Buzzard control licence: our letter to The Guardian

Common -buzzard -wwwlauriecampbellcom Dear Sir

Patrick Barkham (Granting this licence to shoot buzzards will unleash a killing spree - 4 August) is right to say that Natural England is staffed by those that are passionate about wildlife.

However, he is wrong to state that it has only issued a licence to control ten buzzards because a High Court judge ‘said so’. In 2015 Mr Justice Duncan Ouseley ruled that, in law, a license application received from a gamekeeper must be assessed the same way as the other tens of thousands received each year – including those used to control birds on RSPB reserves.

Andrew Gilruth
Director of Communications, Marketing & Membership
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

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Comments

Buzzards

at 13:24 on 30/11/2016 by Barbara Ash

Back in the 1980's the only way that I could see a buzzard living in Notts was to visit Wales and now 2016 I regularly hear and see Buzzards over my house and there is a regular breeding group right near me. Whilst this is exciting I worry about the spread of buzzards,which is now the most common bird of prey in my area. I also love Barn Owls and Hares and we have seen a decline in my area. I think Buzzards should be controlled because I do not want to lose Hares and Barn Owls.

Buzzards

at 13:54 on 11/08/2016 by Graham Denny

Control of buzzards like all general licence is issued for reason if their is only a few no control would be needed !most hare populations are governed by fox control but when buzzards get a lust for leverets you will see a population decrease .the buzzards have taken a liking to barn owls in my area with kills being witnessed do we wait to see them on critical list or do we control the plentiful buzzard !

BUZZARDS & HARES

at 23:13 on 10/08/2016 by Andrea Wise

I agree with the other people making a comment here. We have been working hard on our rented farm to re-establish the hares on our farm and although we have some success, we are aware that it has been limited by the number of buzzards that have also increased, especially in the last 5 years. We have only been here for 7 years. It does not pay to interfere with nature which seems to naturally find a balance if allowed to.

Buzzards

at 13:22 on 09/08/2016 by Norman Brade

Susie Heap's comments regarding the effects of buzzards on the hare population certainly apply to my area. I have been rough shooting on a local farm for nearly 50 years and hares were always plentiful, enabling me to take two or three for the table each year. At that time buzzards were very rarely seen over the area However, my records show that hare numbers plunged around twenty years ago and this coincided with very frequent sightings of buzzards. I am lucky to see a hare on the farm these days, but I now see at least one buzzard on every visit.

Buzzards

at 13:12 on 09/08/2016 by Jo Williamson

The buzzard licence, in question, was, I believe, issued for the killing of ten birds near/around pheasant pens ...... so in this instance, killing indigenous species so that non-native species can be bred in their 100s, if not 1000s, to be later shot for 'sport' would not appear to have anything to do with natural selection. ......

Buzzards

at 12:01 on 09/08/2016 by Susie Heap

Sometimes wild animals and birds must be culled in order to protect others that are vulnerable. Regarding Buzzards - these have become widespread and are a threat to leverets. I understand hares are becoming scarce in some areas.

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