Email Subject Line:  Time Sensitive Action Needed

Email Addresses:     ​

Consultation Email -  WildlifeManagementAndCrime@defra.gov.uk

Add the following important relevant MPs' emails for more impact.

Angela Eagle - angela.eagle.mp@parliament.uk 

Emma Hardy - emma.hardy.mp@parliament.uk

Baroness Hayman of Ullock - ps.baroness.hayman@defra.gov.uk

Stephen Morgan - stephen.morgan.mp@parliament.uk

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - jenny.riddellcarpenter.mp@parliament.uk ​

 

 

 

 

Dear Defra 

 

I’m writing because I’m extremely concerned about the Government’s proposals in the ‘Protecting Wild Birds’ Consultation.

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The Government proposed the continued hunting of native wild birds on the Red and Amber List of Conservation Concern.  We face a critical opportunity to align our legislative frameworks with modern ecological realities. Allowing the continued legal hunting of birds already identified by science as facing severe population decline, fundamentally undermines national conservation targets. 

 

​Detailed Overview of Problem

• The consultation closed on Sunday 17th May, with feedback due on 10th August.

• The Government aims to change Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to protect hunted wild birds.

• At present, there are 24 species of birds listed on Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 that can be hunted for entertainment in an open season.

• But 17 of these 24 wild birds are on the Red List (7) or Amber List (10) of Birds of Conservation Concern.

• The majority of these 17 threatened birds are not covered by the consultation.  Three are on the Red List (black grouse, grey partridge and ptarmigan) and 8 are on the Amber List (gadwall, greylag goose, pink-footed goose, mallard, moorhen, shoveler, teal and wigeon).

• The consultation only included 6 of these 17 threatened birds.  They also propose adding one more threatened species to this hunted list.

• Of the 7 threatened bird species in the consultation, 4 are on the Red List (European White-Fronted goose, goldeneye, pochard and woodcock) and 3 are on the Amber List (pintail, snipe and woodpigeon). 

• The Government is proposing that only 2 of these 6 existing birds already on Schedule 2.1 should be removed across all 3 countries. These are the pochard and European white-fronted goose.  

• At least one of the 3 governments proposes the continued hunting of 2 Red Listed species (goldeneye + woodcock) and 2 Amber Listed species (pintail + common snipe).  Add the woodpigeon, and that makes 3 Amber Listed birds.

• Proposed solutions include removing a species from the schedule 2.1or extending the close season of others.

• Extending the ‘close season’ provides no guarantee that birds will be protected. This is because hunters could: 

  • go on twice as many shooting trips in the reduced hunting season.

  • extend the hours that they are shooting.

  • kill twice as many birds during a shorter time frame.

 

 

How Can You Help?

I urge you to exclude all Red and Amber Listed birds from the updated Schedule 2.1 to safeguard the future of our most threatened avian species.  Protecting these vulnerable bird populations is not just an ecological necessity; it is a moral imperative to ensure our environmental laws actively foster recovery rather than permitting further depletion.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this & I look forward to your response.

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​Kind regards,

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