England: Close Season Introduced for Pigeons, Crows and Starlings

Surprisingly, England's “General Licences” are to be revoked as of 25 April 2019. The “General Licences” are provisions that regulate the killing of various bird species. A total of 16 species are affected by the ban, including corvids, Canada geese, pigeons, Egyptian geese and gulls.

Until now, the killing of the affected birds for the prevention of damage was regulated under the «General Licences». The government had issued a list of 16 birds that could be killed if they caused property or crop damage or posed a health and safety problem. Under the old rules, there was no need to seek permission to kill the birds or to justify the reason for shooting them. These licences have now been withdrawn following a legal challenge by the conservation group «Wild Justice».

Millions of birds were killed every year under the carte blanche of the General Licences. Many of these killings were not justified.

Seeking a Quick Solution

The “General Licences” were introduced in the 1990s. They are valid for one year at a time and have been in force in their current form since 1 January. The public body “Natural England”, which is responsible for this regulation, has now announced this information on its website. Until a general new regulation is put in place by the authorities, landowners and hobby hunters can apply for provisional individual permits.

«Wild Justice» has not changed any law, but has merely demonstrated that the current licensing system for the killing of certain bird species — developed and administered by a government wildlife authority — is unlawful and has existed for decades.

This legal victory for animal rights could have implications for what happens in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The authorities there will likely also need to go back to the drawing board.

BBC presenter responsible for the ban?

British media congratulate the “Wild Justice” initiative for exposing the illegality. According to “Wild Justice”, hobby hunters do not comply with the law, which is why this form of ‘general licences’ should be prohibited. A British animal welfare activist who also presents for the BBC founded this initiative.

It does not happen every day that three part-time conservationists overturn decades of illegal bird killing. England’s statutory conservation organisation had been permitting violations of wildlife law for decades. We are delighted to have won this legal challenge. What kind of world is it where the statutory body responsible for protecting wildlife operates an unlawful bird-trapping licensing system?

Mark Avery of Wild Justice