Today I am delivering leaflets – not through individual letterboxes but to a range of individuals who have offered to deliver leaflets.
My journey today will take me from rural Northants to Royal Leamington Spa, on to less than royal Wolverhampton, on to Stourbridge, Kidderminster, the Welsh Marches, Bristol, Bath and Wiltshire – and then back to rural Northants via Northampton itself.
Quite a drive, with, no doubt, incidents of getting lost, and getting stuck in traffic jams, and probably some nice chats with nice people.
Now (10.00 4/08) 71,206. It seems Chris Packham’s videos, support from other groups and, of course, your own efforts are giving the campaign a significant boost. I predict ever more hysterical attacks on yourself and Chris Packham from CA et al. Not so much an assault on the rationale behind the campaign as more denial and a rising pitch of ad hominem slurs. Dirty tricks can’t be far behind so take care.
Well done Mark.
I make it that there are 17 contiguous (as in 48 contiguous lower USA states) in the West Midlands that have not even hit 100 yet. I hope the leaflets for Wolverhampton make a difference. Sorry to be a Victor Meldrew over this, but so annoying when so much of the country is streaking ahead. Would be great to see them catch up between now and the 20th of September.
Save us a few for distribution post Rainham, Mark!
You’re a star.
Summary of RSPB previously satellite tagged Hen Harriers (source RSPB Skydancer Blog):
Bowland Betty – fledged in 2011, found shot dead on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales in June 2012.
Sky – fledged in July 2014, disappeared in Forest of Bowland in September 2014 when tag suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting
Hope – fledged in July 2014, disappeared in Forest of Bowland in September 2014 when tag suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting
Burt – sibling to Hope, fledged in July 2014, disappeared after tag showed signs of battery failure with transmissions slowly fading and eventually stopping in December 2014, near Exmoor
Highlander – sibling to Sky, fledged in July 2014, disappeared in April 2016 when tag suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting
Chance – fledged in 2014, disappeared in South Lanarkshire in May 2016 when tag suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting
Lad – fledged in July 2015, found dead with injuries “consistent with shooting” in September 2015, in the Cairngorms National Park
Nile – fledged in July 2015, died of unknown causes in Northern France in November 2015, body not recovered
Hetty – fledged from Isle of Man in July 2015, found dead of natural causes in August 2015
Holly – fledged in West Scotland July 2015, disappeared in Central Scotland in October 2015
A number of 2016 fledged Hen Harriers have been tagged, 11 of these birds can be followed on the LIFE Project website. Hopefully they will do better than the long list above.
I image we all ‘hope’ they will do better, but thanks to the fantastic efforts (was it) of the various shooting organisations the population fails to recruit.
Here’s to the momentum gaining more pace and thanks to all who have caused that, to those who should be there along side us ….