tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942173038516128976.post7182608651280511674..comments2023-03-21T06:49:03.494-07:00Comments on The Grumpy Ecologist: The A B C of wet grassland managementGrumpy Ecologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10053326048810931786noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942173038516128976.post-53680885436400731292011-07-21T12:57:12.765-07:002011-07-21T12:57:12.765-07:00I'm glad to see that the RSPB is coming round ...I'm glad to see that the RSPB is coming round to targetted predator reduction. Here it's obvious, that as with Carrion Crows, killing a fox before February or March is of absolutely no use whatsoever. I used to tell the people managing partridges in Italy: let the winter do its worst and THEN hit them (crows and foxes) when they're down. I still think there's a lot to be done on crow predation though I accept that you0ve done your homework well in this case. I think they're well in the frame for declines of birds nesting in open dry habitats in this part of Italy, especially Lesser Grey Shrikes and Stone Curlews. I actually don't think the adult (crow) pairs have the time or the firepower to overcome the two (or more) adult shrikes or curlews on guard but the gangs of thuggish subadult crows hang about all summer with nothing much else to do than learn their bushcraft.Paul Toutnoreply@blogger.com