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RSPB
Latest news and opinion on the actions of the RSPB.


RSPB Wildfire Policy: “Don’t Look Abroad”
RSPB’s claim that UK wildfire lessons can’t be learned from abroad ignores global evidence. Experts warn this stance risks leaving our landscapes unprepared.

Andrew Gilruth
7 hours ago3 min read


Hen Harrier Survival: Understanding the Numbers Behind the Headlines
Hen Harrier survival is often misrepresented. This blog examines an RSPB study, exposing inflated claims and highlighting the real situation.

Andrew Gilruth
Sep 123 min read


Birds of Prey Are in a Golden Era - So Why Are Some So Desperate to Talk It Down?
Britain’s birds of prey are thriving. Red kite, buzzards and sea-eagles are all doing well. Golden eagle numbers are up. And, in England, hen harrier numbers are at a 200-year high.

Andrew Gilruth
Sep 23 min read


RSPB Campaign Inciting Assaults Against Gamekeepers: Our Letter to RSPB CEO
The RSPB’s continued demonisation of gamekeepers has led to an exchange of letters between the charity’s CEO and the Moorland Association.

Andrew Gilruth
Aug 134 min read


Is the RSPB Claiming Credit for Others’ Conservation Work? Our Letter to The Sunday Times
The RSPB’s claim that its moorland rewetting programme is boosting bird numbers, including curlew, at its Dove Stone reserve may reflect optimism bias.

Andrew Gilruth
Aug 121 min read


Rod Liddle, Mark Avery, and a Confrontation With Reality
Times Radio billed Andrew Gilruth's recent appearance with Rod Liddle as “a confrontation with the Moorland Association.” In reality, it became a confrontation with reality.

Andrew Gilruth
Aug 1113 min read


Stop Lecturing Rural Britain - Start Listening to It: Our Letter to The Guardian
We sent this letter to The Guardian in response to their piece - 'The place is bleached, a dead zone’: how the UK’s most beloved landscapes became biodiversity deserts.

Andrew Gilruth
Jul 162 min read


RSPB Misses Key Bird Recovery Targets at Lake Vyrnwy
A new report reveals how the RSPB's 2007 management plan for Lake Vyrnwy set specific targets for curlew and black grouse that have largely been unmet.

Rob Beeson
Jul 45 min read


From Science to Spin: How The RSPB is Losing Credibility on Hen Harriers
The RSPB’s latest missive, “Hen Harriers in the Firing Line – 2025”, has all the hallmarks of a tired detective novel: confident conclusions, convenient villains and crucial evidence that always seems to vanish

Andrew Gilruth
Jun 265 min read


Response to RSPB Press Release Accusing Gamekeepers of Killing Hen Harriers
Why is the RSPB pushing unverified data while refusing to publish how many birds live on its own reserves? Read our full response.

Andrew Gilruth
Jun 262 min read


Report Summary: Conserving Birds and Nature in Wales - Land Management Regimes and Taxpayers' Money
This report examines how different land management regimes in Wales can conserve and improve habitats to support biodiversity, particularly birdlife, and assesses their cost-effectiveness.

Rob Beeson
Jun 248 min read


The £190 Million Gamble: Why Britain Can’t Afford to Lose Grouse Shooting
For years, activists have campaigned to end driven grouse shooting. What they haven’t done is explain what they would replace it - or who would pay

Andrew Gilruth
Jun 233 min read
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