Shooting restricted for six British wild birds to halt population decline | Hunting
Hunters will be banned from shooting a rare and beautiful duck under new proposals to halt the decline of six British wild birds.
The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including woodcock, as well as pintail, goldeneye and pochard, all of which are classified as threatened and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years.
Once a familiar sight on lakes and reservoirs in winter, the pochard, a diving duck, is in rapid decline, but proposals include a total ban on hunting the threatened species. The UK supports a small breeding population and is an important wintering destination for the birds.
The breeding population of woodcocks, bulky wading birds with short legs and long beaks, has also been declining in recent years. The resident UK breeding population of woodcock is now red listed as a high conservation priority by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The proposals would extend the closed season – the time of year when they are protected – for woodcock in England, Wales and Scotland.
Wildlife management is a devolved issue, but coordinated action at Westminster, Holyrood and the Senedd would result in changes to Schedule 2, Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The law lists bird species that can be killed or captured outside of their closed periods.
The changes will be made through secondary legislation following a consultation process, which will also consider the possibility of adding the wood pigeon to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, introducing a closed season during the familiar bird’s breeding period for animal welfare reasons. Farmers shoot wood pigeons in large numbers to prevent them from damaging crops.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the proposals showed the Government was “committed to protecting wildlife and improving animal welfare”.
She said: “The woodcock, pochard, goldeneye and pintail are all iconic national birds. Their rapid decline is deeply concerning and it is our duty to ensure they are properly protected for future generations to cherish.”
