As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 5 January 2015

Scottish landowner attacks "out of control" RSPB

John Mackenzie erects signs making clear the RSPB is not welcome on his estate in protest at the charity's accusations over raptor poisonings, planning developments and policies for protecting capercaillies.

By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor

4:40PM GMT 04 Jan 2015

One of Scotland’s largest landowners has erected signs across his estate stating the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is not welcome in protest at the charity having “lost the plot” and abused its power.

John Mackenzie, who owns the 60,000 acre Gairloch and Conon Estates at Dingwall in Ross-shire, said “years of frustration and anger” had boiled over in response to the charity “constantly” blaming farmers, gamekeepers and landowners for raptor poisonings.

The signs were also erected in support of a campaign against a £9.6 million field centre and observatory being planned for the RSPB’s Forsinard Flows nature reserve in Caithness and Sutherland, with some protesters also erecting signs stating: “RSPB not welcome here.”

Mr Mackenzie said the RSPB was “out of control” and was pandering to the “less informed” for financial reasons. He said he hoped the signs would make the charity think again and encouraged other landowners on both sides of the Border to follow suit.

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