In the weeks after the latest stalemate, these fears seemed to be borne out by a gamekeeper seeking permission to protect the pheasants he breeds by "controlling" buzzards.
During a long drive across England last week, I saw as many buzzards (12) as major roadworks and solar farms, the other visible landscape trends.
Experienced guides will take you tracking bears and wolves in the Kingstone Mountain national park - but keep an eye out for lynx, chamoix and buzzards too.
Like other birds of prey, the harrier has been protected by law since 1954, but while buzzards and peregrine falcons have recovered their numbers, in England, hen harriers are now close to extinction.
The video is disturbing: you can hear the thud of stick on skull as the keeper beats the buzzards to death.
In February 2013, members of the public found two live buzzards caught in a large trap designed to – legally – catch crows.
'How about the introduction of some cyclist-unfriendly buzzards?' Cyclists, it appears, have gone naughty.
Two years ago, Jones had caught a keeper beating two buzzards to death.
A claim for age bias can, for instance, be made by old buzzards as soon as they turn 40.
Some of the species prospering, such as carrion crows and buzzards, are disliked.
That circle divided the corpse of the state between themselves like hungry buzzards, and now their children hold political power.
