Parakeet campaigners vow to carry on to save birds

Image by Steve BaldwinA rally against the culling of monk parakeets on the Isle of Dogs drew a "disappointing" crowd but organisers are determined to continue their campaign.

Around 35 people attended the rally in Millwall Park last Sunday to try and stop the cull of the birds by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).

However more than 2,000 people have signed an online petition against the cull.

Those who did attend were addressed by Simon Richardson from Borehamwood, who has led a campaign to stop a similar cull of the birds in the Hertfordshire town. Despite the low turnout campaign organiser Lorraine Cavanagh pledged to continue the fight.

She said: "It was a disappointing attendance because we have got a lot of support across the Island. But it was a nice day and people do have family commitments and other things, so we're not too surprised. But people were there in spirit.

"Those who did come along enjoyed hearing about the success of the Borehamwood campaign, where they have suspended the cull, and it's given us all a spur to carry on."

Defra wants to remove the birds because it claims they cause damage to crops and infrastructure.

Mrs Cavanagh added: "We've heard Defra have been to Mudchute to find out where they can put swoop nets to catch the birds, but when they bring them in we'll be ready to come down and scare the birds away so they don't get caught.

"We're also going to address the full Tower Hamlets Council in November."