Save Our Sandwell Canada Geese

It was with little surprise that the joint Health and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny board decided to take “no action” regarding their council’s clandestine cull of Canada geese, overseen by the loose cannon Parks manager John Satchwell.

No surprise because all the councillors belong to the Labour party who occupy 70 of the 72 council seats in this rotten borough, (though 2 cabinet members have now stood down and resigned at least temporarily from the party over allegations of wrongdoing.)

With this context, the deck was always stacked; whatever argument we presented, their decision was made before the meeting had even started. The councillors had three options outlined-

1To take “no action”- basically backing the cull without taking any further questions.

2. Referring the matter to full council- Not really anything other than a gesture for more councillors to ask questions and stack the deck even further in the council’s favour.

3. Launch an investigation. This was the only action that we supported because there is a clear case to answer that the officer overseeing this cull and the process behind it was flawed, totally off the record books and can also be shown to be illegal.

The bizarre “statement of purpose” document will be looked at in more detail in the weeks to come, but this indicates a change of policy, whereby it also admits that they did not have one prior to this, but this does not however appear to be the case.

Many years ago in 1997, there were reports in the local media that Sandwell would be culling geese. It never happened. I wrote a letter, and received the following response from the man in charge of parks at the time, Paul Cosgrove. This clearly states that the council would be maintaining egg pricking, though we know from Sandwell council sources that over the last 18 years this has not been happening to the extent that they claim. If it had then where have all the extra geese come from?

A change of policy is “maladministration” if not properly consulted

Fast forward to 2013, it appears that this policy went out of the window in an unapproved by any “change of policy” to exterminate 220 geese in two  parks ; one where the now parks manager lives, and his son of the same name is project manager of the other.

They think people have short memories.

The committee was told that the licence that Satchwell and cullers are relying on (and which you do not have to “apply for”, was clearly aimed at reducing “the risk to public health and public safety.”

In addition to this Cabinet member Maria Crompton, in a letter to myself dated 14^th August 2014 states

“it is clearly evident the numbers have significantly increased to a point where by they have become a concern to public health and public safety.”

There are clear guidance lines stipulated by Natural England that the licence should not be used as a general extermination of something seen as “a nuisance”. “Concern” is not a valid reason for killing Canada geese in itself. There needs to be proof. Dogs can be dangerous but they are not all killed. Cars can be driven out of control, alcohol can be consumed in large quantities…. you get the picture

This General licence can be read in full HERE..

“Overview of licence,

This licence permits landowners, occupiers and other authorised persons to carry out a range of otherwise prohibited activities against the species of wild birds listed on the licence. This licence may only be relied upon where the activities are carried out for the purpose of preserving public health and public safety, and users must comply with licence terms and conditions. These conditions include the requirement that the user must be satisfied that legal (including  non-lethal) methods of resolving the
problem are ineffective or impracticable.” 

 

WARNING 
Failure  to  act  within  the  purpose  of  this  licence  as  set  out  in  paragraph  1  or  failure  to  comply with the 
terms and conditions may mean that the licence cannot be relied upon and an offence could therefore be 
committed.  The maximum penalty available for an  offence under the Act is, at the time of the issue  of 
this licence, a level 5 fine (£5000) and/or a six month custodial sentence. 
 
Issued for and on behalf of Natural England on  
31st  December 2013 

BUT WHEN CHALLENGED AT THE SCRUTINY MEETING TO PROVE THAT THE GEESE WERE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, DISPATCHWELL AND CO FAILED WOEFULLY TO PROVE ANYTHING OF THE SORT.

On the issue of accidents resulting from slippage of faecal matter, an issue which Satchwell and co wanted to make a big deal out of, but only showed that they had left it there for the photo opportunity. HERE IS WHAT WAS LEARNT AT THE MEETING.

Councillor Sandars: “I see councillor Webb.”

Councillor Webb: “Thank you Chair. Question to the officers- Have there been any reported injuries of members of the public slipping on this faecal matter?”

John Satchwell : “NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF.”

NO AWARENESS OF ANY INJURY TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS A RESULT OF SLIPPAGE ON GOOSE FAECES ACCORDING TO JOHN SATCHWELL.

LISTEN TO THIS RECORDED EVIDENCE BELOW.

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On the issue of Sandwell council having any laboratory evidence to prove that they had determined direct evidence of a threat to public health and public safety from pathogens in the two parks where they carried out culling for this supposed purpose. HERE IS WHAT WAS LEARNT AT THE MEETING.

IAN CARROLL: “I would like to again stress, and I can’t stress this fundamentally enough, this general licence was applied for by the council; only allows them to  do this method “to preserve public health and public safety”. Any issues regarding unsightliness, nothing to do with it whatsoever. Can I ask the officers, what laboratory evidence and analysis have Sandwell council undertaken of geese faeces on these two parks of pathogens present? Can you produce any factual evidence of pathogens in a laboratory report rather than just theoretical studies that you have found off the internet?”

John Satchwell: “THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION CHAIR IS “NO”.

NO LABORATORY EVIDENCE PRODUCED BY SANDWELL COUNCIL ACCORDING TO JOHN SATCHWELL

LISTEN TO THIS RECORDED EVIDENCE BELOW.

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SCRUTINY SUMMARY

• OVER 1700 PEOPLE SIGNED THIS PAPER PETITION CALLING FOR SCRUTINY- AND OVER 3000 THE ONLINE PETITION, YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION”
• THEIR OFFICERS COULD PRODUCE NO FACTUAL OR DIRECT EVIDENCE OF HARM FROM GOOSE DROPPINGS IN THE TWO SANDWELL PARKS, YET SANDWELL LABOUR  “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION”
• NO LABORATORY EVIDENCE OF ANY PATHOGENS IN ANY GOOSE DROPPINGS THAT THE OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL POINT TO, YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION”
• NO MEASURABLE OR DOCUMENTED CASES OF A SINGLE PERSON BECOMING ILL AS A RESULT OF CONTACT WITH CANADA GEESE OR THEIR FAECES IN SANDWELL, YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK  “NO ACTION.”
• NO PROVABLE ACCIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE AS A RESULT OF SLIPPING ON GOOSE DROPPINGS, YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION.”
• NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PERSON BEING ATTACKED BY GEESE IN SANDWELL, YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION”.
• NO EVDIENCE AT ALL THAT THE 220 GEESE MURDERED UNDER THE LICENCE WERE “A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY” , YET SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” TOOK “NO ACTION.”

SO SANDWELL LABOUR “SCRUTINY” APPEAR TO TAKE ACTION ON THE BASIS OF VISIBLE MESS AND MEASUREMENTS OF COUNTING A SINGLE SPECIES , BELIEVING THAT NUMBERS INCREASE THE “RISK” TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WHEN THEIR OFFICERS HAVE UTTERLY FAILED TO PROVE THAT A SINGLE BIRD IS ANY RISK AT ALL.

THEY ALSO APPEAR TO TAKE ACTION ON A FEW OF THEIR SUPPORTING SHILLS GETTING HOT UNDER THE COLLAR ABOUT A NON EXISTANT “RISK” PRESENTED AS SUCH WITHOUT ANY PROOF, BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIKE THEMSELVES ARE PREJUDICED TOWARDS A SINGLE SPECIES WITHOUT APPARENTLY BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN “WHY?”

“DIRTY”, “TOO MANY”, “AGGRESSIVE” – ALL NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES THAT DO NOT JUSTIFY A CULLING POLICY ON THE BASIS THAT SANDWELL COUNCIL CARRIED OUT THE CULL. THE GEESE ARE NOT A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SANDWELL LABOUR SCRUTINY HAS ONLY SUCCEEDED TO SHOW THAT THEIR OFFICERS HAD NO EVDIDENCE ON WHICH TO BASE THEIR DECISIONS, ONLY PREJUDICE OF ONE TARGET SPECIES.

WE WILL BE TAKING ACTION BY WRITING TO NATURAL ENGLAND AND DEFRA WITH A RECORDING OF THE MEETING, AS TO HOW SANDWELL COUNCIL Failed  to  act  within  the  purpose  of  this  licence  as  set  out  in  paragraph  1  and  failed to  comply with the terms and conditions meaning that the licence cannot be relied upon. 

So it was that after several months of petitioning many park users and the general public ,that our petition calling for an officer of Sandwell council to give evidence under scrutiny was put to a joint meeting of the neighbourhoods and health scrutiny board.

There is more to come on the aftermath of this and in the days and weeks ahead we will look at what was said and what it all could mean for Sandwell’s geese. Our case was based on science, and Sandwell council’s lack of it.

I think they were genuinely surprised by what they did not expect. Five minutes were allowed to speak, I just hope I did you all and the geese the justice that they deserve.

HERE IS THE CASE.

“This petition is presented on behalf of bird lovers against Sandwell Council’s clandestine cull of Canada geese in two of its Green Flag parks. The diversity of its signatories mirror our aims to stop the prejudicial slaughter of one target species.

The lack of scientific evidence behind the original cull, requires scrutiny from this committee. The origins of the report and its verbal approval, off record require scrutiny. The “options” in this 2013 report presented only a final solution of goose extermination based on exaggerated numbers of geese that can be refuted.

We have seen conflicting statements made by Sandwell Council, and lies in an amateurish attempt to hide scrutiny of the process. A natural England GENERAL LICENCE only requires the culler to abide by the conditions within that type of licence. Misusing or exceeding these parametres may lead to prosecution.

YOU CANNOT THEREFORE USE MULTIPLE LICENCES, ONLY 1

Anouk wendling (smbc) in an FOI request dated October 30^th 2014 appears to clearly state that smbc were using

 “LICENCE GENERAL TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY.”

Arguments concerning “nuisance and damage to flora and fauna, sports pitches etc, are therefore totally irrelevant to this general licence. John Satchwell’s original report contains

• No Evidence of danger to public health and public safety  from geese or their faeces set against risks from other potential sources,
• No measurement or evidence presented of the severity of risk to the public  or “Screening for potential human pathogens in faecal material deposited by resident Canada geese on areas of public utility” within its own six towns
•  No human health risk assessment
• No identification of what bacteria is present in the unlikely event that faeces may be “inadvertently swallowed.”
• No laboratory evidence of any pathogen isolated from goose faeces in the two cull zone parks which are claimed to be a risk to human health

RISKS APPEAR IMAGINED RATHER THAN PROVEN THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE PIECE OF DIRECT EVIDENCE IN ANY STUDY TO CONFIRM TRANSMISSION OF POTENTIAL CITED PATHOGENS CARRIED IN EVERY ANIMAL, INCLUDING MAN, THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO BEING CAUSED BY CANADA GEESE OR THEIR FAECES.

Public health England link “outbreaks of Cryptosporidiosis …..to drinking or swimming in contaminated water and contact with infected lambs and calves during open visits to farms. “

THEY DO NOT MENTION CANADA GEESE, as likely sources.

Another 2004 citable study Found

“the results… indicate that Canada geese might only serve as an accidental carrier of cryptosporidia infections to humans and probably play a minor role in the animal to human transmission cycle of the pathogens.”

  Ecoli is an ubiquitous pathogen found in the gut of warm blooded animals including man. Most strains pose no risk to human health. Ecoli 0157 is a strain that has been reported in the region in association with free roaming cattle at Sutton park in 2012.

SMBC cite a study by Moriaty et al. The same new Zealand author has also published a related study “Survival of Escherichia coli, Enterococci, and Campylobacter   (SPECIES) in Sheep Feces on Pastures” Sheep and cows of course graze within sandwell valley, where large numbers of people gather and pass through.

The study found concentrations of E. coli, enterococci, and Campylobacter (species) appear to be higher in sheep feces than in cow pats, but both may contain all the pathogens cited as being harmful to human health that the council cannot show any evidence of being present in Sandwell’s geese.

In short the risk of pathogens from farm animals are higher than from Canada geese, yet Sandwell council appear to hypocritically encourage the animal to human contact with farm animals at its farms, according to its own facebook page allowing children to handle new born lambs.

.

you can see the child’s mouth right next to the lamb.

I would urge the committee to look at the Animal aid’s “Is factory farming making you sick”     disease   , for context of the very low risk that Canada geese cause in Sandwell’s parks in terms of disease risk to the public from what some of you might eat on your plate.

I would like to add that I have been rescuing such wild birds for over 17 years, with others much longer. I have been covered in their blood and yes ” inadvertently swallowed” some of their faeces. It has never caused me any ill health, and so long as hygiene precautions are followed, it is very unlikely to do so.

In terms of objective risk, we implore the scrutiny committee to launch an investigation into this cull, look at the literature that myself and the organisation Animal Aid can provide including a successful geese management plan for lake windermere, and consider that children handling farm animals and then eating at a tea room pose a greater risk than the unlikely contact with wild birds?

The Council must get proportionate and not succumb to prejudice and reflex hostility to this one species, the Canada goose, nor scapegoat it for its failed management policy on its open spaces.

CULL TURDS, SANDWELL COUNCIL NOT BIRDS!!!

PLEASE MAKE UP YOUR OWN MINDS AS TO WHETHER SANDWELL COUNCIL HAVE A CASE TO ANSWER. WE HAVE CERTAINLY MADE OURS ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT UNSCIENFIC EVIDENCE BEING TRUMPED BY PARK DICTATORS AND THEIR FAN CLUBS.

The Audible recording of the meeting can be heard by clicking on the link below.

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21st February 2015 was the day of the Birmingham wildlife festival and badger march. This event saw several hundred activists, campaigners and wildlife lovers converge on the centre of Birmingham to protest against a variety of issues, principally the current Government’s ill thought out, unscientific mass extermination of badgers to “protect” farmers cash cows and an industry in terminal decline through public mistrust.

Many stalls offered ranges of cruelty free products and wares, and we were there to promote our own cause of Saving Sandwell’s Canada geese from inhumane slaughter. There was certainly an overt political theme around the birds nest library area; talk of “culling the Tories” was quite popular, and there appeared a large presence of Green party activists, competing with just a few Labourites (Labour animal welfare society had scheduled their meeting at Wolverhampton on the same day as others took action on the streets.) You could say some political animals were on heat!

At the nest

Gooseman had his big day out, meeting several new unlikely wildlife friends. In no particular order

A deer Lady

A little badger

Foxy Vixen

And then there was one taken dog who appeared to howl at our feathered hero, like he was some long lost relation, very funny to see.

Gooseman had a REP to protect and kept an eye on the stall, as members of anonygoose went on the march led by Mr Badger.

STOP THE CULL!

On massing in Centenary Square to hear the rallying calls of the various speakers, there was an eager sense of camaraderie amongst the campaigners that they had had their day of protest and achieved the aim of giving two fingers up to the wildlife cullers.

Little is known about the origins of Gooseman, the park knight, except hailing originally “from the North”. Our feathered superhero, known to be a shape shifter is a master of the avian arts, with his specialist finishing move “the goose shuffle” being next to unstoppable.

Having moved to Sandwell to campaign to save his friends in the parks from Sandwell council’s doom, he was keen to make new friends amongst the local population and meet some of Tipton’s finest martial artists. Tipton Shotokan Karate run by two local lads are top exponents of this ancient form of self defence. Shotokan, one of many styles of karate, originated in Okinowa, Japan and was founded by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi also influenced the development of the art.

Big bird met up with the  Sensei Fieldhouses, Daz and Jason before their class. Mutual respect was given- one of the principle teachings of the karate way.

Gooseman strikes a pose with Sensei Daz

The giant gander was eager to test out his skills, and soon learnt that Shotokan was very similar to his own training and self defence, but NOT AGGRESSION.

Is that a ura zuki Sensei Daz?

Sensei Daz took it on the chin and the two parted the best of friends. “You can be my wingman any time” said gooseman.

“The dynamic duo”

As gooseman had his picture taken with the students at the Dojo, he remembered something he had heard that the great man had said

Funakoshi  wrote: “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant”

The decision to kill many geese in Sandwell in two parks appears to have been suggested by John Satchwell, Senior Parks Manager who in his so called joke of an “options” report gave only one- a final solution resulting in death. This same individual has replied to one of our active campaigners and the reply is just as cold and heartless as the man himself. There’s no need to refute the points, as its just rehashing his old lies and prejudices. Some of it is also nonsense English.

As just one of many local authorities in the country, Sandwell have now received the public views talked of. in the form of over 4000 people who have signed our petitions. But are they the worst?– Do you know better? Are the socialists of Oldbury the crème of the culling crop? Do other local authority officers deliberately lie to people who they have sometimes called on to do their jobs of saving wildlife? PLEASE TELL US VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE IF YOU KNOW OF WORSE.

A prize of the Golden turd awaits……..

Today a democratic missile payload was delivered through the front doors of Sandwell Council house. The paper petition of over 1500 signatures- a culmination of several months work , was handed over to “Democratic services” calling for a senior officer of Sandwell council to give evidence under scrutiny about the goose cull, and also demanding  no further culls to take place in the future.

The 85 sheet statement was presented by Gooseman, our mascot, whose rise we have been plugging on our facebook page for some time. Backed up by his flock from “Anonygoose” at 1500 hours, the feathered  delegation unleashed the tide of scrutiny, that the decision to cull never received from its biased officer report that recommended it. We now await the response from Sandwell Council- but a receipt was obtained for proof of delivery.

The look on some of the members of staff’s face was a picture, but we would like to state, that like the Canada goose whose demeanor and character that this council has so tarnished and misrepresented, the flock were non aggressive and left behind no turds in the council house that were not there already.

For Gooseman, this was not the first Sandwell outing since arriving South from his homeland. Alternatively known as Garry Gander, this park knight caped crusader is one big bird that packs a mean winged punch.

His arrival at the politburo, presented him with a curious mixture of investigation and interest. Firstly a body of water spouting from the ground, how curious he thought as he went to investigate.

Some names he had never heard of were “freemen” of the borough of Sandwell, quite in contrast to the stories he had heard of his caged brothers and sisters who had been so cruelly dispatched by the cruellest council in Britain- and who exactly was this “baggie bird” he had heard of?

A copy of a paper fluttered from the rafters of the large public building which appeared closed, and deserted of people, so like those, the many he had noticed when flying over West Bromwich from the Sandwell Valley. “Very interesting” thought the avian visitor as he thumbed the pages scanning the information contained.

After depositing the paper in the trash bin, he next noticed a large flagpole, not a green flag but another one.

Considered Gooseman, if he was to replace the flag, or even those in some of the parks in Sandwell with a red one, would they keep it flying there?

So much to do, and so little time. He had done his reccy, and couldn’t resist goose stepping in front of a large sign.

Hmm thought Gooseman, Sandwell may well boast having  “Great people” being a “Great Place” with “Great prospects”, but why were some people so prejudice towards some species of bird like himself? They must be very angry people indeed.

At the start of this campaign we contacted  Animal Aid, who have a longstanding campaign against culling so called “non-native” species, and have successfully established some non-lethal plans for organisations such as United Utilities, as well as  working with local campaigners in preventing a cull in the lake district. At the time of this proposed cull the RSPCA were quoted as saying:

‘ There are alternative solutions that don’t involve the killing of vast numbers of birds and our specialist wildlife experts are prepared to work with them on this, but this offer has not been taken up.’

These incidents, illicitted public outcry, as our campaign has also done to killing healthy Canada geese for spurious reasons, that appear to change like soiled underwear. We recently learnt that Sandwell council through Maria Crompton replied after some delay to their suggestions, though they have failed to reply to other rescue organisations as far as we are aware. We will look at the council response below.

• “I suspect that you may have been advised on  events regards the culling of geese within the two parks in Sandwell and the publicity arising from the cull.”

As they say in Sandwell council “NO S**T SHERLOCK”

• “I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT SUCH ACTION WOULD BE SEEN TO BE UNACCEPTABLE BY BIRD LOVERS.”

Well that rules out anyone employed by this council, and obviously Crompton is not a bird lover, and neither are their contractors who claim derm “we doh kill birds mate”, yet happily pose with bird of prey plastic killing machines. Let’s be clear, hawkers and falconers are NOT bird lovers either, they are human  narcissists with low self esteem and poor self image who latch onto a powerful animal like dog fighters to express their inadequacy through tearing apart weaker animals and birds.

• The third paragraph shows just how stupid this thick council are, in that geese rounded up during the moult do not occupy this park during the whole year, just when the council choose to round them up when flightless. The effect on killing the claimed 120 geese from Tipton has had the effect of removing geese from the area of Tipton almost completely. Was this the real intention- because that has been the consequence because this council and their thick idiot contractors do not know anything about goose movements in the area. It is also the case that the council have attracted “significant” numbers of visitors by all the clutter that they have put into Dartmouth park; and how they like to promote this whilst lying about the species cleansing of Canada geese.
• “There was clear evidence that the damage they caused and the mess they left behind was a constant source of complaint by visitors….”

There is no “clear evidence” of complaints to the council- we know that only 8 were made in these two parks in the last 5 years, and are likely to be complaints from the same individuals- source Sandwell council in an FOI request.

• If these selfish ever breeding “young families” were concerned about health they should have been told the facts that there is very low to no risk at all from Canada goose faeces, when compared to other animal excrement. We keep getting the same stuck record lie from this council about “aggressive behaviour” which we have dismissed already.
• “Knowing the age geese live to approximately 25-30 years”

We would like to inform the ever misinformed Councillor Crompton that this cited age range is utter bollocks, and would ask  whom provided it to her, as they clearly know absolutely nothing about the species? The British Trust for ornithology record for this species confirms that there has only ever been 1 record of a bird living for more than 30 years, and only 5 ever living beyond 24. The 31 year old bird was ringed at Aqualate Mere, Newport in 1975.

She and her misinformants should read the BTO ringing report recovery record for the species and retract their nonsense statement. For clarity the only five above 24 were not from the Sandwell area and are unlikely to have ever visited it either. For balance and to demonstrate that I know a bit of what I am talking about, I present a ring read of a goose I submitted to the BTO and the recorded information that they had about those birds. This bird’s age was in itself  exceptional in such a squalid and vile area like the Black Country, inhabited by unspeakably cruel people- not least Sandwell council officers.

If they survive egg pricking they can look forward to predation, physical attack by man and his dogs and chemical pollution. It is also possible to identify that the large number of the remaining geese are also last years goslings given the squeaky honks that they still have, but the council officers informing Crompton would not be interested in such monitoring through their beer glass distant observations.

•  And so the misinformation to Animal Aid continues with the claimed numbers left behind in the two parks- over 120. This figure is a lie, we have also been counting the geese and it is certainly less than 100 in the two parks. Steve Handley claimed that no other geese had replaced those culled in a letter to one of our campaigners, yet we know how many his butchers “spared” when the 70 were taken, and that this claim is also rubbish. It is also the case that at different times of day there will be different numbers, something again we have considered by doing different counts at different times of day.
• The penultimate paragraph appears to be spinning out making any formal statement about future culling plans, which we would take as they are still going to cull more geese, and hope no-one notices then belatedly look for some PR opportunity to sidle up to the animal charity. We also don’t appear to be told who will be making a decision on this. From what we have already seen it cannot continue to be informed by individuals so totally out of competent and independent thought to the subject that they cannot look beyond breaking more necks. Animal Aid have already given advice, and so the council appear to reject it with this statement.
• ANIMAL AIDS ALTERNATIVES TO CULLING BROCHURE CAN BE READ BELOW.

alternativestoculling

A fairly busy week. Appeared on Dark City radio on Nyrees’ permaculture show, a reply from Natural England re what advice they had allegedly given to Sandwell council, and I also found out that SMBC have replied to Animal Aid’s letter- a dissection of this to follow.

I’m not a complete radio novice, but internet radio is certainly a first for me. The hour really went quite quickly and it was interesting to here Miles, who is based in the US  explaining about how the geese are perceived there. “Docile” , certainly that would be many peoples’ experience of them here too, except those who appear to have a phobia and spout bile about “aggressive behaviour”- and yes their shit is certainly much “cleaner” than many animals.

The best thing about this medium is the global reach, and alternative content, not covered by mainstream media and the agenda they have. Hopefully it will make a few people think. It’s all very well thinking that you can harp back to the 1950’s and even before that in recreating a “Victorian style park”.

THE GEESE HAD NO CHOICE IN BEING BROUGHT HERE, AS THEY HAD NO CHOICE IN BEING ROUNDED UP AND CRUELLY KILLED BY SANDWELL COUNCIL.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS BELOW.

Permaculture with Nyrees – 16 January 15

For some time now there has been a largely internet spread myth that feeding birds white bread causes a condition known as “angel wing”. I’m not going to spout any science here, because there are no scientific studies of any credibility on the subject to either confirm or deny that this one foodstuff causes deformity in growing birds, just conjecture spread by people attempting to make money by selling corn or other foodstuffs for their own personal profit. It is also used by the “pest” deterrent industry to drum up trade for hiring them.

Any serious correlation between white bread and angel wing could only be studied in controlled laboratory conditions, where at least two generations of birds would have to be studied and denied any access to natural food sources. Any genetic passing on of the condition from the adult birds to their offspring may offer some evidence that the condition was caused by feeding them the bread. This is not going to happen, and would be totally unethical as well as pointless “research.”

Whereas the passing of the condition from adult to offspring may be feasible, as a result of increased protein in the diet, the idea that adult birds can develop angel wing is utterly false lies. No adult bird can develop angel wing, not under any circumstances.

If it was food for human consumption causing deformities, the claims would be investigated by trading standards and the Food Standards Agency amongst others.   But the absence of any rational investigation does not curb the “Bread causes damage” corn  selling venders statements- even when it is high protein seed they are selling; that is better for birds of course because it doesn’t cause angel wing does it?

A Canada goose with angel wing

Angel wing is not at all a “common” affliction in wildfowl that the grain vendors will try to lie about. I have been rescuing wildfowl in the West Midlands now for over 17 years, not as long as some people maybe, but long enough to know the score of what I can see with my own eyes, and using a brain instead of swallowing up crap on the internet. In all that time I have only encountered 5 mute swans out of hundreds that have had angel wing. I have certainly seen more geese with it but it has to be <0.5% of the whole population. I cannot recall ever seeing a mallard with the condition, broken wings yes, angel wings never. There do not appear to be any consistent factors at play in trying to unravel why so few birds develop deformed wings, sometimes both, but usually the left one.

It should also be stated that birds with angel wing though flightless, can lead perfectly comfortable lives in the wild, without interference and they don’t need to be “rescued” purely to confine them because it makes someone feel better that they do not have to look at a deformed bird in their local park anymore. Given a choice, I’m sure a wild bird would rather be free than caged for its entire life.

People should perhaps stop to consider using a little rationale and common sense before swallowing bread “damage” nonsense. The West Midlands is one of the most heavily populated areas in the UK, with many of the man made lakes containing a variety of well fed wildfowl- much of it on bread. If it were the case that this foodstuff, consumed by humans by the loaf load caused deformities, then why is it so uncommon amongst the birds? What evidence is there to show that humans who eat white bread, especially children, develop deformities in their limbs as a result of eating jam sandwiches or toast for breakfast, dinner or tea?

Spot the angel wing amongst the dozens that don’t have it

When you look around you in your local parks, there are many potential factors which could cause deformities or illness to birds, usually of man made chemical origin that have been linked to deformities or illness in man and birds. The periodic table of the elements is where attention should be focused on explaining some of the damage caused to wildlife, and the economy that it feeds through related chemical industries.

Lead poisoning is still encountered in wildfowl, even as another myth that “all lead shot was banned in fishing” still continues to be trotted out by many ignorant to the fact that only the middle range of weights were removed in the 1987 action. Dust shot (size 8 and smaller) is still legal, and can be swallowed. It is also the case that there are several sources of lead available in the environment which should all be banned as well. Shooting lead, battery lead, pewter lead- ban it all, it is all toxic in the environment!

A major research and development study published in 2002 found that lead poisoning in the UK accounted for 3.6% of swan rescues over the period 1996-99, though in some “black spot” localised areas, the situation was much higher. (“The impact of lost and discarded fishing line and tackle on mute swans  Research and development technical record W1-051/TR,  Perrins, Martin, Broughton.)

“There are no forms of lead or its compounds which are not toxic. Ingestion of any lead, no matter how little has been demonstrated to have a measurable biological effect.” Hunt 2002.

Zinc has a similar affect to lead in wildfowl, and there are documented cases in Wigan in the North of England of former open cast mines being turned into man made lakes, and where instances of poisoning have been demonstrated. It could be the case that creating “wildlife habitat” in such former mining areas is not a very good idea.

“Zinc toxicity produces similar symptoms to lead toxicity (and is also treated in the same way so may responds favourably to chelation therapy, perhaps reinforcing a provisional diagnosis of lead poisoning) yet is a separate clinical entity which requires accurate diagnosis and treatment. Analysis of “non-toxic” split shot samples has revealed both lead and zinc are included in the alloys used.”   From letter published in the veterinary record September 1999 S.W Cooke/Z.R.Cooke.

Further instances of zinc poisoning, which appears to target the pancreas of birds can be read below.

56Beyer Sci Meet 2004

In a case of a particular hazardous waste site we have been banging on about for years, white phosphorus, a banned rat poison was causing deaths of wildfowl over many years. White phosphorus has in some studies also been linked to deformities in chickens, and the claims about its military uses and consequences in Iraq continue to provoke controversy.

It is possible that “misconnections” in water company sewers leads to pollution reaching lakes in borough parks. In Sandwell there are certain lakes where this has happened repeatedly, yet the complainers about bird mess appear to overlook such factors. Perhaps they should inspect how their washing machine is connected before spinning garbage about geese.

It is true that mouldy bread can kill, and that dumping large quantities in pools offers little for the birds when they are clearly not hungry. We would not condone dumping trade waste simply to offload it- this is clearly happening in some areas. We would also encourage people to not feed birds when there are clearly piles of uneaten food lying around. A little common sense should be applied- it’s not that difficult, but it is easy for some authorities to spread nonsense about the stuff- especially when they are anti-bird like Sandwell council.

They should be more concerned about the dumping of chemicals killing wildlife, and their failure to stop it.

Every day of the year, wildlife rescuers, including the RSPCA have to use bread to attract wildfowl to rescue them from many problems of man made origin, some caused by local authority apathy, and many by .GOV agency policy incompetence, though very few if any of these are caused by bread. Without it, how else would many birds ever be rescued, rehabilitated and then released back into the wild?

So before you part with your money and get ripped off by high cost “charity” branded bird seed, just use your loaf when people tell you that white bread causes angel wing. It doesn’t, they are just trying to get money out of you to feather their own nests.

Isn’t it just rich that one of the biggest charges made against the geese is their “aggressive behaviour”- as though humans are immune from such activity and somehow look down on it if they perceive it to be animalistic behaviour of a lesser species. One should therefore view it with some surprise than rather than condemn one species for this action, that many locals to the Sandwell area should actually celebrate human “aggressive behaviour” as some form of enterprise or even “heritage”.

Bare knuckle boxing , like an early form of human bloodsport was a popular but illegal custom in areas like the blackcountry. It was especially contested amongst people who travelled from different areas by boat, and became part of the folklore of the waterways. Filthy  decades worth of pollution was to follow- and some people call that “heritage” too.

One celebrated Tipton pugilist was William Perry, alternatively known as “The Tipton Slasher.” Though not having that many fights, this “boxer” did participate in fighting virtually to the death, all in the name of money and fame, but little to actually show for it himself. He died an alcoholic at the age of just 61.

One of his contemporaries Tom Sayers faired even worse dying at the age of 39.

What fuelled underachievers like Perry and Sayers was an appetite for human violence, before the days of it being recorded and dispensed in film or art. A baying crowd and folklore becoming myth just added to the desensitisation of aggressive behaviour, which has become so glamourised by the media since the late 2oth Century. Gangsters are lorded like celebrities and victims of crimes are largely forgotten next to the names of those who killed them in cold blood- and there are even those apologists who would prefer to celebrate the aggressors rather than their victims- this is of course what creates advertising space- a book or piece of ceramic tat bearing the name of a celebrated local pugilist.

Rather than condemn such a drunkard none achiever, of which Tipton can be truly  “proud”, Perry appears to be widely celebrated- but why? He didn’t do anything for others , and his contribution to society cannot be said to be great in any way at all. Indeed he wasn’t even that skilled a “sportsman” or any notion of what a sport is.  People appear to celebrate his aggressive behaviour and strangely revel in it. Indeed it is possible to find less people and their dogs who claim to be NOT related to Perry than it is those who do.

But is this the best that Tipton can really offer to the world, in that one of its most famous sons used his fists instead of any brain, and drank himself to an early grave? Where is the aspiration of such a legacy, the talent of the town, and what hope does it offer the youth of the area that such a man is to be sainted as someone capable of cutting people’s faces open as well as his own?

A statue near to Tipton Green canal offers a reminder to his “legacy” , whatever that really is except advertising space for more tat- but if this is Tipton’s legacy then please count me out of it, because  it isn’t mine. Big Bill doesn’t seem to mind the company of birds, who watch over him, as he watches over them. They are not baying for his blood like a rabid human crowd of old, they are just surviving their days out in quiet anonymity- nobody is making money out of them.

The Tipton Splasher