A tale of two tags

Mark 14 Comments

I’ve just given the GWCT some money as they have a crowdfunder running so that they can study  Woodcock, and I like Woodcock.

Earlier this week, I gave some money to Birders Against Wildlife Crime so that they can study birds of prey: I like birds of prey too.

The two appeals would make an interesting essay question of the ‘compare and contrast’ type.

The similarities between the two appeals are that both are for birds that are shot (too often shot in both cases in my mind), and both involve tagging the birds to see where they go and what they do.

How about the differences? Well, the GWCT crowdfunder has raised just over £5,000 in a year, from 89 subscribers (including me and my £5 +gift aid) whereas the BAWC crowdfunder has raised over £7,500 in three days (including my £100 so far).  I brought down the average of the donation to GWCT which is around £57 but increased the average of the BAWC donation which stands at £27. The other thing that is really noticeable in the two sets of donors is that those donating to BAWC are a cheerful and proud bunch whereas a very high proportion of the GWCT donors are anonymous.

There are other differences :

  • BAWC are a charitable bunch of people but not a charity whereas GWCT is a charity (and therefore gets gift aid on top of the straight donation). If only they behaved more charitably!
  • GWCT are using GPS tags whereas BAWC are going to use satellite tags
  • GWCT members shoot Woodcock whereas I suspect few BAWC supporters shoot birds of prey

Maybe you can see other differences?

I was pleased to see that quite a few GWCT donors have stopped shooting Woodcock and/or wish that people would and I guess they’ll all have signed Chris Packham’s petition asking for a moratorium on shooting declining waders – maybe GWCT should turn their attention to that line of conservation too?  I’ve told them they’ll get more of my money if they do.

Please support the BAWC crowdfunder – other crowdfunders are available

 

[registration_form]

14 Replies to “A tale of two tags”

    1. GWCT – and your point is? You’re trying to make the point that you have crowdfunders scattered all over the place accepting money?

      And your second attempt is moving very slowly too isn’t it?

      There really is no need to thank me so profusely for my support but I will note your gushing response the next time I consider donating.

      Would you like a Guest Blog on how the research I am helping to fund is helping the Woodcock? You’d be very welcome.

      1. Just wanted to clarify so your readers are given the full picture. Your donation is very much appreciated.

        1. GWCT – no Guest Blog then? How odd for a charity to turn down the offer of explaining its work to the public for free.

          You didn’t give us the full picture though did you? That’s why I offered you a Guest Blog which you have spurned.

  2. Haven’t spurned your offer, we would very much like to provide a guest blog on our woodcock work. Please can you give us a steer on length?

  3. I like woodcock too. I shall not be donating to the GWCT though. I will if it goes to a group whom I will not suspect is commissioning findings instead of studies though. The GWCT has a serious credibility issue when it comes to studying how it can best justify shooting woodcock and other birds.

  4. Another interesting comparison is with the GWCT’s “Waders for real” appeal to raise funds to radiotag Lapwings which was first publicised in October 2015.
    As of a couple of weeks ago (~14 months) it had raised £564 from 18 donors.

    Following the faux outrage from BASC, CA and GWCT about Chris Packham’s tweet about Lapwings, the publicity about this appeal subsequently attracted 5 more donations and, after 14ish months, the total now stands at £1654. (This figure was helped by a generous £1000 donation from an anonymous donor).

  5. Such a shame to see adults reduced to who can get in the best barb rather than addressing the subject matter, Neither party does themselves any justice behaving like this and I believe this is dong little to advance the cause of Raptor conservation and moorland shooting. The pair of you need to grow up and start acting responsibly as there is too much at stake.

    Old Crom.

  6. And they still run this!!! :-
    The Shooting Times Woodcock Club
    “The privilege of membership is through the achievement of shooting a right-and-left at woodcock before two witnesses. Note that a gun must not be lowered between shots.
    As a member of the club you will be sent a certificate and a badge and an invitation to the annual dinner.
    The 2017 Woodcock Club dinner will be held on 22nd April at Crowcombe Court in Somerset.
    Read more at http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/shooting/woodcock-club/how-to-join-the-shooting-times-woodcock-club-9134#VZjluP3a55mliw02.99”

    Words fail me.

  7. If GWCT stops shooting them, only then will i donate.
    Otherwise i feel my donation is, however subtly, promoting the killing of a wild and wonderful bird.

Comments are closed.