Dthe G I think the RSPB, rather like the RSPCA and national trust, tend to let ideals get in the way of common sense at times(and I have phrased that as delicately as I could)
Mr Botham also can hardly be regarded as a disinterested observer.
I would take issue with the lack of transparency though- I would make the continued charitable status of the RSPB dependent upon independently verified transparency.
Nature, the environment, ecosystems-call it what you will, Despite continual scientific studies, it has a nasty habit of frequently upsetting deeply held "beliefs". Probably because the many strands making the whole have extremely complex, poorly understood inter relationships and inter-dependencies.