Now one all between Categories A and E in the assessment of the controversial threesome of Dalmatian Pelican, Lammergeier and Purple Swamphen.
Interesting that they are taking so long with the Pelican but surely it would be surprising if it makes the grade?
It seems clear that the Lammergeier was from the Alps reintroduction. At the time, I tried to do the maths on the likelihood of both the Lammergeier's parents being born in the wild and got a potential relevant maximum breeding age adult population of 187 made up of 144 released birds and 43 first generation introduced birds so a 5% or so maximum chance that it was a pure second generation bird. Even if the population was self-sustaining, surely an individual needs to be a pure second generation bird at least to be admitted to Category A so I can't see this as anything other than a sensible rational decision.
All the best
Paul
