A quick update regarding the campaign, it's been a while since I have blogged about it but these are strange times where time itself seems to mean little....
Anyway, the main event, that is the publication of Natural England's 2020 licensing data, is supposed to be scheduled for next month. As you know, as a result of our campaign Natural England has vowed to publish its licensing stats in full each and every March for public perusal. I've already been in touch with them to check when exactly we can can expect to see the figures, but I've yet to receive a reply.... If I were cynical then I'd wonder whether they plan to use the pandemic as an excuse to delay.... but I'm not cynical so let's wait and see. Meanwhile we are still seeing the direct results of our campaign, benefitting bird life in this country. In a Natural England blog on 10th Februrary, David Slater, NE's Director for wildlife licensing, tells us that the agency has been issuing far fewer licences to cull lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls than in previous years. Last year, I reported that Natural England had decided to reduce the number of licences they issued to control rural gulls, while still apparently considering the ongoing culls of urban populations, suggesting that they would be "prioritising applications related to health and safety, public health and air safety." I questioned this at the time, explaining that it made no sense to offer this kind of half cocked protection for the birds, populations of which were in steep decline. Again perhaps they listened, for it seems that they subsequently decided to restrict the issuing of licences across all areas. In his post, Dave Slater says "While we did grant some licences, most applications did not provide enough evidence that suitable alternatives had been properly considered before seeking a licence for lethal control and frequently, evidence provided fell short of our legal tests. " He went on to say that "We want to support the continued recovery of these large gulls and will improve further the evidence that informs licensing in future years." Finally they are getting the message. But we must not forget that it was only a couple of years ago, between 2017 and 2019 that the same organisation issued licences to slaughter up to 7000 red-listed Herring gulls. Yes, 7000. It's really appalling that Natural England's epiphany took so long and that they were complicit in decimating the same gull species that they now strive to protect. The news that gull licences are now harder to obtain will no doubt anger those so called 'pest controllers' who make a living from culling gull populations in urban settings, but as happened with the Dodo and countless other species, some people can't stop the killing until the last one has gone forever; then they will find something else to 'control' or 'manage'. So pay them no heed. I am aware that gulls are a contentious bird, polarising opinions (albeit between the ignorant and the enlightened), but I also know the vast majority of us will celebrate this win for our campaigning - and that it will spur us on to continue our work. Meanwhile I'll let you know when Natural England's licensing data emerges. Best, Jase (for petition click here)
19 Comments
Helyn Leadstone
25/2/2021 08:35:21 pm
Stop killing nature
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Clive Swinsco
26/2/2021 07:46:46 am
Good Work Jason ; we must challenge ALL killing of our wildlife. Indeed, "cull" is simply a euphemism for kill (see "language matters" by War On Wildlife) We must also insist our RSPB & other conservation groups stop lethal "control" - please join/support Birders for Ethical Conservation.
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Nick
26/2/2021 08:18:27 am
Just leave Gulls alone. So what if they steal chips. It’s not their fault we brandish them!
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graeme murray
4/3/2021 03:47:02 pm
Aye it was always heartening to see a gull /albatross after a lengthy run between ports.
pam allen
16/3/2021 04:12:06 pm
Some good news Jase about time Un-natural England protected an endangered species.. after allowing 7000 to be killed.
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Ray Sigrist
25/2/2021 08:35:52 pm
I love all seagulls, I know so that they can pinch your chips or ice creams. People should be more careful. Also, the dols can be quite aggressive at nesting times. Again people should know this and be aware at nesting times. I had no idea ear that gulls were being culled. How terrible, gulls are beautiful, majestic birds. 😕 😠
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Miss Esther Levy
25/2/2021 08:51:24 pm
Yeah but theyve sanctioned more culling of corvids.
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Gareth Huw Lewis
25/2/2021 09:15:26 pm
It is truly heartening to read about the progress that has been made as a result in particular of your campaign.
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Lance Moore
25/2/2021 09:21:31 pm
Hi Jason , and everyone. Can we please use the word KILL, instead of cull.
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Keith Dancey
27/2/2021 03:29:04 pm
No. Killing and culling have different meanings. Use a dictionary and find out.
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graeme murray
4/3/2021 07:55:40 pm
Checking my;Collins English Dictionary, (Second Edition}, Cull has quote:3.to reduce the size of ( a herd or flock) by ' KILLING' a proportion of its members.
graeme murray
4/3/2021 03:55:52 pm
Aye! 'Cull' Just a synonym for KILL.
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Victoria Harrison-sewell
25/2/2021 10:52:37 pm
I am horrified that they want to cull the gulls. I live by the sea & see what idiotic people do, tormenting them. Then complaining when they swoop for the food they throw about!
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Rupert King
25/2/2021 11:51:22 pm
I would just like to thank Jason again for shining a persistent light on a very dark place - government sanctioned slaughter of our wild birds (Lance Moore you're right: cull is a euphemism). I never knew about all this until Jason came along.
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John Clayden
26/2/2021 10:28:26 am
Thanks for your work. Last year I watched from my my sixth floor flat here in Hackney London - pair of Herring Gulls on a chimney make a nest raise 2 chicks fight off predators only two see them destroyed by two men just as they were stretching their wings.At present a couple of pairs are squabbling over the site. I do not want to see a repeat performance.
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Julie Taylor
26/2/2021 11:34:05 am
I very much agree with the previous comment here - shining a light in a dark place is evidently yielding good results. It seems that as more of us are watching and raising awareness to the behaviour of government/agencies, they are listening to our side of the story too. We now need to not look away!
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Christine Burden
26/2/2021 01:55:01 pm
Thank you Jason. Your tireless campaign for gulls is evidently bearing fruit. Next stop- corvids??? or to stop the extermination of harmless ducks, coots and moorhens as a health hazard in public parks. The more people who are aware of these unnecessary killings, the harder it will be for 'them' to authorise them. xxx
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Clare Girvan
26/2/2021 02:55:58 pm
You can't catch anything from coots and moorhens because they don't like you and won't come near. Ducks, possibly, but I associate with ducks regularly and anything I've caught has been from human beings, not them. As has been seen, we are deadly spreaders. You didn't get Covid from a duck.
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26/2/2021 02:52:23 pm
I live near the sea and am happy to share my life with these noisy, sociable and entertaining birds. My small town has no restrictions on feeding them, and consequently they are polite and well-behaved. If you're eating, they will wait expectantly, but do not snatch and grab. Black headed gulls will catch food on the wing, and hang in the air, eyeing you until you throw something. It's a pleasure to have anything to do with them. As for culling, nature usually restricts numbers, and a bit more respect wouldn't go amiss.
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