When we started the Bird of Prey Campaign last year and invited people to sign up to a pledge to stamp out the senseless killing of these beautiful animals we knew that it would capture many people’s attention.
But we weren’t quite expecting it to become the stuff of the tabloid celebrity gossip columns.
Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted recently by The Sun watching peregrines at an RSPB viewing point at the Tate Modern in London. He was so taken with the graceful falcons that he signed our pledge and added another name to the list of the campaign’s supporters.
But Leo is not the only celeb who is appalled at the treatment of birds of prey and wants the killing to stop. The pledge has also been signed by Lionel Blair, Rory McGrath and Nick Cave. Now that lot would make a strange dinner party, wouldn’t they?
So if you want to join the illustrious list of people who have signed the pledge then click here and add your name right away!
Concerning the ongoing poisonings in Scotland, could an RSPB Press Officer perhaps contact some of these big names to support a campaign? I rang The Crown Office in Edinburgh for a current email address of the Procurators Fiscal regarding this illegal barbarism. The man I spoke to at The Crown Office was very supportive, having seen about 'Alma' the poisoned satellite-tagged eagle on BBC1 this week (The One Show) - and having himself encountered memorably a sea eagle at close quarters. At first he wondered if I realised the serious problem that is faced – that of changing Scottish law regarding legal penalties. He thought about it and then said he felt that public expression of concern might be a way, if not the only way, that the laws would be changed (in effect, through the Scottish politicians). He feels the TV publicity will be very helpful in this. He said it is the politicians who can change Scottish law - and will be more inclined to do so under public pressure. He advocated therefore that we write in the first instance to MSPs (eg Roseanna Cunningham, Minister at Holyrood) and also to the House of Commons - to our own MPs, to the Minister [Huw Irranca-Davies] and to the local MP for Angus [Mike Weir]. There is also Chris Davies the MEP who has campaigned against poisons. It was suggested that we should also post correspondence about changing the law to The Crown Office / Procurators Fiscal. I've now done all that. Could the RSPB perhaps contact more of the pro-active bird-lovers in the media (eg Simon Barnes at The Times)? What about the SpringWatch/AutumnWatch personalities, too? Thanks for your attention.
Good for you Hex, its all very well signing pledges but we really do have to be more proactive. We can go on forever saying its all about educating but alas it seems to get us not very far. It is appalling. The news this week on Beavers also, is despicable.
I;m afraid I'm on those who just reads and shakes my head in disbelief rather than getting of my hind end and doing something constructive like yourself
You see, I've only just taken the blinkers (hood?) off and realised that perhaps a little individual can DO something to help.
Concerning Alma specifically, I'm not sure who at the RSPB should know about this - perhaps the News Blog? or perhaps you could pass the information on where needed? Anyway, I presume that someone at the RSPB will have seen www.brechinadvertiser.co.uk/.../Community-action-follows-death-of.5558572.jp The local community is doing something positive, but I notice that the 'Angus Council leader and farmer on Millden estate' said: ".... but we have to be careful what we say until the outcome of the police investigation. Everyone is appalled with the death of the bird."' I trust that the Council leader's position on the Millden estate that is under investigation will not result in any bias. Presumably he is a tenant farmer?