Today Wild Justice heard that it had been granted permission for judicial review of the release of 47 million non-native Pheasants and 10 million non-native Red-legged Partridges into the countryside for shooting. Wild Justice says that these unlimited, unregulated releases need to be assessed for their impacts on sites of nature conservation importance. This does not simply affect birds released on those sites, but the impacts of releases elsewhere on those sites.
The notice at the top of this post shows that the action is directed at DEFRA and its obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directives, but that a whole bunch of other parties have shown an interest: notably shooting organisations such as BASC, the NGO and the Countryside Alliance.
It looks like three friends (myself, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay) against a good section of the establishment. But we have a bunch of very talented lawyers working with us to make the legal system deliver for wildlife. The law is the law and Wild Justice aims to make it work better for nature.
Wild Justice is represented by Carol Day and Tessa Gregory, solicitors at LeighDay, in this legal case; Carol said “Defra was prompted to launch a review into the release of gamebirds on protected sites following the threat of legal action by Wild Justice in 2019 and on the issue of proceedings sought to argue the case is academic and premature. In granting permission for Judicial Review and ordering a hearing before the end of October, the Judge has clearly recognised the importance and urgency of this case, which will now be given a full and proper airing in Court.”.
This legal challenge is already fully funded by those who chose to support a Wild Justice crowdfunder last year (but if you’d like to donate to Wild Justice’s ongoing work then click here for options (and thank you!)).
For more information on this case and other Wild Justice legal challenges, both current and forthcoming, check out the Wild Justice blog (here) and subscribe to the free Wild Justice newsletter (here). Another issue of the Wild Justice newsletter will be sent out before the end of this week.
I am really confused are you here to protect birds or not. Over the last few years I have seen a massive decrease in songbirds finches and our common garden species. However seen a massive increase in the corvids and gull population. I see daily the impact of magpies and other corvids tearing song birds to bits. This needs to be balanced out and the unnecessary actions you take against defra is ultimately destroying the creatures you want to save.
Jeff- yes you are really confused – it’s good that you recognise that.
And another one with no evidence and no idea.
I suppose in your mind Jeff there should be no Corvids! I guess you believe they have no place in the ecosystem and anything that preys upon songbirds or so-called ‘gamebirds’ -despite the fact that is what Nature intended Predators to do- requires balancing which is merely a euphemism for killing by any means possible! I’m forever hearing about ‘balance’ from shooters – most of whom do little or nothing in the way of conservation- so please do explain to us how the UK release of 50 million or so pheasants and partridges per annum can possibly be considered balanced . It is quite frankly an ecological disaster and industrialised bird shooting purely for fun and profit is a disgrace no matter how it’s proponents try to square it!
I think you are confused – can you explain to me how a “massive increase in the corvids and gull population” is being maintained in the face of “a massive decrease in songbirds finches and our common garden species”. You seem to be suggesting that as a predator’s food supply declines massively the predator’s population increases massively. This seems like magical thinking but maybe you have some ecological insight that has passed me by.
Jeff
You haven’t been reading and believing the huff put out by Song Bird Survival by any chance? Any reasonably informed person would know that the effect of predation is clearly not the major influence on the decline of songbirds etc. whatever your personal observationsMay lead you to believe.
I have around my home a healthy population of songbirds finches and Corvus gulls and birds of prey. Yes there is predation but the population hasn’t declined in fact over the years it’s increased Possibly because I’ve designed my garden to provide the food they require. Incidentally the Gulls are regularly predated by Buzzards Peregrine and Grey Heron!
Yes in certain controlled circumstances predator management is justified the wholesale killing is not.
I’m puzzled as to why you think challenging the unregulated release of non native birds is not a concern. They must consume a vast amount of food in the form of invertebrates and seeds etc reducing food availability for the very birds you purport to care about. Also what about the increase in predators that such a huge biomass will attract and sustain?
To not understand the ecological impact of the release of these birds is a scandal and one that needs to be addressed. If the government body that is supposed to do this Isn’t doing its job then this action is very necessary to help our birds and other wildlife.
Your criticism seems misplaced and I’ll informed.
So well done Wild Justice, a vital action that is desperately needed. The whole situation regarding game birds and the shooters here in the Chilterns is totally out of hand. When one drives along the minor roads or goes on walks one sees far more pheasants ,and red legged partridges than any of our native birds. Pheasants are predators on young reptiles such as young adders, slow worms and common lizards, as well as a whole range of invertebrates including the caterpillars of our butterflies. It is small wonder that our reptiles and invertebrates have virtually disappeared from the Chilterns and other swathes of the countryside.
The huge releases of game birds each year has got completely out of control and proportion.
It is shame on DEFRA and Natural England that they have taken no action to halt these huge releases, but then they are both firmly and squarely allied with the shooters that shoot our wildlife for fun.
Bill Kusiar
Ah yes the natural balance of nature, bit like the natural balance of Red Kite numbers.
With regards game bird release, I don’t suppose anyone has given a thought to how many BOP survive and thrive due to the abundance of game birds?
You mean the ongoing recovery of the Red Kite population towards a level that occurred before self-styled “countrymen” commenced with their persecution, reducing them them to a handful of individuals. The lid’s been taken off your activities, and nothing you can do or say can put it back.