Are Britain's nesting birds about to disappear under new shooting legislation?

As from today, it is no longer legal to shoot certain types of carrion and wood pigeons without a special license.

The move comes after conservationist and BBC pundit Chris Packham successfully petitioned the government for a ban to control bird species such as crows, magpies, gulls and wood pigeons. Sixteen species are affected overall.

Farmers and pest controllers will need to apply for a special license to control pests. Failure to comply could lead to prosecution.

"Anyone exercising lethal control of birds after Thursday 25 April 2019 without taking the above steps will not be covered by a general licence and could be committing an offence."

The move comes at the worst possible time for Britain's countryside as small birds will be nesting and spring crops are being sown on just germinating. There are calls for Packham to be sacked by the BBC. The petition has fast approaching 75,000 signatures.

As I write this I'm watching a pair of blue tits popping in and out of a nest box. These birds have brought me so much joy as they work to build a nest. Hopefully there are now little chicks inside the box: Just forty metres away there is a magpie nest and I can hear the rattling call of the magpies as they too strive to rear their young. I know, given the right opportunity, these magpies would kill and eat the blue tits.

Of course one could argue that this is part of nature's process but there's one major flaw, magpies, crows and jays don't have a mechanism to control their own numbers (although a crow would steal eggs and kill young of a magpie, for example). It takes little time for predator numbers to spiral if left unchecked.

Having been a gamekeeper and pest controller myself I know first hand the damage that carrion and pigeons can do. It's nothing for flocks of several hundred thousand wood pigeon descend on a newly drilled or germinated crop. In a short period of time, irreparable damage can be done, leading not only to huge financial loss for the producer but also loss to the food chain.

Whilst I am not against licensing I do think that there's not been a balanced discussion between government, pro-shooting and conservation groups sitting around the same table.

Comments

[Grace]

A discussion between the affected parties would be very helpful. i can see the dilemma they are in.

[gathoni]

This is a good article, but the people who made the law are the one breaking it. Any living creation should be well cared for irrespective of its nature.