Vultures should be allowed to return as 'nature's waste managers' in Spain

[Staff]

Vultures should be allowed to return as 'nature's waste managers' in Spain
Giles Tremlett in Madrid
guardian.co.uk, Monday 30 November 2009 16.45 GMT

Vultures should be allowed role as 'nature's waste managers', say Spanish researchers | Environment | guardian.co.uk
excerpt from above:

Stringent regulations brought in because of mad cow disease in 2002 meant the carcasses of dead cows, as well as sheep, goats and other livestock, could not be left in the open. Carrion was crucial part of the vultures' diet, but the birds now do much of their feeding at managed carrion centres set up by authorities.

The change means a gradual, decades-old revival of vulture populations around Europe is grinding to a halt. Vultures fed by humans find it harder to reproduce and farmers complain some have taken to attacking live animals.

"The effects of this policy include a halt...

[Equilibrium]

And we shouldn't be fixated with removing road kill from the shoulders of roads to spare motorists of the visuals... Another thing we do that defies logic is cremating our pets. Why don't we haul them out back and leave them be for the clean up crew?

[milkweed]

farmers complain some have taken to attacking live animals...

(valtures) which had been systematically poisoned by farmers

I don't understand this! My parents have buzzards that nest in their barn. Each spring they'd come back to nest. When they had livestock that die (not cows too big) they'd drag it back to the woods and let the buzzards have it.
Very clean and efficient.

I've never heard of vultures attacking live animals!

[Equilibrium]

My family didn't bury pets or livestock either. It all got hauled out back by a tractor and that included dairy cows... reduce, reuse, and recycle and all that good jazz. Never underestimate what a starving animal will do to survive. I've got some photos of a bouncing baby buzzard in an upper barn loft. Beautiful white baby waiting for mom to come home.

[milkweed]

Lets see your photos. Pleeaasse

Yes if they were starving....
I just can't get my mind wrapped around the concept that people would want to harm them.

[Equilibrium]

Here ya go milkweed. These photos were taken with an old digital camera by a totally awesome person who is into her land hook line and sinker... the quality sucks but her bouncing baby buzzard photos are way cool.

[Equilibrium]

More baby buzzard photos.

[milkweed]

Thanks. Striking coloring with the black beak and white down.

[Hedgerowe]

Aww, fuzzy wuzzy buzzard. I have never seen a baby before. Thanks, Equilibrium!