The recent piece I wrote about the Coots being killed in a public park caused a great deal of anger and generated a huge amount of feedback, not one single person supported the action, which had been defended by Natural England who issued the licence for lethal control, due to the birds fouling in public areas.
Many people told me that they want more consultation in these situations, such as notices informing the public of any plans to kill birds in public spaces so that they could have an opportunity to oppose the action and find alternatives to lethal control. 'Seek Views And Engagement Of Local Public....' So I put this to the Operations Director at Natural England, James Diamond, suggesting that an interested public should have some involvement in the decision making process, especially when lethal control licences are considered for public spaces, like parks for example. I have been encouraged by his response. The official line hasn't changed, he reiterated that "public consultation on every individual licence application is very unlikely to happen" .....but I am really heartened by what he went on to say.... "If a public body was planning action in a public park it may be good practice for them to seek the views and engagement of the local public to help manage and understand the issue." I see this as very significant. I feel, intuitively, that we are making progress. Publicly, Natural England has not changed its stance that applications must remain confidential. However this acknowledgement that public opinion should be heard does speak of changes afoot, albeit behind the scenes. There are already some occasions where the agency requires applicants to consult the public and other interested parties as part of a licence application. I believe that this stipulation to include public consultation as a condition of an application may now be implemented in more cases due to pressure from our campaign. This may not be openly acknowledged by the agency yet - but I hope that the annual publication of all the licences that they issue (another success brought about by our petition) will in future reflect a drop in the number of lethal control licences that they have issued, due to more public consultation during the licencing process. A Question About Herring Gulls... On another note, I have asked for a breakdown of a further example licence which approved the killing of 100 Herring Gulls, a red listed species in severe population decline. In the past couple of years alone, the agency has issued licences for the lethal control of thousands of Herring Gulls so I want to know why. They have promised to get back to me on that one and I'll update you all further when I hear from them. I was prompted to ask about this particular example after watching a nest of Herring Gulls high on a rooftop in Liverpool last weekend. We had a 'bird's eye' view from the roof terrace of a hotel in the city centre where we were guests at a very blustery wedding. On the opposite rooftop to where we stood, two Herring Gulls were looking after their chicks in a nest that perched precariously at the base of a steep slope. The devotion of the parents was a beautiful thing to witness. But as I watched them, I was painfully aware of the fragility of their existence. Always at risk of being swept away, not only by the weather but also by the intolerance of some people who might want to remove the birds and their nests. It is not acceptable that licences have been officially approved and issued to kill thousands of them. The sight of these beautiful birds struggling to survive, in a world that has become ever more hostile towards them, made me even more determined to fight for their increased protection. So, on behalf of the Coots, the Herring Gulls and the dozens of other species at risk of officially approved lethal control - thank you again for your loyal support in striving for a more compassionate and tolerant approach to nature. Please keep sharing the petition! We really are making a difference. * We have an assurance that details of every licence will now be published in full, annually. * We have an acknowledgement that public bodies should seek the views and engagement of the local public when planning action "to help manage and understand the issue". * We have constructive ongoing dialogue with Natural England. * We have a voice. And we are making change happen, of this I feel sure. Thank you, Jase
27 Comments
Chris Hughes
7/6/2019 04:33:20 pm
It is so nice to see someone who likes seagulls (herring gulls). They are so maligned and hated. Please tweet the sweet and adorable pic of parent gull and chick to try to make this bird seem more endearing and gentle.
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Elizabeth Davies
7/6/2019 07:57:53 pm
I love all birds every single one of them
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lorraine cartledge
8/6/2019 08:32:32 am
I am worried about this petition because the crows, magpies, rooks etc are decimating the small birds by eating their eggs! I feed the birds but every year I just get more crows, rooks magpies and pigeons!!! Think we need licenses to cull these kind of birds I am afraid!
Roger A Coleman
7/6/2019 08:15:54 pm
Hi Jason, please check on licences issued for Sellafield in Cumbria, where culling is a regular occurrence. This year they seem to have prevented any chicks from hatching by pricking eggs, I have not seen a single chick..
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Alan A
8/6/2019 10:57:49 am
Living in Portsmouth I often visit Gunwharf Quays where there are numerous restaurants with outdoor seating areas with tables covered by sun umbrellas.It amuses me to watch the occasional herring gull perch on top of one of these surveying the diners below and waiting to swoop for discarded food once the table has been vacated.If the diners dally too long they will be serenaded with a discordant cry to hurry them on their way.
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Ellen Law
8/6/2019 10:58:50 am
Thank you for this important work . I love seagulls and all birds and I do not support action which threatens their existence for a bit of human convenience. People need to believe in all nature not selected bits which suit them
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Andrew Jankowski
7/6/2019 04:35:26 pm
thanks, as always, for the sterling work you do - we are all
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Andrew Donovan
7/6/2019 04:43:43 pm
Fantastic work, Jason. I'm with you and the Herring Gulls and every other creature whose habitat Man is so thoughtlessly dislodging and/or relentlessly subsuming. Bless you for standing up for Nature, and the sheer breath-taking beauty of it all - and what we are otherwise throwing away.
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Geoff Halpin
7/6/2019 04:51:49 pm
BUT WHERE IS THE FULL LIST OF WILDLIFE ????
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Tom Townsend
7/6/2019 04:52:51 pm
The mind boggles as to why we need a petition to stop this ,and all other animals that suffer because of man.why doesn't the government get to grips and lay down stiff rules and stick to them and punish who ever breaks them.Give the RSPCA a lot more power to deal with cruelty. That includes halal meat.a terrible way to die.
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Gillian Lee
12/6/2019 01:45:30 am
Yes, agree absolutely, its disgraceful that halal slaughter is allowed in our animal compassionate country. If ever a petition is needed that is the one It would beat the record for signatures.
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Judith Knighton
7/6/2019 04:57:28 pm
I didn't realise that Herring Gulls are in decline. I feel bad now for praising my garden crows for chasing them off the bird table :-( I shall try and ensure the gulls get a turn at the table as well. Thank you for all that you are doing
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Dorothy Norman
7/6/2019 04:57:28 pm
Thanks for all your efforts, they will make a difference.
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Marcia
7/6/2019 05:01:23 pm
Loss of seagulls was the best thing about leaving Folkestone. We had a massive bully of a male gull who pulled out the seal round our double glazing if I didn't feed him.
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Chris
7/6/2019 05:20:26 pm
Well Marcia, you may soon wish that you did still have Herring Gulls, and other creatures you dis-like as we are going to see most of our animal kingdom vanish fairly soon now. Lack of Habitat, food and recognized shelter will be gone. Remember . it is NOT the animals fault if they soil your washing or make a noise etc. WE ARE THE CULPRITS. You need to listen to David Attenborough and
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Frances Wicks
7/6/2019 05:23:01 pm
All animals are sentient beings, like us, and have the God-given right to be left alone and allowed to live.
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Julie carter
7/6/2019 07:59:31 pm
I strongly agree with this, but don't forget that housing and transport is also another cause of loss of habitats for wildlife.
Christine Wardlow-Kaye
7/6/2019 07:00:22 pm
I have wondered why our greylag geese numbers in York are drastically down in numbers. Maybe it's Natural England that is behind their decline. Greylags are amazing geese; they have one partner for life and are indigenous to the UK. They are also very caring parents.
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Barry Larking
7/6/2019 07:10:56 pm
This country is in a weird place. We espouse a love of wild life but are always seeking to control it. My inner city back yard has young Hedge Sparrows, Goldfinches, argumentative Jackdaws, Waddling Wood Pigeons and acrobatic Magpie's and a neighbours very fluffy cat! No trouble, just curious.
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Roger
11/6/2019 09:12:57 am
You have to have controls, Barry, else the country just becomes filled with crows, jackdaws, grey squirrels and foxes, much as the case is in the suburbs now.
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Alayne Bowditch
7/6/2019 08:01:52 pm
You are to be admired for your care and bravery.
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Richard Crowe
8/6/2019 12:09:37 am
Thanks for your great work. I would like to bring up the subject of hedgerows. They are being totally decimated throughout Devon, Wiltshire and Dorset and its beginning to happen in Cornwall too to my certain knowledge and it is probably a countrywide issue now. A vital habitat for so much wildlife, hedgerows between fields are being hacked back and cropped to just a shadow of their former abundant selves. Often barely now 2 foot wide and maybe 4 or 5 foot high they are incapable of sustaining shelter now. Why are farmers doing this? To gain a tiny amount more land? Because they have the machinery and just can? I think this issue needs greater attention. They are vital and being wilfully destroyed. Just look around you.
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David Baker
8/6/2019 10:30:39 am
Keep up the great work Jason. Just a thought, but have you thought about submitting an FOI request to NE to obtain from them the reasons why the Herring Gulls were killed? I presume that most such licence applications come from local councils? Intuitively, my own view is that the laws governing the issue of such licences should prevent them being issued on the basis of bird fouling (unless in the most extreme of cases) and, if that were the case, then we'd see a drop off in the number of such licences being issued.
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Kevin Elliott
9/6/2019 10:45:37 am
Jason, you are doing a great job here. I am sure it’s been said but I now refer to this organisation as Unatural England. They are frankly a disgrace. What ever their ethos it doesn’t include the protection of nature. There are some times when these orders could be used I suppose but I’m struggling to really think of any. Public consultation by law should take place by the applicant for all public and private ares in my view. Applications need to be channelled through local councils to achieve this. Much like planning applications but we know why it probably won’t happen as it will affect the powerful developer lobby. I hope for the day we properly teach about nature as a full curriculum subject in schools from the start. Rant over. Regards
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Pamela Allen
9/6/2019 11:57:56 am
Thank-you Jase, an informed public with public consultation is the right way forward...For too long unbalanced bias public bodies have been making policy and long term decisions that affect us all. Where we have had no knowledge and no right to contest, object if and when one did as an individual held little or no weight. In a democracy a full public debate must ensue where the public overwhelmingly make an informed decision based upon fact and the basic right for all species to live as they have lived over the past thousands of years.
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10/6/2019 10:33:05 am
May I ask what is R.S.P.B. doing while all this killing is going on. I thought they were for the protection of birds?
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Ruhee
13/6/2019 12:39:13 am
So sad and upset to see the persecution of so many birds and other species. Is it any wonder that the U.K is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world? I really love your poem Jason, "When Mankind Leaves The World Behind ..." a message for Earth Day - this poem really says it all.
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