Many readers of this blog may no longer care what the Hawk and Owl Trust thinks about things, in its post Philip Merricks state, but that would be uncharitable.
And so when tipped off that the H&OT have developed a policy on lead ammunition I was keen to see what it was. This is what it is:
Position statement: The emerging literature provides compelling evidence of the impact that lead ammunition is having on a wide variety of raptors. The effects range from sub-lethal effects on aspects of health, welfare, behaviour and productivity to direct mortality and reduced population levels. Given this increasing weight of evidence, the Hawk and Owl Trust formally supports a transition towards a ban on lead shot cartridges.
H&OT policies take a little bit of finding; you need to look at the bottom of the webpage and even then you have to give your email address to be able to see them (and then you may have to look in your spam folder)! It’s more of a palaver than you’d expect but at least it’s there and at least it’s quite good. The key points are pretty good too – this is a policy based on evidence.
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Blimey, that is a little shock for the day.
Merricks took Hot into the dim light of basically supporting the dark side on Hen Harriers and moorland management to the point where not only did Chris Packham feel he had to resign from an organisation he had supported since his youth as did many others. Post that many of us treated HOT as either “part of the problem” or irrelevant. This however is a step back into the light.
Paul – agreed. A step, a somewhat faltering step, and hardly a leap.
A smidgen of good news perhaps although it would be interesting to know what H&OT deem to be a reasonable ‘transition’ period?
“The emerging literature provides compelling evidence of the impact that lead ammunition is having on a wide variety of raptors.”
Especially when travelling at 950-odd mph!