The following appeard in Birdwatching Magazine, April 1995
The West Midlands Bird Club, whose emblem is the Ruddy Duck, is enraged that it was not consulted about plans to shoot Ruddys (sic) on the Club's 'patch', writes Carol Debney.
Chew Valley and Lee Marston Lakes (known as Coton) — site in the heartland of the WMBC's area — have been chosen as venues for the latest shootings of Ruddy Ducks.
To add insult to injury the WMBC heard the latest shooting plans from a newspaper!
According to the WMBC, Coton is an unsuitable site for shooting and they are amazed that the National Rivers Authority has agreed to allow it.
Coton is an 'unmanaged' site, fairly isolated and open, there are public footpaths and little fencing. The site has experienced problems in the past and the Club fears 'official' shooting may encourage the 'unofficial' kind.
A research programme to establish the feasibility of shooting Ruddy Ducks has been implemented by the Ruddy Duck Working Group (RDWG).
The Group was set up in 1993 to research the threat to the Spanish population of White-headed Ducks through inter-breeding with the closely related Ruddys.
Conservationists fear the White-headed Duck could ultimately become extinct unless action is taken against inter-breeding.
The WMBC maintains the case against the Ruddy Duck is unproven until the origin of the 'Spanish' Ruddys can be verified.
Ornithology in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & the West Midlands county, since 1929.
Fetched from http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/club/press/bw-1995-04.htm on Saturday 17 May 2008 02:08:22
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