Save Our Sandwell Canada Geese

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.

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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.

VN850220

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

The leader of the pack

“NO DECISION HAS  BEEN TAKEN ON FUTURE PLANS TO DEAL WITH GEESE NUMBERS.”

Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper has so far not commented publicly on the decision to snuff out the lives of 220 geese in two of Sandwell’s parks. We now have a response, a reply to one of our active campaigners taking the time to TAKE ACTION in aid of the geese. The reply was no doubt written for him by the same officers who have drafted all the other press releases, and who continue to try to craft a woven tale of deceit to cover their tracks of both immorality and we believe criminality.

We will dissect the letter below, also making reference to other previous statements from this council which do not add up , but contradict statements made later.

• We now have a statement that an alleged count of Canada geese was undertaken in 2013. The first question to this is why? We do not get an idea why this was undertaken, yet the premiss for it appears that someone within the council wanted to prove that there was “an increase in numbers ” in the formal parks in Sandwell. It should be remembered that in his letter of  17/11/14 , in response to a letter and FOI request, Streetscene Director and Satchwell defender  Steve Handley pointed out that egg pricking had been undertaken ( which we know it had not) over several years.
• The question is if it had been undertaken, then where were the increasing numbers identified to be coming from, if we are to believe Darren Cooper’s statement in this letter? WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY COUNT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN 2013. WHO UNDERTOOK THIS, WHY WAS PAUL SMITH, NATURE CONSERVATION OFFICER FOR SANDWELL NOT INVOLVED, WHOM HAS STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN PRODUCING ANY REPORT ABOUT CULLING FOR SANDWELL COUNCIL, NOR ONE PASSING HIM FOR COMMENT?
• The figure of 1000 geese was made in the Council’s official statement under Maria Crompton’s name, and published on their facebook page on 27th August 2014, where she stated “With more than 1,000 geese grazing in our parks ….”

This is in contrast to the statement made in John Satchwell’s culling proposals of 700, supposedly written in April 2013. The council claim to have culled 220 geese in total, reported in several sources in the media and in written letters. Of these they claim that “only” 70 geese from Victoria Park Tipton were killed in 2014, (but none in Dartmouth park), therefore meaning by simple arithmetic that they claim that 150 must have been killed in both parks in 2013.

We know from our observations that a total of up to 50 geese were observed taken and put into a box from Victoria park Tipton recorded on video with the liars at Sandwell council and Pestex claiming that they were being “relocated to the Sandwell Valley”, but crucially not to be killed. This means that the other 100, must have been struck from Dartmouth park in 2013.

THERE IS SOMETHING DEEPLY SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THESE ROUND NUMBERS BEING CITED. WE KNOW THEY LIKE BINGO AT SANDWELL COUNCIL, BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE LIKE TOMBOLA, WITH NUMBERS APPEARING TO END WITH A ZERO.

• The third paragraph contradicts itself, as Steve Hadley’s previous statements had regarding alternative methods to culling. “Egg pricking has been an ongoing operation for many years……”

We know egg pricking has not been undertaken to the level that they claim. Furthermore in her August council statement Maria Crompton states “With more than 1,000 geese grazing in our parks and a pair of geese rearing anything from four to eight goslings a season, the numbers had got out of control, especially at Victoria Park, Tipton, and Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich.

HOW HAD THE NUMBERS AT THESE PARKS GOT “OUT OF CONTROL” IF THE EGGS WERE BEING PRICKED AT THESE SITES? DUR.

• The claim that 300 geese were residing in the two parks in 2013 are total fabrication. It does not state as to when this count was supposed to have been made, the time of day, the time of year, and that birds may be present in larger periods during the moult period, but would then disperse.  THERE WAS NO COUNT AT ALL- IF THERE WAS THEN WHY WAS IT NOT INCLUDED IN SATCHWELL’S ORIGINAL   REPORT? We will no doubt after this publication of this post have the same not so clever individuals at the council reconstruct all of this to further cover their odious lies.
• We know that the so called “complaints” were not numerous at all, from the earlier FOI request- just 8 in 5 years, no doubt repeat complaints for people to whom this appears to be a big issue, yet this just repeats Crompton’s lies in her official council statement which read

“We receive numerous complaints from families with young children complaining about the mess they leave and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season.”

• The claims about the geese preventing other wildfowl from rearing their young is  utter falsity, and what evidence can Cooper and his team of berks cite that this was the case? I’ve been watching wildfowl at these sites for over 18 years now, and at other sites across Sandwell and multiple boroughs. This gives me an insight into what is going on with wildfowl, and I challenge anyone to produce the same level of records that I can about individual swans and breeding success in the Sandwell area over that time.

Sandwell council drained the lake in Dartmouth park two years running, co-inciding with the birds nesting at the site. If geese were “behaving aggressively” then perhaps it was in response to someone taking or breaking their eggs and disturbing their nests. In addition, some nesting coots abandoned their land marooned nests in the centre of the drained waterbody. Some caring council that, but now they appear to be posing as wildfowl advocates.

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• We do not get an idea as to which serial liar has fed all of this into the “political decision”, but we strongly believe the names “John Satchwell” x2 were involved. We should also state that we as swanwatch have never made any complaint about goose numbers, nor the effect on swans at these two pools, or any other in Sandwell.

We have made repeated complaints about the management of angling at Sandwell, and the negative effects that it has had on wildfowl, including geese raising their young. It should be stated that Darren Cooper is an angler, and so therefore is not remotely interested in wildfowl concerns but that of the selfish self centred banksitter throwing foodstuff crap into the lake all day, and going home at the end of it with little to show but a spray of litter left behind them- and hooked birds.

In 2013, 3 cygnets were hatched on Victoria park Tipton. The female of the previous year was taken into a rescue centre and put to sleep because of a torn throat at the hands of an angler with a hook, who had obviously tried to retrieve it. Because of lack of natural food in the pool and the previously pesticide nuked islands that we believe someone in the Satchwell clan to be responsible for, (and not to do with the geese that feed on the grass), one of these perished in late Winter. Another died as a result of having its throat ripped by an angler again with food bursting out of a torn oesophagus and was put to sleep at a rescue centre. The final one survived but disappeared in suspicious circumstances.

•  We would remind people that Pestex lied to members of the public concerning what they were doing, and also tried to attempt to get myself to do their job for them. One of their operatives also spat on the grass, recorded on video. Then there is the question of the trailer used and the still we believe illegal release of geese at Forge Mill Lake. “Reputable company” Really?
• No licence has to be obtained from Natural England- and this just shows the complete lack of understanding of this issue. The council have failed to show that the general licence that they now cite, after going to Natural England for an escape route  was justified by an issue in these two parks. They cannot get their figures right on the number of birds in the parks, and the complaints they cited are non existent.
• The word “relocation” is chillingly reused here and should not go unnoticed. A stage two complaint is now live against the council and its lying officers. This word is I believe an attempt to suggest that they told me that they were being “relocated” to be killed. Well that was not what they said, and they will be stating that at their own perils if they do.
• Sandwell council have already confirmed that no officers of theirs, nor any independent animal welfare organisation saw what Pestex did when putting out the birds’ lights , on a farm where this shambles of a company were apparently let loose amongst the chicken pens.
• Timing- I know the timeline of events- we have explored that and the discrepancy of the time that the birds were rounded up at tipton, and the time that they were released according to Senior Countryside ranger Matt Darby. For how long were they contained- or does this confirm that this officer is just another liar, as well as Pestex and Satchwell?
• 27 geese were present after they had been taken at Victoria park Tipton. They were counted on the day the others were seen missing, whereby I had the previous week counted that 97 were present- moulting transient birds, and not resident at this park. More birds have now appeared at the site, but the upshot of this cull is that birds at Sheepwash Nature reserve are now very scarce- meaning that these fools merely killed off birds from a nature reserve site. But that’s the trouble with imbecile trumped up gardeners like Satchwell- they know nothing at all.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SANDWELL COUNCIL?

From our communications with Sandwell council’s Democratic services, I have learned that the council has never had a petition presented to its scrutiny committee asking for an officer to give evidence under scrutiny. This in itself shows just how little democracy there is in this rotten borough where one party dominate without any opposition to hold them to account. It is also the case that 1500 signatures are needed for this process in the council’s 2014-15 petition scheme. For some reason, this was increased, (but by whom) from 1000 the year before. Are Sandwell Labour so afraid of members of the public questioning their usually Labour party member officers- like for example John  Satchwell?

OUR PETITION WILL THEREFORE WHATEVER ITS COURSE SET A NEW ONE, UNLESS THEY TRY TO SCUPPER IT SOMEHOW BY CHANGING THEIR RULES- WHICH OF COURSE WILL BE MALADMINISTRATION AND A COMPLAINT TO THE OMBUDSMAN.

Darren Cooper and co may think that this is a non issue, and that animal welfare cranks will go away, they may even laugh it all off and think it is a joke, but he does that at his own peril, because he should know that we will not go away.

He should also not underestimate my abilities at debate especially at a subject I know about, and as Crompton’s embarrassing gaff laden live radio interview revealed,  none of the 70 they could put up are in the same class. All council run meetings can now be recorded, and this one will be by us.

Of Darren Cooper I have read quite a bit about him and his social media habits, and I reserve judgement about the man and what he is about by not prejudging, but for some reason he has not as yet chosen to comment once about the cull of geese. He has however intervened in some council decisions offering an apparent all powerful olive branch veto- the Sandwell valley car park charge for example.

“I may be seen as a hard-nosed politician but I am a mental nurse by profession and I am a sensitive individual.”

Darren Cooper as quoted in the Birmingham Mail in response to people making complaints about his closure of the Public building in West Bromwich. As he has stated  that  no decision  has been made, we continue to urge people  to inform  his decision by making it known  that you are against the cull of geese in Sandwell.

Justice for the 220, We’re looking to you Sandwell Leader.