Oxford Council Gives Advice on River Nairn UPDATE !

If you want to preserve the wildlife and river habitat with no further removal of shrubs and bushes, contact our local councillors and make your feelings known.
colin.macaulay.cllr@highland.gov.uk   liz.macdonald.cllr@highland.gov.uk   chair@nairnrivercc.org  

As expected after last weeks ambush meeting of the regional and River community Councillors at the Merryton bridge to handle the "hoards of Rats crisis". Alan Bentley the principal waste management officer for highland council Tec services based in Dingwall - after a half hour visit to Nairn River, has authorised the obligatory press statement in the Nairnshire Telegraph today. “Evidence of rats was found at the east side of the Merryton Bridge in the undergrowth. The Highland Council has baited the area and will carry out follow up checks to gauge the success of baiting. The bridge is a popular spot for feeding ducks and river birds. Many people enjoy feeding the ducks and waterfowl but decaying food, often left on the ground attracts rats. People may think that just a bit of bread won’t hurt, but for every person feeding the birds there could be dozens of people that have been before or will come afterwards. In light of the present infestation of rodents and available bird welfare advice, The Highland Council would encourage residents not to feed the ducks or other birds that that live on the river and let nature provide a natural habitat for them.”
After checking the link where Mr Bentley got his advice, I found that this is the advice put out by Vale of white horse district council in Oxfordshire. http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/services-and-advice/environment/noise-and-nuisance/other-nuisances/feeding-pigeons-and-ducks. So we have Mr Bentley who by his own admission to me knows nothing about our river or wildlife, was here for half an hour and has a quick check on the internet for advice which he then puts to the press.
I don't think that duck ponds in Oxfordshire, are comparable with a shallow fast flowing highland spate river,  and depriving our river birds of winter food when they need it most is just not on. Interestingly there is no mention of people feeding gulls in Nairn. So all the gull feeders in Nairn can clap their hands in glee, whilst we deprive the waterbirds of winter food ! Is this the SNP Independence that we can expect, get advice online from Oxford district council on how to manage our river and wildlife ? I DONT THINK SO !!
I was on hand with experience, and quite willing to trap the 3 rats easily within 48 hours, but no they would rather put down poison, and no doubt take weeks over it. Lets hope somebody's pooch doesn't eat one of the dead rats ! Folly after folly, I see that the new Cllr Macaulay is suggesting the River community council continue to destroy the wildlife habitat on the lower side of the bridge. Is the River community council now an SNP controlled council, or does it represent the whole community ? My previous posts appear to have sussed the political interference I warned about ! I would urge all the residents of Nairn who care about our river environment and wildlife, to contact any of the river community councillors and Cllr Macaulay and make your views known. Do you want the river opened up to more uncontrolled dogs and people ? If so you won't have the wildlife as well, In no uncertain terms, tell them to keep their hands off  the riverside shrubs and bushes.
More on the rats row in the Nairnshire Telegraph out today.

SNP = Swans Not Politicians

Seems we have a new Johnny come lately admirer of our Swans and river wildlife. It's nice to know that the fruits of my many years investment and good river wildlife management, is being recognised by the recently elected SNP councillor Colin MacAuley. I understand he is researching the subject of Swans. If he would like to know all about our Beautiful Swans, he could perhaps start by reading my 700 blog postings on Simply Superb Swans. I'm sure he would learn a great deal about the care, feeding, and rights and wrongs of dealing with Swans and river birds. I met him briefly the other day on the sewage bridge, but was not formerly introduced, I found out later who he was. Since the subject being discussed was the recently discovered family of rats and what should be done about them, perhaps I should have smelled one. I am reminded of the shiny newly elected ex Cllr Marsden and his attempt at new job creation and empire building, and the end result of his comments about the Swans Island some years ago. With no Nairn bypass, the ongoing dog poo problem, Seagulls, Town Degeneration, sorry Regeneration, and getting yes votes for the referendum, there is plenty for Cllr MacAuley to get his teeth into. I wish him well in his new career and hope he tackles some of the above problems, keeping a healthy distance from the Swans and river birds. He seems to recognise they are an asset to the local tourist industry. Perhaps he could get the region to fund some of the winter feeding costs to maintain our healthy stock of 120 birds ? I currently supply 50kg of grain per week plus carrots and wholemeal bread, at a weekly cost of around £30. Donations cover a part of this. Nairn can be proud of having the healthiest wild river bird population in the highlands thanks to kind donors and myself. On the welfare of the healthiest Swans and ducks in the Highlands, my advice is - if it ain't broke don't fix it! I know politicians like to pick winners, but they should contribute to the success first. I asked the swans if they would like a politician getting involved in their future, their answer in the above photo.