Quote Originally Posted by Andy_Faber View Post
There’s some pretty compelling evidence on social media, of capture if not consumption, swans and (from my observation) Bewick geese. Happy to take your view whether to confirm or contradict.
I think you mean Canada geese, or Mute Swans, as RA says Bewicks are wild swans, if anybody got close enough to them to catch I'd be surprised and they only migrate here in Autumn/Winter and are very localised in East Anglia and Gloucestershire.

As for compelling evidence on social media, mm given a pretty good rule of thumb with conventional media (including the BBC) is to believe about 25% of what one sees or hears, my experience of social media is that I'd believe about 2% of what's on there, there is ample actual evidence that a lot of stuff is totally fake and that in others whilst there might be a grain of truth in it, its been amplified and overhyped, such that finding that grain of truth is virtually impossible.

Is is true that certain people are "poaching" fish and possibly wildfowl on occasion, yes I know this to be the case, having witnessed it, are these people all immigrants? No, is it widespread? Difficult to say, I live in an area where there is a high percentage of Eastern Europeans, never had any issue with them quite often see them fishing and suspect they don't have a licence, but then I also see "locals" doing the same.

I've also encountered and intervened with "local" youths attacking geese and swans for fun. On balance I'd say there is a grain of truth in the poaching for food , but that its not the big issue that its being made out to be.

Rather like in the same vein, immigrants are accused of being a danger to women and girls because of "cultural" differences, yet 40% of those protesting against them on this basis last summer, where found to have had contact with the Police and justice system for offences against women and children.