Save Our Sandwell Canada Geese

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.

.

• 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.

We had written an open letter to Adrian Bailey and Tom Watson MP’s for West Bromwich West and East respectively. Both were emailed the letter back in early September using their published email contact addresses, but we did not receive any response from this, so the letter was sent again to both by recorded delivery to Terry Duffy house, where both have their regional Labour party office. We received a rather sparse response from Adrian Bailey not long after, but only last week did we get a reply from the other MP.

In his reply, we do at least get something approaching an opinion, but it sets up the line of Sandwell council regarding the reason why they claimed to have carried out the cull. The problem for them is they have not proven the concern they had with any credible evidence whatsoever, and through Freedom of Information requests it is continuing to unravel as no evidence at all.

Tom Watson states

” I would only support the culling of Canada geese if all other possible options had been exhausted and there were legitimate safety grounds.”

We have shown that this is not the case on this website, and the council have not shown that there are legitimate causes of illness being caused to people using the two parks in question, nor is the water in which the birds are swimming with a host of other species all defecating in the same pot leading to contamination. Indeed it is sometimes the case that human wastes also enter that same melting pot.

The geese are no more a threat to people than any other birds at these site, and the choice of site continues we will argue to be made by one officer with a biased personal interest without consultation with any other officers in Sandwell council as far as we are concerned. Indeed we wonder what qualifications Mr John Satchwell Senior actually holds at all?

In his final paragraph, Mr Watson states that the council did not inform him of the situation, something which appears to confirm the leitmotif of a need to know basis within Maria Crompton’s department. He also states on the reasons for the cull

“I assume it was because of the number of complaints from park users.”

Well of course we now know that in five years the number of complaints at both of these parks totalled a mighty 8- 2 per year between 2011-2014, with none in 2010. We do not know the total content of these letters of complaint, nor if they were all written by the same person with an obsessive personal view on the subject.

Needless to say we will be seeking further representation from Mr Watson on what his thoughts are concerning Sandwell council’s lack of rationale and evidence.

I have asked two freedom of information requests about the cull of geese which took place last year and this year. Another request also revealed a little more information.

This week we have a response to another request. We learn here some significant new information, which once again appears to undo some of the original claims of Sandwell council that they made officially when their pants were first pulled down about their secret cull.

Before discussing this I would like to state that the person making this request is not known to me before this campaign started, and also made this request herself without orchestration.

The request contained within the letter covered several points, which have attempted to rebut and which we will also look at in conclusion. It also set out to scrutinise some of the other FOI request information and statements then made by the council. Once again, the response was dealt with by Streetscene director at SMBC Steve Handley- John Satchwell’s immediate line manager. Only the personal details of the requester have been redacted below.

WHAT WAS ASKED AND WHAT DID THEY KNOW?

1. The number of complaints received from members of the public (as recorded on the Council’s formal complaints recording process) for each year for the last five years concerning geese in Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich. Please exclude any from John Satchwell and his family

“The number of formal written complaints totalled 8:

• 0 in 2010
• 2 in 2011
• 2 in 2012
• 2 in 2013
• 2 in 2014

In addition to the numbers above, we constantly receive verbal reports from park wardens, gardeners in parks, volunteers and sporting organisations with regards to fouling of amenity areas and sports pitches by Canada geese and their aggressive behaviour during the breeding season – these are not formally recorded. Ultimately a combination of all complaints received led to our decision to undertake a culling programme.”

2. The specific powers under which the culling decision was made, as devolved to the Council by government generally and specifically to the Cabinet member (Maria Crompton) by the authority.

“A licence was granted by Natural England to the company employed to undertake the work. I would refer you to the Natural England technical information Note TIN046 with regard to this

http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/96006

Councillor Crompton, as cabinet member for Highways and Environment, has the authority to authorise such actions under delegated powers as assigned in the council’s constitution Part 3 responsibility for functions

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment Portfolio Responsibilities are as follows.  “Where not otherwise reserved to the Council, a committee of the Council or other body under the Local Authority Functions Regulations, or where authority has not been delegated to a Chief Officer and, in consultation with a relevant Cabinet Member, as necessary, to take responsibility within the Cabinet for all matters relating to (which includes specific reference to):

• The policy direction for countryside management, nature reserves, parks, green spaces and visitors centres.
• Environmental services including cleansing, grounds maintenance, public conveniences and the maintenance of water courses”.

3. Was Maria Crompton’s decision ultra-vires given geese are not classed as vermin?

“In response to your question I would again refer you to the Natural England web site http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/96006 

that legally allows Local Authorities to undertake such action.”

4. If Maria Crompton has acted beyond her powers, what action will be taken to discipline this elected member?

“No action will be taken against Councillor Crompton as cabinet members have the authority to authorise such actions under delegated powers.” 

5. Identify the names of all (if any) wildlife, animal rescue / sanctuary organisations or experts that were approached by the council for advice or support in analysing the most recent issue of excess geese in the parks, and similarly who may have assisted in generating solutions to the problem.

“Officers within the council have appropriate qualifications and experience to advise on such matters and discussions and actions on alternative control methods have taken place; from pricking eggs to planting water margin plants, fencing water edges to discouraging over feeding.  These are tried and tested methods but we have still failed to reduce the numbers to manageable levels within our formal parks. One of the officers spent a number of years working for  the Wild life trust and two colleagues have degrees in Environmental studies.

6. Identify the total number of other culls performed by the Council over the last 5 years, and for each, provide details of the date, the species involved and number of animals per cull, plus the specific powers used to support each decision.

“No other culls have taken place previously to 2013 and 2014 and the powers used are referred to in my response to question 3 and 4.  The number of Canada geese culled during that period has totalled 220. 150 Canada Geese in 2013 from Victoria Park, Tipton and Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich and 70 Canada Geese in 2014 from Victoria Park, Tipton.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Sandwell council made the following statement on their facebook page and also to the media press release at the time in relation to the number of complaints concerning geese in the two parks in question where they were culled.

Maria Crompton is directly quoted;

“I’m very sad we had to do this but people’s safety and public health are paramount. We have done this as a last resort and as humanely as possible in response to repeated complaints and real concerns of park users including parents with young children.”

Maria Crompton in her letter to me dated 14th August 2014 states

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

John Satchwell’s report, designed as a so called “pilot”, and approved by Crompton, but without naming any location stated that a cull should be carried out  and  “to identify two locations where the problems exits.”

THERE IS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF COMPLAINTS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN HIS REPORT TO BACK UP ANYTHING THAT HE SAYS- OR MORE CRUCIALLY TO JUSTIFY THE CHOICE OF SITES. LET US REMEMBER THAT THE TWO SITES CHOSEN , APPARENTLY BY HIM WERE

(A) VICTORIA PARK TIPTON-  IN WHICH HE LIVES

(B) DARTMOUTH PARK WEST BROMWICH – WHERE HIS SON WAS PROJECT MANAGER.

In question 1 we revealed the lies of Sandwell council and Maria Crompton in isolation. Eight complaints were made in four years, with 0 in 2010 in these two parks. Just eight to justify the murder of 220 birds to make some pathetic scumbag feel better about themselves. We would question how many of these complaints tally for each park, as this is not broken down, and would consider that with such a correlation by year that it is the same individuals or even individual making a repeat complaint.

Whereas the council may have justification in undertaking action on something which is a persistent source of complaint, the number of formal complaints here  does not in any way justify such a final murderous solution. Satchwell’s report was titled “To propose options for the reduction of Canada geese numbers in Urban parks” , yet the subject of complaints never arises, just his own biased and misguided desire to murder geese- without option.

Handley’s subsequent backpedalling on informal complaints is desperate and also pathetic from this director. Informal complaints do not count at all and we do not accept their lack of recording as justification in the unravelling of Sandwell council’s lies. We have spoken to Sandwell parks gardeners at these parks, both past and present, and none have stated that they have made complaints about the geese.

There is also doubt as to the reliability of the information supplied in answer to this request by Sandwell council. Usually, councils refuse to disclose information that would take an excessive amount of time to compile, on cost grounds, yet they are able here to plough through 5 years worth of letters that could be written on all manner of subjects, and cover a broad range of complaints, from geese fouling, to dog fouling. Were the letters entirely complaining about the geese or about bird mess in general? –  We do not have the letters, so we are left to Sandwell council’s reliability on this matter.

2/3/4  In questions 2-4 Sandwell council hide behind a Natural England document that they appear to have found, (or I believe have been advised on by Natural England) subsequent to the cull and not in possession of before it.

Behind the legalise of powers deferred to Crompton, we learn that she had the final say on approving Satchwell’s misguided report, and that she does not appear to have even scrutinised anything that he says within it. WE LEARN THEREFORE THAT SHE IS REPSONSIBLE ULTIMATELY FOR 220 BIRDS BEING MURDERED BASED ON COUNCIL OFFICER LIES, AND THAT SHE HAS BLOOD ON HER HANDS FOR THIS.

THIS IS NOT THE ACTION OF AN ANIMAL LOVER BUT THAT OF SOMEONE ENGAGED IN ANIMAL CRUELTY

5. The claims made by the council concerning alternative control methods, which we do not accept are necessary in any case, have not been rolled out as the council suggest at the two sites in question. At Dartmouth park, the abhorrent cull of geese came before  the erection of metal  fencing around the “duck pond”. It was alleged by Maria Crompton in a letter dated 16th October 2013 , that this fencing was installed as a result of restoring original features of the park- and nothing to do with geese. Furthermore as a result of the complaint that it no longer allowed the birds free movement between the two pools she states

“Whilst it is acknowledged the erection of the fencing did disrupt the bird movement initially, evidence suggests the swans, geese and ducks are adjusting to the physical changes and there has been no detrimental impact to their well being.”

THIS IS THE WOMAN WHO ALLOWED 220 BIRDS TO BE KILLED, AND SIGNED OFF THE MURDER OF A REPUTED 150 IN THIS SAME YEAR, JUST MONTHS EARLIER,BEFORE THE FENCE WAS INSTALLED. DOES SHE HAVE SELECTIVE AMNESIA ABOUT THIS? The detrimental impact of breaking their necks seems to have been forgotten by her.

We know that egg pricking was not being carried out at Dartmouth park in particular for many years, where it would not be uncommon for around 40 goslings to be creched together around the duck pond.

The picture that we have used of goslings grouped together was taken in 2011 at Dartmouth park.

Taken 19th May 2011

Here they are when they were older at the duck pond.

Taken 16th July 2011

The officer at the council who used to work for the wildlife trust- PAUL SMITH SANDWELL CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS ASKED THE DIRECT QUESTION IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH HIM ON   22nd July  2014

“You can’t ever remember any report being written about anything like this about exterminating or culling geese?

“No nothing’s ever come past me, I aught to be told….”

“……I know nothing about this. I would be totally against it.”

WE WOULD NOTE THAT THE CULL AT VICTORIA PARK TIPTON IN 2014 WAS PERFORMED ON A DAY WHEN CHRIS MOORE, MATT DARBY AND PAUL SMITH WERE ALL ALLEGED TO BE ON ANNUAL LEAVE- WAS THIS DELIBERATLEY ARRANGED SO THEY COULD ALL DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS?

6. We believe that geese went missing from Dartmouth park in 2014 and not 2013 as stated. Individual and distinctive geese disappeared from this site. This just adds to the mystery of why geese on Victoria park Tipton were culled again in such numbers- on the basis of what complaints- 2?

THE WRITTEN LETTER IS DETAILED BELOW. In response to some of the comments made by Steve Handley we respond as follows beneath each page.

•  We do not know if any goslings were culled- and why really should this even matter? THEY ADMIT TO KILLING 220 BIRDS-AGE IS NOT RELEVANT- THEY WERE FLIGHTLESS AND HELPLESS UPTO THE POINT WHEN THEIR NECKS WERE BROKEN BY COWARDS. WE ALSO DON’T TAKE ANY WORD OF THIS COUNCIL AS TRUTH BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
• The officer decision appears to be final- without any scrutiny, or what their motive may be- in John Satchwell’s case a pecuniary one undeclared.
• We are told here that he has lived in Victoria Park for over 40 years. We also know that he started his long career at Sandwell as a gardener. We do not accept Handley’s claim- John Satchwell’s report and subsequent decision to choose this site in his pilot cull has everything to do with him living in this park- only Sandwell council would not see that because they believe themselves to be devoid of criticism and scrutiny over personal declarations of interest, as does their so called “monitoring officer”- little more than a taxpayer funded legal aid for dodgy councillors.
• So the geese were not and are not fouling on the grass near his house (on amenity grassland that his report speaks of). So now we know the truth.

•  Geese in the areas in question are not “migratory” in the real sense of the word. They moult at the sites in the summer- when the council takes this opportunity to catch them in large numbers. The inconsistency in the numbers shows a rubbish understanding of the birds; movements- one not based upon any observation at all- just wild guess work from office based turd holes in Sandwell’s parks department.
• In terms of egg pricking- evidence above confirms Sandwell council’s and Steve Handley’s claims to be incorrect and not based on fact at all.

LIES, DAMNED LIES AND STATISTICS- SHOULD BE THE MOTTO OF SMBC

News this week of the return of a strain of bird flu to the UK should not really come as a surprise, and neither should the timing of the announcement, just in time for Christmas when sales will no doubt be at their peak of this fairly shabby and sick industry.

Turkeys, chickens and ducks are kept in squalid cramped conditions in such farms; evidence of the industry has been exposed on many occasions with undercover footage of such.

Predictably however with the H5n8 strain identified, so we get the scapegoat wild bird being blamed for what will be a profitable compensation scheme for those involved in this feathered stock loss. Have any wild birds been found dead and identified as having the strain of flu?

Whatever the source of the outbreak, and not withstanding the fairly shocking apathy of one farmer whose chickens were wandering down the lane not far from the outbreak source, one question should be asked in relation to Sandwell Council’s clandestine cull of Canada geese- whereby they were taken into a farm environment from their wild one to be slaughtered by having their necks broken in “goose dispatchers.

Why would a responsible council, or even farmer introduce birds, whose condition could not be identified by being rounded up summarily, without any veterinary assessment, and whereby they admit that no council staff were present at the farms, contemplate taking them into a farm setting? Biosecurity appears to have been left to a group of what can only be described as dodgy characters in the back of a trailer box- who are certainly not averse to telling people lies and spitting on grass themselves.

The news that this same farm are selling farm reared turkeys at this same site, where wild ones were taken for slaughter should raise eyebrows, because I do not see possible how this council can guarantee that biosecurity of this farm was not compromised by the feathers, excrement (of which this council are so unfond of), and straw that appears to have been in the back of the trailer that the birds were contained in.

The pictures sent to me by Senior Countryside Ranger Matt Darby last year of geese at Forge Mill lake show a squalid condition of the gate on the pest exterminators trailer, covered in excrement and feathers. This trailer and its wheels we are then supposed to believe went into the farm to kill the geese.

One has to wonder what conditions turkeys for sale are kept in at Forge Mill farm, but what building were the geese killed in, and where were they incinerated, in relation to where the turkeys were raised and were free to roam?

Moreover, perhaps when considering buying meat from this wild bird  cull zone, people should consider that we have to rely on the honesty of the seller that they are buying what they say they are selling.

The farm at the centre of the bird deaths

Having asked the Food Standards Agency, who oversee such regulation and in the wake of the horse meat scandal, some fairly frank questions about wild birds and domestic reared ones, they appear to be unable to confirm that wild birds, and specifically wildfowl are not on the menu already posing as chicken or turkey. They do not routinely test for this according to this reply. This should be concerning when wild birds are free to fly from poisonous lakes , or ingest toxicants such as lead in the environment and where some individuals are known to have taken them presumably to eat- or maybe to sell on to someone else!

Perhaps the best way to determine that you are not eating wild birds, whose history is not known, and relying on an industry who do not appear to ask many questions about how they are keeping their feathery money piles, is to not part with your money and don’t eat birds at all.

I was told a pack of lies by serial liar John Satchwell who arranged the cull of Canada geese on his park himself, as well as that on Dartmouth park where his son of the same name is project manager, but to what extent did his junior staff conspire with him to present a pack of lies to myself after gate crashing the cowards rounding up of geese at Victoria park Tipton on July 10th 2013? I was told that the geese were released, by senior countryside ranger Matt Darby. If he is now back peddling on this and the geese were not released, but executed as the council now claim, then I was lied to.

I have asked for some clarification on this matter, to which I have as yet received no response, perhaps he has been gagged by the Stasi of Sandwell council. I leave it in the court of public opinion as to the truth of the matter, but know this- I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS LYING COUNCIL TO PERPETUATE THE LIE THAT “NO ONE WAS LIED TO.”

I WAS LIED TO, AND BY DIRECT STATEMENT, SANDWELL COUNCIL ARE CALLING ME A LIAR IF THEY CLAIM THAT I WAS NOT LIED TO ABOUT THE RELEASE OF GEESE AT FORGE MILL LAKE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE STATED THAT IF GEESE WERE RELEASED AT FORGE MILL LAKE, AS APPEARS TO BE SHOWN IN THE PICTURES, AND IN THE VERBAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO MYSELF, THEN THEY HAVE ALSO NOW LIED TO WEST MIDLANDS POLICE.

Dear Matt,

Release of geese July 10th 2013.

Last year I contacted you following the rounding up of Canada geese in Victoria park Tipton, which myself and others directly observed taking place. I was told by contractors PESTEX and John Satchwell Senior that they were being “relocated” to the Sandwell Valley.

Though I did not believe this at the time, I thought that knowing you for some years that I would at least get the truth from you if this had indeed happened, and that the birds were not as I suspected being rounded up for slaughter by these pest exterminators.

I asked you in a phone call if you could take some pictures to prove that the birds had been released. You also appeared to know very little about this arrangement of birds being delivered to the Sandwell Valley.

In this phone call conversation, I asked you if you had seen the birds released at Forge Mill lake by Pestex, and your replied that you had. I asked you how many had been released and you were unsure as “they had all run out quickly” from the Pestex trailer in which they were contained.

You stated that you had taken some pictures on your mobile phone of this and would send them to me via email later that day.

On this same day, I did indeed receive an email from yourself containing 3 picture attachments. These were numbered  2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  respectively. The location of this picture is unmistakably Forge Mill Lake, would you not agree with this?

There are geese exiting the trailer at the ramp part of the lake, with other geese appearing to be in the water as you stated they were when taking the pictures on your mobile phone, would you not agree with this?

The geese would appear to be running out at speed as though spooked by something, and also appear to be a little dishevelled as a result of being contained in this trailer, would you not agree?

They are clearly shown in the picture heading for the water to get out of harm’s way, would you not agree?

On clicking the properties of these 3 attachments, it reveals that picture 1 numbered attachment 2013710_093021 was taken from a Samsung camera – model  GT-I9100P at 9.30   a.m.

Picture 2, numbered attachment 2013710_093023, and was taken from a Samsung camera -model GT-I9100P at  9.30  a.m.

Picture 3  numbered  20130710_093026  was taken from a Samsung camera -model  GT-I9100P at 9.30 a.m.

Can you confirm that you took these pictures from a Samsung Camera- model GT-I9100P on the date and at the times taken at Forge Mill Lake West Bromwich?

Could you further confirm that the email address  mathewrdarby@gmail.com  sent from what I assume to be a mobile phone on 10th July 2013 at 11.15 a.m to your Sandwell . Gov email address matt_darby@Sandwell.gov.uk was/is yours?

Can you confirm that you sent this and the picture attachments 2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  from the mobile to another computer source?

Can you also confirm that you then forwarded this email from the Sandwell .gov address matt_darby@sandwell.gov.uk to my own email address, which was sent at  11.19  a.m on 10th July 2013?

Could you please explain exactly what you saw on this day 10th July 2013, what you were asked to do on the day regarding the arrival of geese at Forge Mill/Sandwell Valley, who instructed you to do this and if this had been prearranged before 10th July 2013, or hastily arranged on the day itself?

The purpose of me asking these forensic questions is that a freedom of information request,

August2014CanadaGeese1-683749012

states that “NO-ONE WAS LIED TO.” This follows my own FOI request where it appears that Sandwell council carried out a clandestine cull of Canada geese at Forge Mill Farm in 2013 and again this year, rounding up birds from Victoria Park Tipton and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich.

Were you Matt telling me the truth, as I suspect you were on 10th July 2013, when you sent me the email containing 3 attachment pictures of geese numbered 2013710_093021, 2013710_093023, and 20130710_093026  respectively taken from your mobile phone Samsung model GT-I9100P  clearly being released at Forge Mill lake from a parked trailer near the ramp?

Can you also tell me the truth as to if these birds were then re-rounded up and killed, between 0930 am when you took the pictures and 11.15 when you sent the email pictures to yourself and then forwarded them to me at 11.19, and if this was the case then I am afraid that I was not told the truth at all and wonder what exactly you or others thought would be gained by lying to myself as to the fate of these birds?

The truth will always come out, and I would very much appreciate that you give me the facts as they stand without protecting others who have landed you in this unwarranted situation which I firmly believe was not of yours, or anyone else at Sandwell Valley’s making.

Confirmation of email sent by Matt Darby 10/7/2013 from his Sandwell.gov email account.

Confirmation of email sent from Mathew Darby’s email account to Matt Darby’s Sandwell.gov account at 11.15 am 10/7/2013, which contains the 3 picture attachments.

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Confirmation of properties of make/model of camera and time/date taken

Addendum. Timeline

06.14am First see Pest controllers on Victoria park Tipton.

06.39 am Pest controllers start to leave Victoria Park Tipton, supposedly to “relocate” geese to Forge Mill Lake Sandwell Valley.

It would possibly take another 15 minutes to lock up the gates in Queens Road. Another 30 minutes maximum to reach Forge Mill Lake- if we are to believe this is where the birds were taken to.

09.30 am Matt Darby takes 3 pictures of geese being released at Forge Mill lake from the truck that they were supposedly released from.

At least 2.5 hours have now passed since the birds were rounded up and contained within the truck, if we are to believe that the birds were released. If they were contained for this length of time we believe that this contravenes the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as does the manner in which the birds were transported. This law, according to Natural England applies to Canada geese when caught, regardless of where they are being taken to or their prospective fate.

SO WHAT REALLY OCCURED BETWEEN 07.30AM- 9.30 AM ON 10TH JULY 2013?

 Were some geese that were on Forge Mill Lake enticed into the trailer, only for Matt Darby to then take some phoney pictures to send to me later?

From the look of the birds that are near the lake edge, I do not believe this. From my experience they appear to be like birds that have been contained for a period of time and then slightly confused as to where they are, in new surroundings.

They do appear to be running out, as Matt Darby told me that they had. I do not believe it feasible that the geese would walk into a ramp trailer like this, unless they had been herded in there, as they had at Victoria park. Look at the height of clearance up to the trailer ramp. There is no fencing around at Forge Mill lake ramp, so it appears that the birds could only have appeared out of the back of the trailer, rather than walking up into it and then exiting quickly.

The ramp gate appears soiled with feathers, excrement and straw, which gives some idea as to what was happening inside the trailer for the length of time that the birds were contained. A longer period of time- more soiling.

Regardless of whether these were the Victoria park geese, or stooges made to look like them, they were contained in the trailer then released- still breaking the law concerning the release of this “non-native” species. THIS ALSO OF COURSE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE SHEER DECEIT OF THOSE WHO WISHED TO SUGGEST THAT THE BIRDS WERE BEING “RELOCATED”- BUT IT STILL REMAINS MY VIEW THAT THEY WERE- AND THERE IS MORE RECORDED EVIDENCE WHICH SUGGESTS THIS.

We now know, according to evil Sandwell council that after being rounded up from their homes at Victoria park Tipton, and Dartmouth park West Bromwich, that the innocent Canada geese were taken to a promoted family tourist attraction at ForgeMill farm and had their necks broken by crushing their spines in “goose dispatchers”. This according to deluded politicians and Nazi England is a “humane” way of killing off these “pest” species. WELL IT ISN’T.

As the birds were murdered at this farm, which in itself uses animals as a commodity to be viewed, slaughtered and body parts sold off, we ask all those who support our campaign to boycott going there. This includes paying any entrance fee towards Sandwell council’s coffers. They have misused taxpayers money to carry out these clandestine culls.

The streetway scene and the Gregorian druid chant room complete with stuffed geese hanging upside down has always been a bit creepy at the park farm.

If you want to see farm animals other sites offer similar attractions. They do not carry out the killing of healthy wildlife.