In light of the continuing rapid decline in many wild bird populations, I've asked Natural England to immediately stop enabling the lethal control of red listed species.
Without urgent action on many levels, we risk losing several species in this country. Natural England continues to licence egg and nest destruction - and still in some cases (unbelievably) shooting - of endangered species. Many of our most treasured birds now face a real and imminent threat of extinction in the UK. This threat, though caused by a number of factors including rapid habitat loss, is being exacerbated and reinforced through bird control licences issued by Natural England. It is not a sustainable situation. Population numbers of red listed species are in freefall and I predict that we could lose some species entirely within the next ten years. These include Starlings, for which Natural England continues to issue lethal control (shoot to kill) licences, Lapwing (licensed egg destruction), Curlew, Herring Gull (alarming number of licences still being issued) and more. Many of these birds were once a common sight, now in some areas they are absent. Air safety remains a contentious issue, accounting for a number of red-list licences being approved, including those for Lapwing, Curlew and Red Kite, though questions remain why a handful of airports have to resort to lethal control of endangered species, either through egg destruction (Lapwing) or shooting (Red Kite, Curlew and more), while most others seem to manage the matter by other means. The lethal control licences issued to a small number of farmers, permitting them to shoot Starlings, are perhaps even more controversial. We will not be able to stem the decline without addressing all of the relevant causes, but a good start would be for Natural England to stop issuing all licences to kill red listed species. It would send out a strong message that killing endangered birds is not acceptable under any circumstance. We need a shift in attitude. The increasing conflict between humans and wildlife is a real and immediate problem. And killing wildlife because it inconveniently affects our lives is just not acceptable. I don't have the licensing data for NRW (Wales), NatureScot and DAERA (NI) so I can't comment on the specific licensing practices of these bodies, but birds do not recognise imaginary national boundaries, so a joint approach is critical and a UK wide ban on issuing red listed licences would be significant. Natural England could set a precedent. I believe that pressure from our campaign (together with the work of others, including Wild Justice), has already changed the way in which Natural England's staff go about considering licence applications. We know they listen. So I have called on Natural England to stop issuing licences affecting red listed birds, with immediate effect. I am awaiting their response and will of course update further. *There are a few occasions where a licence is issued to relocate eggs or nests in order to save them from imminent danger - these licences of course are not contentious where it is a matter of preservation rather than destruction.
31 Comments
Pippa
31/10/2021 10:55:11 am
I hope your hard work and diligence pays off.
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Trish Creaney
31/10/2021 11:01:07 am
Well done you. We should be protecting our wildlife not killing it.X😠😢🙏🤞☘️💖
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Jo
31/10/2021 11:04:21 am
Thank you for your time and efforts. Very appreciated.
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HUDDS7
31/10/2021 11:04:39 am
Nothing is going to change with the Greed Party in power.
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Keith Dancey
31/10/2021 09:24:31 pm
"Nothing is going to change with the Greed Party in power"
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Ronald Teague
31/10/2021 11:05:41 am
Well done keep up the good work I can’t believe with what’s happening in the world this is still aloud to happen 👍
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Karen Elizabeth Gilleberg
31/10/2021 11:07:57 am
You are in inspiration to many, many people Jason - we all applaud you for your tenacity, diligence and shear persistence in trying to get Natural England to do the right thing and stop allowing farmers, etc., to do what they will with our bird species. IT IS NOT RIGHT AND THIS KILLING MUST STOP! Well done to you and all those who help and support you. We have to keep fighting for those that cannot make their voices heard and do not have the ability to fight back - wildlife is precious and one day it will all be gone if we allow it. Kind regards...
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Karen Kindell
31/10/2021 11:11:10 am
And not just endangered birds. One of the rarest mammals in the world, the Scottish Wild Cat is critically endangered by habitat destruction and interbreeding with feral domestic cats. Support Clashindaroch’s Wild Cat project efforts to persuade the Scottish government to relocate a proposed wind farm away from a known area of Wild Cats. There are possibly as few as 30 truly wild Scottish Wild cats in existence!
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James Bunyan
31/10/2021 01:04:54 pm
This is a critical cause.
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Caroline James
31/10/2021 04:18:05 pm
The Scottish government's action towards the wildcats is a disgrace! That they believe that asking the company who want to destroy the habitat to give an assessment is a fair and proper way to do things is appalling!
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Faye Pritchard
31/10/2021 01:31:06 pm
I agree with you. The only problem is the human race.
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June Salter
31/10/2021 11:54:19 am
Hi Jason the RSPB were in the Quadrant Swansea so i went to speak to her and i gave her your name and told her about your petition she said they are not supposed to be killing the birds .
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Tony Marks
31/10/2021 11:56:44 am
I see no mention of the RSPB .....whats their stance on this matter ? Surely they and their significant membership must have a voice and be able to exert some influence ??
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Edward Barratt
31/10/2021 12:36:50 pm
Thanks Jason, for your inspirational work. RSPB need to make much more noise on this unwarranted killing. They also need to make more noise about the 'everyday' ways that humans destroy wild birds (spraying, spikes, lack of responsibility for predator pets and fake, sticky cobwebs at this time of years - to name a few). Far too much reliance on courageous individuals to speak the truth and resist.
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Julie Kavanagh
31/10/2021 12:37:34 pm
Well done for your hard work.
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Wildlife Angels
31/10/2021 12:58:16 pm
We took them to court but the judges took their side. Jason is wasting his time.
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IAN SHERFIELD
31/10/2021 12:54:35 pm
This so called authority have no regard for our natural wildlife, they are in the pocket of the slaughter brigade and will come to rue their spineless support of this unnecessary persecution.
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Roger
31/10/2021 12:55:45 pm
Jason, woud it be possible join forces with Wild Justice to create more impact?
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Joyce williams
31/10/2021 01:51:05 pm
Well done Jason keep up the good work. What are the RSPB doing????
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Keith Dancey
31/10/2021 09:31:20 pm
The RSPB are a CHARITY. Natural England are a STATUTORY BODY.
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Geoff Nigel Halpin
31/10/2021 02:15:43 pm
DEFRA ? That government department responsible for this and they have Lost any Credibility that they ever had . From Culling OUR birds not theirs to taking eggs from the nest ,and Killing an Alpaca ,the Latest thing is Allowing raw sewage into OUR rivers and Seas . This Country Belongs To the People Not Big Business or Domestic and Foreign Banks . Starlings ? I love Them I Have put a Large Garden tray out for them to Have their daily bath and to see about Twenty odd Having a Bath Is a Good start to the Day . But Is My Favourite The BULLFINCH Still on this Hit List ? I Would Like Defra and Others To Recall WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE A BULLFINCH ?
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Patricia Allsopp
31/10/2021 03:29:32 pm
Perhaps issueing licences is the only way Natural England can justify their existance. Just like DEFRA they are not fit for purpose. How you have the patience to deal with them Jason I will never know, but THANK YOU for trying.
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Adam Brown
31/10/2021 04:16:33 pm
More power to you sir. A true soldier. Thanks for your hard work.
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Sara Daw
31/10/2021 07:26:03 pm
I have had dealings with Natural England-they totally ignored my request for their help in the destruction of ancient hedgerow and habitat.
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Carol Heslop
31/10/2021 08:10:30 pm
Thankyou Jason for fighting for a true cause. Wouldn't a life without wildlife be horrible. Thankyou for soldiering on and trying to fight these ignorant and uncaring individuals.
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Rod Stacey
31/10/2021 08:15:30 pm
Thank you
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31/10/2021 10:56:33 pm
It’s appalling. I feed birds daily, but not seen a single Starling for years..only get sparrows, robin and “rock” and big pigeons now, nothing else even tho have wild garden with lots trees, baths, hides etc..new neighbours cleared ALL their garden now a grass desert!., even lovely wild flowers and dandelions get destroyed..Front concreted over for huge cars!! I have cherry, ash, hazel,birch, other trees we used have lots of swifts ...few birds come now !!
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Adrian Charles
1/11/2021 08:40:52 am
Of an age when I saw the huge flocks of starlings
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Prue Stothard
1/11/2021 10:34:55 am
Lovely caring people on this comments page including you Jason. These statutory bodies like Natural England do more to destroy our wildlife than they do to protect it. It's a misnomer; they should be called "Destroyed England". All part of the ignorant government overseers.
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Frances Bee
1/11/2021 12:48:29 pm
Well done. Keep up the fight!
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