I quite like Chris Packham

[Stressedout65]

Is it just me or is there something about Chris Packham. I've never really taken much notice of him before, but in another life I think I would!

I'm a very big fan of him and everything he does.

DH hates him because he doesn't support culling of certain birds, like magpies. DH has seen magpies systematically taking chicks and eggs from the smaller birds' nests in hedgerows. Unsurprising that small birds numbers are declining and magpies rocketing. Other causes too of course, but doesn't help

Think you'll find that's our fault for decimating their natural habit, not the magpies' fault.

I think you’ll find that that’s the point too - humans have changed the natural wild environment, if we leave it now with no management or input we see situations where more adaptable species (such as corvids and predatory species) thrive and others disappear.

I would rather see predators controlled to a manageable level (not fox hunting though) so that more vulnerable species can thrive.

Ideally humans shouldn’t have encroached on wild land, but we’re here and we’re not going anywhere anytime soon. The least we can do is protect what there is and manage it to protect the diversity of species we have.

What are you defining as a predator though? Isn't everything a predator to some degree. What do you think small vulnerable birds predate? Insects perhaps? Shall we cull some robins, wrens and blackbirds while we're at it. You can't really talk about managment and protection without looking at the reasons and motivations behind that management and protection. If the ultimate goal is biodiversity, great, but it the objective is profiteering for a select few, then the wider costs of that profiteering deserve further examination. Nobody in their right mind would claim that CP is opposed to biodiversity.

A few years ago we went to a garden/home show, I turned around to look at DD and she was stood next to Chris Packham. I tried to get a pic and DD who was 8, just kept saying loudly "who is this man? Why are you taking a pic? I don't know this man!" I was so embarrassed I moved her away and never did get that pic.

That's hilarious 😂

@Stressedout65 , he is the creepiest man on telly and radio.

But why though? What makes him 'creepy'?

Does he? I didn't know that. Very weird indeed. I'd like to be able to ask him why he does that. Quite a bizarre thing to say.

I don’t know if there are endangered insects tbh.

Where I live the greatest danger to curlews is predators - magpies, foxes etc. It was falsely claimed that their numbers were dropping (from the 1990s iirc) because of farmers repurposing land. Gamekeepers have played a key role in their numbers coming back up.

Packham’s views often verge on letting his hatred of land management create some hypocritical viewpoints. He’s been caught out on this several times.

It is widely documented that insect numbers are plummeting across the planet so yes, you could say that they are endangered. That's great to hear that gamekeepers are supporting curlews, such beautiful birds. Could they be encouraged to do the same for white tailed eagles, rather than poisoning them do you think? That would be wonderful reparation for their decimation by gamekeepers in the first place.

He just is, and he registers high on my creepometer.

He did a show with his stepdaughter - she wasn't his stepdaughter, she was his ex-partner's DD. He's self-diagnosed AS.

I dislike the way that he and other celebrities condemn the culling of predators that have no natural predators

He isn't self diagnosed, he was diagnosed in his 40s
www.itv.com/loosewomen/articles/chris-packham-on-being-diagnosed-with-aspergers-in-his-forties-there-are-problems-and-benefits-to-the-condition

Also, nothing wrong with him treating his ex partners daughter as though she is still his step daughter. You are making him sound like a sexual predator or something.

@ofwarren , He self-diagnosed according to other, previous, articles in more reliable publications.

I wouldn't let a DD of mine anywhere near someone who registered high on my creepometer.

His ex-partner's DD is not his step-daughter.

So if my husband and I separated, he would no longer be able to call my son his step son? Even though hes the only dad hes ever known? How does that work then?
Megan was only 12 when Chris and her Mum split up.

And every article I'm looking at says he was undiagnosed as a child and a teen and then got his diagnosis as an adult.

Which more reliable articles? I have read multiple places that he was diagnosed in his 20s. Do you think he's lying?

The fact that you wouldn't let your daughter near a man with Asperger's because he sets off your "creepometer" says more about you than him.

Of course she is!!!

He has been in her life from age 3 I believe, he brought her up, that makes him her Step Dad.

I really enjoyed watching him on Springwatch this year.

I thought he was still in a relationship with Megan’s mum, but they don’t live together?

Exactly
As an autistic woman who has an autistic 19 year old son and another child being tested, I always follow the Chris Packham posts to just observe the ableism.
'He's creepy'
'I don't like his voice'
'I don't like his mannerisms'

People should just be honest and say they don't like people with autism as they make them feel uncomfortable.

People should just be honest and say they don't like people with autism as they make them feel uncomfortable.

I'm autistic. Am I allowed to dislike him?

No, he was her mother's partner for about 10years. they weren't married so technically not a step-father.

I don't actually dislike him but he can be annoying sometimes. I don't get the creepy thing though.

I don’t live in an area with resident eagles, although in the last few years we do often see migrating sea eagles.

As far as I’m aware numbers of white tailed eagles are now rising, thanks to conservation efforts, including from gamekeepers.

The dictionary says you are wrong