RAPTORIAL
BIRDS.
REPORT OF THE RAPTORIAL
BIRDS
69 COMMITTEE.
This Committee, appointed at the December General Meeting to enquire into the economic status and treatment of certain Birds of Prey that occur in the County, after correspondence, met in Ipswich on 21 February. Present were M M . T . G. Powell (Chairman), Alexander Mayall, Rowley Elliston and George Bird. Individual reports of the Members of the Committee, on various Birds submitted for their consideration, were fully discussed and certain recommendations with regard to them were decided upon. The Birds Recorder was requested to embody these conclusions in a letter for circulation among the principal Game Preservers of Suffolk. This he did. The letter was presented at a second Meeting of the Committee on 1 March in Bury St. Edmunds Museum ; and approved at the subsequent General Meeting of the Society, held at the Cullum Library that day. The letter, duly circulated, is as follows—
(COPY)
SUFFOLK NATURALISTS'
SOCIETY.
Dear Sir.—In pursuance of the proposal of Lord Henniker, this Society's local secretary for the Eye District, At a General Meeting held in the Bishop's House in Ipswich on 1 December 1934, a Committee consisting of the undersigned Members was appointed to make enquiry into the economic status of the Birds of Prey, and a few other species in addition, that are found within the County of Suffolk. The feeling of this Committee is that, while certain of these Birds might be "justifiably slain," others might very fairly and advantageously receive a far greater measure of practical protection, at the hands of gamekeepers and others, than is at present accorded them. While it is true that the majority of the Birds of Prey are already legally protected, it is also common Knowledge that this protection is for the most part of a merely nominal nature. We feel that the repressive measures employed against most oi these Raptores, in the interests of game preservation, are carned too far; and that there are good reasons for relaxing them v ery considerably, or in some cases altogether.
70
r a p t o r i a l birds.
The whole subject is admittedly a very difficult one. Game reared at great cost must be preserved, and among its enemies are, to a greater or less extent, the Birds of Prey. Keepers feel lt their duty to produce as great a head of game as possible for the shooting season, and act accordingly ; yet it does seem a pity that, almost solely in the interests of this sport, some interesting and indeed splendid species should be shot almost to the point of extinction. We do not suggest that all these Raptores are harmless to game • but we do consider that the damage attributed to them is in general grossly exaggerated and, further, that the immense amount of good done by them in keeping down Vermin should be placed to the credit side of their account. In general, we ask that where shooting is necessary it should be carried out with discrimination : not wholesale, against an entire species. If Game-owners are Willing to agree with us that this greater measure of protection, for which we are pleading, should be accorded certain birds, then we are convinced that their clearly expressed wishes would secure the genuine co-operation of the keepers—and this is the practical point to be kept in view. Believing, also, that to most Nature and Bird Lovers the amenities of the Country Side would be greatly enhanced by the sight of a few more of these noble Hawks and Falcons and Owls, we appeal to Suffolk Landowners and Game Preservers to do what they can to ensure for them more considerate and generous treatment. The subjoined conclusions, which we arrive at and the recommendations we make, are based upon (a) analysis of the stomach Contents ; (b) evidence of food brought to the nest; (c) verdicts of authoritative Ornithologists ; and (d) our own observations and enquiries from Keepers. Magpie might well be spared, certainly in the breeding season, on account of scarcity and little proved damage. Jay needs and merits no special protection. Barn (White) Owl is a most useful Bird : should be protected, and even encouraged. Long-eared Owl on the whole, is very beneficial; should be spared. Short-eared Owl is very rare as a spring and summer resident; can do very little harm to game, and should be spared.
RAPTORIAL BIRDS.
71
Tawny Owl as a night-hunter, probably can do little damage to game. Not common, and should be spared unless caught " in flagrante delicto." Little Owl is a destructive, and alien, Bird. Needs no protection. Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier can do little harm relatively, on account of their rarity. Any further shooting would practically extinguish all the Harriers in Suffolk. Montagu's Harrier of whicli only a pair or two visit the County annually, should on no account be molested in any way. is now very rare. also very rare.
C o m m o n Buzzard Should certainly be spared.
Rough-legged Buzzard Practically harmless.
Sparrow Hawk should be kept within moderate limits. Culprits, of course, to be shot. Hobby has no evidence at all against it. Should be spared. Merlin similarly has no evidence against it.
Rare.
Rare.
Kestrel is, on the whole, very beneficial. An occasional " rogue " Bird would, of course, be shot: but wholesale slaughter of the species is quite unjustifiable. Jackdaw and Carrion Crow need and deserve no protection. T . G. POWELL, B.A. (Birds Recorder), Chairman : 5 Gainsborough Road, Ipswich ; G E O R G E B I R D , Ipswich ; REVD. R . B . C A T O N , M.A., Fakenham ; V E N . C . P. C O R Y , M.A., R . D . , Campsea Ash ; W. R O W L E Y E L L I S T O N , B . A . , L L . B . , Ipswich ; ALEXANDER M A Y A L L , Woodbrid^e; D R . C . B . T I C E H U R S T , M.A., M . B . O . U . , Appledore; CLAUDE M O R L E Y , F.Z.S., F.G.S., F.E.S., Hon. General Secretary. 20 March 1935.