Since 1979, the EC Birds Directive has protected all birds. However, it is open to Member States to make exceptions to this protection in certain circumstances. In the UK, game birds can be shot during specified open seasons and bird pests can be controlled for the specific purposes. On 1st March 2005, four new general licences were issued by Defra for the purposes of killing or taking specified birds to prevent serious damage or disease, to preserve air safety, to conserve wild birds, and to preserve public health or public safety. |
A new rule within these general licenses was added that states: “This licence can only be relied upon in circumstances where the authorised person can demonstrate that appropriate non-lethal methods of control such as scaring are either ineffective or impracticable.”
It is not a requirement that detailed records of non-lethal methods are kept although this may be helpful under some circumstances. Users must however be able to explain why they believe that such methods are either ineffective or impracticle.
If you are engaged in shooting for pest control purposes – such as controlling woodpigeons and corvids - you are advised to observe certain guidelines. These include:-
1. Your prime objective is pest control and must meet at least one of the criteria for which the licence is issued, such as: the prevention and spread of disease, the prevention of serious damage to livestock, food stuffs, food-stuffs for livestock, crops, soft fruits, commercial woodlands and inland fisheries.
2. DEFRA guidance states that you must be able to explain the reason why you have chosen a lethal method of control as more effective and practical than non-lethal methods, however, there is no obligation on you to have tried non-lethal methods before you commence shooting.
3. When conducting avian pest control you should comply with the certain codes of practice. These include Woodpigeon Shooting Code of Practice, etc.
Further information can be found on www.defra.gov.uk
