Wildlife Litter Danger

Yet again the dangers of litter to the wildlife was apparent to me today. I noticed a young gull trailing what appeared to be plastic twine from it's legs. It spent some time trying to peck the tangled mass from it's feet , but only succeeded in making matters worse.

The real danger is the tightening of the twine around the leg stopping the blood supply, when it will lose its foot and probably it's life due to infection. 

Only 20 metres away I noticed the "grey water" drain outlet and surrounding vegetation was festooned with paper towels and other sanitary items, again proving that this is not only a "grey water" overflow ! 

Maybe Scottish water should trace the source of this contamination and hopefully put a stop to it. I am constantly seeing paper towels and other items laying in the shallow water downstream from this drain. Is it from the nearby car wash or shops ? This outlet is also permanently open which will allow rats easy access !

Rock of Wages

Today heralds the addition of massive rock armour to the sewer outfall at the Merryton flats. Apparently Scottish water have decided that this barrier is needed, to prevent erosion by the tidal race and any floods washing the outfall away. Personally I think this is over the top and a waste of money. The money would have been better spent preventing what's coming out of this "grey water" sewer! 

During yesterdays rainfall I could see quite a few sanitary items floating by and the smell was obvious too. 

I thought these items were filtered out, according to Scottish water? Perhaps the River Community Councils new found pride in the riverside might take this up with SEPA and Scottish water ?  
Having spoken to the Contractor today, I was assured that this rock would be covered over completely. If not, it would be a perfect Haven for Rats and Mink, to the detriment of everybody, as well as the wildlife!

Ducklings and Rat update !

Today saw a thaw, and the ducklings enjoying their new two tier swimming pool ( short video below). High tides and huge north sea Swell swept up river swamping both banks along the tidal reaches. 

No doubt many river rats got washed out, which maybe includes the poisoned dead ones near Merryton bridge. I had an update from Alan bentley on the ratcatchers efforts over the "hoards of rats" fiasco in recent weeks. Enclosed content of Mr Bentley's email which I have forwarded to  Liz, Cllr Macaulay,  and others.

Hi Joe

David checked on things yesterday. He reports that there was little evidence of any recent disturbance by rats or uptake of bait, so it looks like this treatment has been successful. Unless something crops up to alter things, David anticipates that he will make a final sign off treatment check next week.

I have contacted Scottish Water regarding the pipe next to the bridge as to what it is, who is responsible, and can it be blocked or sealed off. Will keep you posted.

Regards

  

Alan Bentley Principal Waste Management Officer, Highland Council, TEC Services, Ross House,
High Street, Dingwall,

There is now no need to remove the dense undergrowth near the bridge which is vital to local birdlife !

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.

Rat - a - tat - tat Thousands of Rats Claim !

Attended the River community council meeting tonight, for I had a strong suspicion that I would be in the firing line for feeding the wildlife at the Merryton Bridge. Sure enough, true to form and right on cue, community chair Tommy Hogg said there were "Thousands of rats" at the Merryton bridge due to people throwing food from the bridge! I think he's been reading too many pied piper novels. Over the past fortnight I have only seen the same family of 2 adults and 2 young ones, They have been photographed several times by different people over the past two weeks, and these have been passed no doubt to RCC perhaps giving him the impression that there are thousands of rats at the bridge. Today I happened to see one of the adults coming out of an old drain adjoining the Merryton bridge, unfortunately by the time I got the camera out it had gone, however enclosed pics of the drain cover which has a gap at the bottom big enough for the rats to gain entrance. I get the impression this is a very old defunct drain, perhaps from the days of the old slaughterhouse site ? Also included is a pic of the drain that has just been extended into the river - (before it was extended.) You can see clearly the scope for rats to use it, and with a very unsavoury menu at their disposal ! This is the same drain that I reported to SEPA back in 2007 or thereabouts, and they confirmed that it was indeed spewing raw sewage over the area. Now it will happily spew it into the river when conditions are right ! Over many years I have seen rats from the west pier all the way up the river to Cantrybridge, they are common brown rats and part of the river scene, but I have never seen thousands.

On the question of Brodie of Brodie, I was impressed by the Man 's arguments over the Kingsteps issue, and I share his anti wildfowl shooting stance. It may be sport to some, but it is the killing and wounding of innocent birds never the less.