Natural England issuing licences to kill red and amber-listed birds

dave broome · Status: Offline

RE: Natural England issuing licences to kill red and amber-listed birds

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Not a license to kill but Un-Natural England are at it again.

naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/16/natural-england-issues-licences-for-taking-peregrine-falcons-from-the-wild-for-falconry/

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Even David Attenborough is saying "Think about who you vote for"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-42796238/attenborough-think-about-who-you-vote-for

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Can't believe this (or, these days, maybe I can?).

What's been going on? Have Wrens been attacking cattle? Ringed Plovers causing damage to forestry?

Our wildlife protection laws seem to be a complete joke. You ask for an exemption to the law and it's given. If it's not given, you just break the law and get away with it.

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Here is the response from the RSPB:

Dear Tim,

Thank you for your enquiry.

I can confirm we are aware of this matter and are trying to find out further detail. The RSPB is currently in the process of working with Natural England on the licensing process to make sure it is fit for purpose.

Currently, licences may be issued by Natural England for a number of reasons including to prevent serious damage to:
Livestock
Foodstuffs for livestock
Crops
Growing timber
Fisheries or inland waters
And to stop the spread of disease

Without knowing the reasons for each license, it is impossible to comment on individual cases, but some of the species that have been listed raise questions. As a rule, most licenses should only be issued when legal (including non-lethal) methods of resolving the problem are ineffective or impracticable.

If you would like further information as to the issuing of licences by Natural England, I would advise getting in touch with them directly as we cannot comment on the policy and operations of any external organisation. Natural England have now released further information on their website here is a link https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2018/12/12/the-facts-about-licences-for-wild-birds/

Kind regards,

Charlotte Ambrose
Supporter Services (wildlife)

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

John Watson wrote:

Don't know what to say. It's a gross abuse of authority

Has Jason informed the RSPB ?

I'd see how they react first, but The Guardian would also be a way forward

I don't know this person at all - it was reposted on FB. However I have sent what he says to the RSPB by e-mail and asked for comment.

John Watson · Status: Offline

Don't know what to say. It's a gross abuse of authority

Has Jason informed the RSPB ?

I'd see how they react first, but The Guardian would also be a way forward

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

It came to my attention today via Facebook that a man called Jason Endfield submiited a Freedom of Information request in relation to his campaign to stop Natural England issuing licences to kill Ravens in England. What he discovered about the extent of licensed killing beggars belief. Here is what he says on his blog:

Natural England have confirmed that they issued licences to shoot at least 40 species of birds between 2015 and 2018. The list of species makes for shocking reading and includes such treasured birds as the Skylark, Blackbird, Great Tit, Red Kite, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Kestrel, Bullfinch, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Plover, Robin and Wren.
I received the grim news as a result of a Freedom Of Information request.
Natural England say that these are all 'individual licences' permitting the 'lethal control (shooting)' of the said birds.
The list doesn't even include any species listed on the CL12 'Air Safety Class' licence or General Licences GL04, GL05 and GL06, so the actual number of species targeted is likely to be much higher.
I'd requested the information as part of my campaign to stop the cull of English Ravens and, in their response to my enquiry, Natural England have also confirmed that permission was granted to allow a total of 60 Ravens to be shot during the same period, 45 having been shot to date.
The news that so many of our most treasured species of birds have been shot is appalling and fills me with dismay. I know many of you will feel the same.
A significant number of the species for which shooting licences have been granted are classed as endangered and feature on the RSPB Red and Amber lists for birds of conservation concern, several including the Skylark, Curlew and Ringed Plover being in need of the most urgent conservation.
While the specific reason for each of the licences being issued is not known, can there be any justification for shooting a Bullfinch? Or a Wren for heaven's sake?
Who in their right mind requests permission to shoot a Skylark?
And for what possible reason?
The world, it seems, has finally gone mad.

Here is the full list of species for which shooting licences have been issued:-

Brent Goose, Greylag Goose, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Back Gull, Curlew, Oyster Catcher, Buzzard, Raven, Kestrel,
Peregrine Falcon, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Stock Dove, House Sparrow, Wren, Black Bird, Great Tit, Finch, Starling, Golden Plover, Cormorant, Goosander, Egyptian Goose, Moorhen, Mallard, Pink Footed Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Ruddy Duck, Bullfinch, Ringed Plover, Fantailed/White Dove Barnacle Goose, Robin, Coot, Sky Lark, Sparrow

*Red List Species Highlighted In Red *Orange List Species Highlighted In Orange

Copied and pasted so excuse spelling mistakes. The highlighting has disappeared