We heard on the BBC News today that duck shooters from the government have killed 4,400 Ruddy Ducks over the past five years!
Harvest explained that it is to protect other species from extinction. But she said that some people thought the programme has been expensive and unnecessary - costing more than £740 for each dead bird.
The Ruddy Duck is originally from the United States, and came to the UK in the 1940s.
Sir Peter Scott, the respected conservationist, has been blamed for accidentally introducing Oxyura jamaicensis to Britain. But after escaping from his Gloucestershire sanctuary, the species soon gained an unfortunate reputation as a "feathered lager-lout".
Experts say it has threatened the existence of the white-headed duck in Spain by interbreeding with it.
So apparently we only have 120 Ruddy Ducks left in the UK now. But how do they know? If they were on a mission to eradicate them, surely they didn't stand by and count them as they swam past. And why are they called Ruddy Ducks? Is it because of their orangey-brown plumage or is it simply because they are annoying? We have often heard Dad say "The ruddy thing won't work!" Gordon & Sylvia xxx
Harvest explained that it is to protect other species from extinction. But she said that some people thought the programme has been expensive and unnecessary - costing more than £740 for each dead bird.
The Ruddy Duck is originally from the United States, and came to the UK in the 1940s.
Sir Peter Scott, the respected conservationist, has been blamed for accidentally introducing Oxyura jamaicensis to Britain. But after escaping from his Gloucestershire sanctuary, the species soon gained an unfortunate reputation as a "feathered lager-lout".
Experts say it has threatened the existence of the white-headed duck in Spain by interbreeding with it.
So apparently we only have 120 Ruddy Ducks left in the UK now. But how do they know? If they were on a mission to eradicate them, surely they didn't stand by and count them as they swam past. And why are they called Ruddy Ducks? Is it because of their orangey-brown plumage or is it simply because they are annoying? We have often heard Dad say "The ruddy thing won't work!" Gordon & Sylvia xxx
