Trevor's Week - 6th May 2009
THIS week has been a busy one for fledgling birds. We have had numerous calls about fledglings being at risk.
Generally, fledgling are much better off being left to hide in gardens than picked up and taken into rescue centres.
Cats, foxes and other birds will take some fledglings but many do survive, and some are supposed to be food for other wildlife. Fledgling birds stand a much better chance of survival if left with their parents. Hand- rearing fledglings can really reduce their chances of survival, as they do not have their parents to teach them how to hunt or search for food.
WE have been studying the photos taken of our white deer rescue at Mayfield two weeks ago.
We are certain that the white deer was an albino, because of the colouration of the nose and hooves. Tony Neads, Kathy Martyn and myself took just 10 minutes cutting the deer free from the rope swing, to which its antlers were attached. Photos and video footage of the release can be viewed online at our website www.wildlifeambulance.org or on our YouTube channel.
WE have had yet another gull shot at Polegate this week.
It was found at Guardian Court on Thursday night and rushed to the vets, where it was found to have been shot.
The people who shoot these gulls are pathetic and simple-minded. I won't call them animals as that would be an insult to animals! All they achieve is the unnecessary suffering of animals.
We have requested a meeting with Eastbourne police so that we can sit down and work out how to deal with this problem.
It is not just the gulls we are worried about but the danger of firing airguns out of windows and off balconies, which is a risk to people and pets too. These people need to be stopped.
I AM pleased to say that the herring gulls are going to be moved on to the red conservation status list because of the rapidly declining population. They will be taken off the general licence too.
We have also had concerns raised over pest control companies destroying nests on buildings in Sussex.
One company has been reported to the police, RSPB and Natural England – the government's adviser on the natural environment.
The actions of the pest control company are thought to have been illegal and an investigation is being launched that could result in the pest control company being closed down. The general licences used by pest control companies were drastically changed in 2008 and one of the terms now states "This licence can only be relied on in circumstances where the authorised person is satisfied that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring or proofing are either ineffective or impracticable."
Natural England has confirmed that if non-lethal methods are not used properly or not maintained the general licence cannot be used.
General licences are also not permitted in situations where gulls are being noisy or where there are droppings or dive bombing.
Several pest control companies have been spoken to by our rescuers and many do not realise the changes in the use of the general licences and they also do not realise that more than half the species listed five years ago on the general licence are no longer listed and cannot be disturbed or killed. WRAS wrote to Defra five years ago saying the general licence scheme should be scrapped and an application process implemented.
If you see a pest control company or anyone else disturbing a nest of birds, call the police and report it to WRAS. We will investigate where possible and inform the RSPB Wildlife Crime Office and Natural England.
East Sussex WRAS is a voluntary organisation which relies on donations. We do not receive funding from government nor the RSPCA. Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact The Treasurer at PO Box 2148, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 9DE. www.wildlifeambulance.org 24-hour rescue line: 07815 078 234
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
