Three red kites found dead in Lusk - Bravo Farmers, Bravo!

[Falco]

If people in urban areas kept proper control on their dogs farmers would use less poisons

Its now illegal to use poison against anything but rodents and all meat based poisons have been banned - farmers can legally shoot any dogs found on their land . 9 times out of 10 dogs simply chase sheep for the craic, not because they are hungry. Shooting and trapping is a far more affective way to control all types of vermin from foxes to crows without the danger of killing protected and beneficial wildlife, innocent pets etc.

PS: It has been confirmed that the Kites died from secondary poisoning from the consumption of affected rodents as I suspected was the case. This has has nothing to to do with any rogue farmers but is probably caused by sloppy pest control in and around urban areas ie. failure to properly dispose of dead and dieing rodents.. As others have mention this is a growing problem for a number of natural rodent predators like owls and kestrels. This could also have serious consequences down the line for farmers and householders since rodents are starting to become resistant to many rodenticides. If natural rodent predators continue to die-out the problem of infestations will quickly get out of control if resitance becomes more widespread.

[Falco]

For the record I had to counsel a friend of mine against trying to poison a hawk that was disrupting his livestock recently. This guy was born and reared in Waterford city and until he actually moved to the country used to get a nosebleed at the borough boundary when he left the city i.e. not from farming stock.btw the livestock in question, racing pigeons.

I've dealt with these types in the past( they are increasingly coming to the attention of authorities for serious wildlife crimes in both the UK and Ireland) - they appear convinced that every missing pigeon is takin by some predator despite the fact that most of our towns and cities are full of ex -racing/feral pigeons sh*tting on everything and spreading diseases. They certainly earn their nick-name ie. Flying-rats!! They also cause problems for farmers by raiding feedlots and certain crops.

[eyelight]

20%, and that's only since July!! That's shocking. I wonder are owls and kestrels being similiarly affected, or do they not scavenge dead rodents?

On the subject of blaming farmers, I note that the Wicklow Red kites haven't suffered poisoning to the same level and they're surrounded by farms. Maybe the market gardeners of north dublin have more of a rodent problem than the (primarily) sheep farmers in Wicklow. Or maybe the source is not a farm. Is it possible that the North dublin Kites are all getting poisoned from the one source??

Red kite found dead in Wicklow

Another red kite has been found dead from illegal poisoning, park rangers have said.

The breeding female bird, which had been nesting on a farm near Redcross, Co Wicklow, was found near Brittas Bay late last year.

The latest fatality comes on the back of similar deaths in Kildare and a suspected poisoning in Limerick since the re-introduction project began in 2007.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is also dealing with a spate of secondary poisonings of red kites in the Lusk area of north Dublin caused by the legal control of rats and mice with chemical poison.

A total of eight of the 39 red kites released last year in Fingal have been found dead.

I live in the UK now, in an area surrounded by farms. It's also an area full of Red Kites, with an estimated 600 breeding pairs. I've seen up to 20 circling at the same time from my garden, and that's in a town. Pretty good for an area where they were extinct until reintroduced in the 1980's.

Why is it you constantly hear of these birds, and eagles too, being killed in Ireland?

[former wesleyan]

If people in urban areas kept proper control on their dogs farmers would use less poisons

So townie dogs meet up at the Post Office and organise raids into the countryside do they ? It's been well documented in England that it's farmers dogs that do most of the damage to livestock when they're left loose at night as " guard dogs ".

[deiseguy]

And what do you farm?

Mainly dairy but we also have a small amont of arable crops grown, some for our own use some for porridge. Why do you ask?

[NewGoldDream]

Its now illegal to use poison against anything but rodents and all meat based poisons have been banned - farmers can legally shoot any dogs found on their land . 9 times out of 10 dogs simply chase sheep for the craic, not because they are hungry. Shooting and trapping is a far more affective way to control all types of vermin from foxes to crows without the danger of killing protected and beneficial wildlife, innocent pets etc.

PS: It has been confirmed that the Kites died from secondary poisoning from the consumption of affected rodents as I suspected was the case. This has has nothing to to do with any rogue farmers but is probably caused by sloppy pest control in and around urban areas ie. failure to properly dispose of dead and dieing rodents..
.

I accept your point about dogs chasing sheep for the craic, but think that totally justifies farmer swiftly ending said fun with gun. Sheep running amok can sustain serious injuries, have had to untangle them from inevitable death wrapped in fencing wire on a few occasions.

But your main point is noted. The issue accordingly is not farmers getting some kick from killing these creatures, but more stupidity or negligence on the part of unidentified persons using poisons. I presume the OP will not change the title though.

[yobosayo]

This could also have serious consequences down the line for farmers and householders since rodents are starting to become resistant to many rodenticides. If natural rodent predators continue to die-out the problem of infestations will quickly get out of control if resitance becomes more widespread.

Do you not have feral cats?

[teapot]

I would hold your fire until we know the poisoning agent used.
If farmers did it, whoever did so should be loudly condemned, just as if it is from any other factor.

Nah...it was probably done by accountants, or used-car salesmen, or bus drivers - farmers, those thick-os, wouldn't be involved in this at all, at all. Farmers, although they see White Tailed Sea Eagles; Golden Eagles, and yer general class of predatory hawk-like bird as being a menace to their wallets; generally feel that red kites are beneficial to the country - afther all, now, werent they settled here under Fianna Fail? Wasn't it Bertie (or one of the Charlies) himself that blessed their re-introduction here. Wasn't there a REP subsidy or a First-Hawk Payment Scheme or sump'n? Didn't we get money from Europe for it?

No,no,no - let's not be blaming farmers... they have enough crosses to bear, being accused of spreading phosphates, poisoning the rivers, driving at night with no headlights, throwing black plastic everywhere, ripping out hedgerows, and even just sitting on two tractors at a Stop sign having a nice conversation about the price of shlt... Let's lay THIS blame where it belongs:

THE USELESS INCOMPETENT IDIOTS WHO DON'T/WON'T INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE OF THING, COLLECT EVIDENCE PROPERLY, GET LAWYERS WITH BALLS, AND SEE THESE BA$TARDS IN COURT BEFORE SEEING THEM IN JAIL - AND TO HELL WITH THE 'FARM VOTE'

[RushResident]

The nature of farming may also be different. In Lusk, I believe it is primarily grain producting, which means more grain silos, which means farmers are more concerned about pest control.

Not really, very few grain silo in this area, you should come out and visit sometime. Its mainly field veg rotated with cereals but most of the grain is shipped away from the farms ASAP so no need for a silo. As I said before a major issue isn't farmers laying bait around veg fields but residents of single build houses laying bait indiscriminately.