Crow control is key to protecting rare species
sir – The RSPB is to be congratulated on its pragmatic and long overdue decision to carry out a five-year cull of crows on six of its reserves (report, August 9), where burgeoning corvid numbers pose an unacceptable threat to the rapidly dwindling population of Eurasian curlew.
The charity’s own recent research has revealed that Britain has the highest density of foxes and crows of any European country. Small wonder that the curlew (and other vulnerable species) are in dire straits away from well-managed land.
It is time for Natural England and other national agencies to reward farmers and land managers for controlling overabundant predators and scavengers on their land. The forthcoming Agriculture Bill from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs presents the ideal opportunity to do just that. Keith Cowieson
Director, Songbird Survival
Diss, Norfolk