Robin Page’s outburst against – well, against so many things – has been derided in the Guardian ahead of Saturday’s Tooth and Claw debate in Norwich.
The most telling quote is:
When asked by the Guardian why he had not cited any science to back up his assertion that raptors were suppressing native birds, Page replied: “I don’t want to, why should I?” A lifetime observing the countryside was enough for him to know what was going on, he said.
Robin Page is described sometimes as a political activist – he is never described as a scientist.
The Countryside Alliance is quoted in quite a sensible way in the Guardian piece but the CA’s Tim Bonner (@CA_TimB) says on Twitter ‘Can’t agree with Robin Page on raptor management but he’s far less wrong than @ChrisGPackham & @MarkAvery ‘.
[registration_form]
me again!
Do give Robin a hard time on Saturday.
Would appreciate it if we try NOT to conflate RP’s personal views with those of the charity he founded, the Countryside Restoration Trust, which is something far more than Mr P’s stupid opinions. They work desperately hard to promote wildlife friendly farming, and their staff (Robin is NOT a member of staff) have to spend far too many hours apologising for idiotic things said by their Chairman, Robin, which do not reflect the views of the charity as whole.
Louise
How long before the Hawk and Owl Trust has to distance itself from it’s (current) chair I wonder?
Interesting quote from Tim Bonner on Twitter. “Can’t agree with Robin Page” publicly, but you can be sure I agree privately seems to be the gist… I doubt he’ll be drawn on what exactly he thinks Mark Avery or Chris Packham got so wrong.
Page could have cited this science, http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1525/auk.2009.09108
Some of the papers picked it up at the time. It’s in a very good journal, but it’s not a very robust piece of work. Plenty of information on the web picking large holes in it.
Popper once reported to Adler a case which to him did not seem particularly Adlerian, but which he found no difficulty in analyzing in terms of his theory of inferiority feelings, although he had not even seen the child: ”Slightly shocked, I asked him how he could be so sure. ‘Because of my thousandfold experience,’ he replied; whereupon I could not help saying: ‘And with this new case, I suppose, your experience has become thousand-and-one-fold?’”
The very best of luck with your talk in Norwich! Oh’ and watch out for the Perigrines – they should be flying around the city after pidgeons – I think this is called nature!
Robin Page always seems to want to project the image of a ‘simple countryman’ in tune with the land and a repository of rural wisdom. In all fairness, he only just misses his target since he comes over as a very convincing village idiot.
I note the comment that Robin Page is not described as a scientist. But surely scientists are those that observe and share those observations with others. It’s wrong to look down your nose at people like Robin. And, for example, the great amateur entomologist Frank Sawyer was highly regarded, and his university was the banks of the river Avon,and a course of a lifetime of study.
I’ve been silent on this subject too long. It’s difficult not to look down your nose at people who spout arrogant unfounded views. Anyone who understands anything about our natural world (and err science) knows that relationships between organisms are complex and you can’t simply come to a conclusion instantly based on scraps of facts. Isn’t it one of the first things you learn in science at secondary school for goodness sake? I’ve got absolutely no time or respect for people who are ‘sick of scientists’. In fact I think history will show this kind of thinking to be the biggest danger to our environment and therefore our society. These gremlins should not be let anywhere near the controls. Oh and by the way, before anyone thinks I’m just a puppet, I’m not completely anti-grouse shooting, I’d welcome a compromise as the antagonistic present approach is not getting us anywhere except more dead harriers. I live next to Bowland and miss the many hours each week I’d spend watching Hen Harriers more than most 🙁