Thanks Cats. I wondered about that.
Our (Victoria, Australia) State bird -- The Helmeted Honey-eater has been on the endangered list for decades. They are just hanging on in one tiny woodland. Our State mammal is also endangered.

The blowing-up of the Choughs was only part of the problem, I believe. There was also the message that people who cared were fools at best, dangerous at worst. I got the idea the message was also "let's make fun of the Cornish people for caring about their boring old birds".

If I'd been doing the writing I'd have had the Choughs win -- Had them blow up the egg-stealing baker. He was the nasty piece of work.
Joy