Buzzard Cull

[Tilly2]

So this has started, I believe. I can't find any up to date information. All I can find is info. from last year sayng it wasn't going to happen.
Does anyone know where I can look?

[shoota]

That's right Tony.
I havn't read all of the Natural England link but the conservation measures which protected (rightly) the buzzard when the numbers were very low have worked so well that we are now overpopulated. As someone remarked on here, not so long ago, they were seeing buzzards over flat treeless fenland because they had been pushed away from their normal haunts by overpopulation.

[tonyav]

Right, I see, shoota. Thanks.

[shoota]

Having now read the terms of the licence it seems that the game farmer asked for a licence to cull and take out 4 nests.
The situation was assessed and he was denied a licence to cull but granted a licence to destroy the 4 nests.

[carrust]

I've no probs with pheasant or any other kind of shooting. It has been proved that gamekeepered land is benefecial to wildlife, especially on moorland. My problems start when the landowners persecute birds of prey. Every year there are many reports of the indescriminate poisoning, trapping & shooting of golden eagles, hen harriers, goshaws, red kites etc. In my own locality the Peak District & South Yorks the countryside should be a haven for BOP, it isn't...I wonder why?

[robg2k3]

I found out today about this. We had at least three breeding pairs in my local area last year - today, a warm day whereby they would all be wheeling on the thermals I struggled to spot just one pair. I'm furious that this cull has just been slipped in almost it seems in secret.

[Tilly2]

Carrust, I was at Ladybower reservoir last week and didn't see so much as a sparrow!

[shoota]

You should read the Natural England link before you post rob.
There is no cull.

[shoota]

'Cause the buzzards as et em all Till....

[Tilly2]

Nah!

[annieigma]

one minute, no buzzards here, we need to get the countryside management right. one year later, buzzards arrive and breed, lets kill them. So they kill pheasants, there are thousands of wild and reared pheasants around here, you have a job not to run them over. a couple of buzzards will make no difference.

[gness]

Shoota.....The licence I looked at said...four nests...AND...any eggs within.
Not a cull? Or did I view the incorrect licence? x

[shoota]

Not sure I get your point annie.

There is no general cull.

A licence has been issued for one game farmer who has a severe problem with buzzards to destroy four nests so the buzzards move away.
The buzzards might be a bit miffed but they won't be killed.

[237SJ]

I`m amazed there are proposals for a buzzard cull. I was brought up in the country and I never saw any evidence that buzzards should be culled. Now culling Magpies would be a different story though...

[shoota]

Not a general cull G, which is what a lot of posters have assumed is happening.

[carrust]

Tilly. i was at Howden in March & had a cracking day for BOP. 3 sparrowhawks a peregrine & a displaying goshawk, BTW. none of this was reported on the bird study group web-site as gamekeepers are known to read it!

[gness]

The licensed action is to destroy four nests and the eggs contained in the nests...that is a cull! x

[shoota]

The relevant bit from Natural England:

Most recent population figures by the Avian Population Estimate Panel (APEP) estimate the number of territorial breeding pairs of common buzzard in the UK as between 57,713 and 80,012.

In certain isolated cases however, buzzards - like any predatory species - can cause serious problems. In this particular case, the applicant - a small scale gamekeeper – has sustained increased levels of predation by buzzards over a period of several years. Natural England has provided advice on a wide range of non-lethal methods and deterrents over the years - including scaring, diversionary feeding and habitat improvements - but despite their consistent application, buzzard predation has continued.

Given these circumstances, the licence applicant submitted an application to carry out lethal control (shooting) and nest destruction. Rigorous assessment of the application against the criteria set out in Defra’s policy guidance concluded that the damage being caused was not serious enough to licence lethal control, but did meet the criteria for the less severe option of nest destruction. Government policy stipulates that licences should not unreasonably be withheld where the criteria are met and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) allows action to be taken against protected species to protect livestock (which includes any animal kept for the provision or improvement of shooting). A restricted licence authorising the removal of a total of four buzzard nests was issued on that basis with the licence operating over a strictly defined timescale to reduce the risk of eggs being present. A total of four nests were removed and no further control activity has been authorised

[gness]

Shoota...licences were granted to destroy four nests and eggs contained between 23rd April and 8th May. Buzzards lay up to four eggs in April.
Timing? Not deliberate to destroy potentially eight buzzards? x

[shoota]

Where are you getting that from G because I can't find it on the NE site?

[gness]

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/8267-licence-20130423_RD_tcm6-35939.pdf