Natural England is expected soon to bow to the almost inevitable and drop any plans for brood meddling of Hen Harriers in 2020. All Natural England fieldwork is suspended at the moment in line with government instructions on non-essential travel. Natural England is re-allocating staff resources to priority areas in an attempt to ensure that…
Tag: Natural England
Guest blog – Peregrines and licences by Bob Elliot
Bob was the head of the investigations and species protection team for the RSPB for 14 years, fighting wildlife crime both in the UK and internationally. He is now the Director for OneKind, an animal welfare charity based in Edinburgh, that exposes cruelty and persecution to Scotland’s animals via investigations, research and campaigning. @onekindtweet OneKind…
Bird song (42) – Bittern
The booming song of the Bittern is not going to be heard in every garden in the land but probably this year in more than for a long time. The combination of less noise from road and air vehicles with a booming population (that’s a pun that few can resist) means that the extraordinary song…
National Trust press release – Endangered bee gets a foothold in Somerset
Endangered bee gets a foothold in Somerset Lytes Cary designated as one of only two exemplary sites for the Shrill carder bee in England Bee is a priority species due to the huge losses of flower rich habitats since the 1950s National Trust volunteers, staff and farm tenants have worked together to make a safe…
RSPB press release – Lots of Cranes
UK Crane population reaches its highest level for over 400 years Latest common crane survey reveals a record-breaking 56 pairs of cranes in 2019, bringing the total population to an estimated 200 birds. Cranes became extinct in the UK around four hundred years ago but following the natural recolonisation of a few birds and extensive…
Prospects for the shooting season
When I first started asking contacts in the shooting industry about the prospects for shooting and how it would be affected by coronavirus they all sounded surprised to be asked and expressed no doubt that all would be much as normal. This round up on the William Powell site tells a very different story. Confidence…
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
In yesterday’s Natural England blog on the licensing of taking Peregrines from the wild Natural England’s Director for wildlife licensing, Dave Slater, points out that Natural England can issue licences for a variety of purposes which include falconry. The legislation in question is the Wildlife and Countryside Act where the relevant section is, I think,…
Helena Horton – maybe you thought I didn’t mean it?
I received an email from Helena Horton of the Daily Telegraph yesterday afternoon asking for a quote and a chat about NE’s licensing of taking Peregrines from the wild. I, and Wild Justice, have recent experience with the Telegraph and Ms Horton (see here, here) and so back in February, after another lapse on the…
Wild Peregrines for falconry (continued)
Yesterday’s two blog posts on the decision of Natural England to license the taking of a very small number of Peregrine chicks for captive breeding by falconers caused quite a storm (see here and here). Here are my thoughts: Many thanks to Gary Wall for writing a blog and for responding to all of the…
Guest blog – taking Peregrines from the wild for falconry by Gary Wall
Mark writes: Gary Wall is a falconer and I’m grateful that he took up my offer to write about the licence he has been issued by Natural England to take a small number of Peregrine Falcons from the wild. This blog gives more detail and background. Gary writes: Having been a falconer for 47 years…