant shooting season, during which 47 million non-native pheasants and 10 million partridges will be released into the countryside by estates and shoots across Britain.
(from www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/adder-extinct-across-britain-snake-threat-game-birds-release)
The adder, Britain’s only venomous snake, could become extinct across much of Britain within 12 years because of the uncontrolled release of millions of game birds, according to an expert.
The warning comes at the start of the pheasant shooting season, during which 47 million non-native pheasants and 10 million partridges will be released into the countryside by estates and shoots across Britain.
(from www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/adder-extinct-across-britain-snake-threat-game-birds-release)