The buzzard is a wonderful bird of prey that has only recently recovered from sustained historic persecution, to become a regular and cherished sight in our countryside,. However, it still remains the victim of widespread persecution in the UK – remember the recent slaughter of six buzzards and 16 red kites in Ross-shire? It is, like all birds or prey, long-lived and produces relatively few young every year. This makes the species susceptible to the impact of removal of adults from the population. Any relaxation of their protection coupled with ongoing persecution could ultimately threaten the population and this is why we continue to fight for their protection. Unfortunately, it seems as though there are still people out there who can’t tolerate buzzards in our countryside.
You may remember that Natural England granted licences to control buzzards at a chicken farm and pheasant shoot last year – the first time that such licenses had been issued. I made it clear at that time that we had very serious concerns about the use of licences to kill buzzards. Subsequent licence applications to kill adult buzzards at four pheasant shoots managed by the original applicant were then rejected by NE, which was good news. The applicant admitted that destroying nests had not solved the ‘problem‘.
Credit: Ben Hall rspb-images.com
To find out what is happening this year, we asked NE to tell us whether any new licence applications had been made to control buzzards or any other birds of prey. Perhaps not surprisingly, we have found out that an application was made on 23 April to cage trap and shoot ten buzzards across four sites to prevent ‘serious damage’ to pheasant poults. We also know the applicant has sought licences to control buzzards in previous years.
I am disappointed that a new licence application has been sought to control buzzards to protect gamebirds.
To our knowledge, there isn't any evidence to justify issuing licences for the control of buzzards and we think the application should be rejected by Natural England, especially since they rejected applications for the same activity last year.
We would wish any new evidence to be put in the public domain.
We also can’t understand why this case is so exceptional that the applicant needs to apply for these permissions when other pheasant keepers don’t see the need. There are loads of ways to prevent young pheasants being killed by buzzards, for example by creating cover for the gamebirds or by installing deterrents to keep buzzards away.
What happens next year if more buzzards fill the territories left vacant by those killed this year? Another application and more dead buzzards?
We believe Defra should issue clear guidance to NE that they should reject all licences to control buzzards given the lack of evidence of widespread problems and their status. To date, they have shown no signs of doing so.
In the meantime, we’ll continue to ask NE to give the public information on these licence applications and their reasons for accepting or rejecting them. What we really need is the gamekeeping industry to identify ways in which they can live alongside buzzards and invest in protecting their poults without resorting the lethal control. We can’t understand why they haven’t invested in research into this if it’s such a big problem. We will watch carefully to find out whether NE grants the licence or not and let you know what we find out.
I know that most people would prefer to see buzzards in the sky rather than trapped or killed. They want to know that they are flying free from persecution.
A test of a modern 21st century society is one that tolerates predators and finds ways to live in harmony with brids of prey. Reaching for the gun, every time there is a perceived conflict, is the wrong response.
If you are as concerned about this as we are, please ask Defra to tell Natural England to reject this licence application by emailing them at defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk or on Twitter @DefraGovUK using #buzzard.
Disingenuous Rob (or just tongue in cheek)? ...it maybe to protect wild pheasant broods! Pheasant is an introduced species, many avoid the gun and escape to breed in the "wild" even in my garden.
Thanks Martin. I would indeed wish to see the application - obviously redacted, as this is not a witch hunt - for all we know, it may be to protect wild pheasant broods. I'm sure that errant kestrel sizing up the little tern colony is being 'moved along' pronto.
As you know, I condemn high-density pheasant releases that add nothing to the wider environment and perhaps we don't differ that much, as all reasonable non-lethal methods must be exhausted before the 'ultimate sanction' is applied to 'rogue' wildlife - whether a ruddy duck, mole, buzzard, lesser black backed gull or bullfinch.
Best
Rob - on this occasion the only information we have is what we has been volunteered by NE to date. Unlike previous occasions we do not have a dedacted version of the application. This is one of the reasons why we argue license applications to be in the public domain. But, as you know, we go further and just think it is wrong to be even contemplating lethal control to protect pheasants. Which is perhaps where you and I differ. Take this issue off the table and it is easier to get back to constructive dialogue.
These applications are terrible. I am certainly as concerned as you are. I have therefore emailed Defra as requested.
Why O why doesn't the shooting fraternity stop this madness ? The damage it does to the opinion of people in the middle ground to shooting is out of all proportion to the damage Buzzards may or may not do at a tiny number of shoots. Responsible shoots need to wake up to the fact that this tiny minority is endangering a future where shooting will have to work hard to convince a wider, non-shooting public, that it is a valid activity.