The Ogden Common Sandpipers have left the nest and are secreted nearby to avoid the wretched crows, the Sparrowhawks are quiet so I presume their young have fledged and are in the vicinity. Would a cull of crows benefit the rest of the birds or create an artificial environment....some years ago crow numbers were lower and plovers bred on the moor in significant numbers. Hmmmm.
I think a cull would only produce a temporary lowering of numbers and they'd soon be back to strength. Difficult to prove, but I suspect the large crow numbers are at least in part due to the large amount of carrion and other food waste available in the countryside. Dead sheep and lambs are rarely cleared away and buried these days, leaving rich pickings for Crows etc.
Nice to hear that the Ogden Common Sandpipers are OK.
With regards the Carrion Crow. Yes I really think it would be to a great advantage to have a full cull on the CC and probably the Magpie as well. Watching their behaviour over the years especially in relation to harressment on other birds they have proved to be a nightmare with regard to breeding birds. Try and remember (if you can!!) back to the 50s when there where no Crows whatsoever in the Grane Valley or for that matter no Crows in East Lancashire. Our Lapwing and Curlew populations thrived, even with the many egg collectors about (as was very common them days!!) the birds still produced increasing breeding numbers every year. The Rooks never did any harm and where well away from the Moorland territories, Jays and Jackdaws where also unheard of around the Grane in the 50s, but the advent of the Crow was to set out a new chapter in the obvious demise of certain breeding birds. Obviously the poor old Crow is not to blame for everything, there have also been massive changes in agricultural practices which also will have played their parts also to the demise of some species.
I have thought that the Rossendale Moors would be an ideal habitat for Red Kite with dead sheep a particular delicacy but perhaps the crows are a rival to the Red Kite. A mass slaughter of crows may open up the area to these other species that could attract higher visitor numbers and also provide a good argument against the farming of wind...Hmmm
