Natural England renews licences for airports to kill birds up to 13km away

Natural England has renewed its guidance allowing airports/aerodromes to kill a range of birds, up to 13km (called the safeguarding zone) from the airport, if they are deemed a “danger” to aircraft safety. The licences permit, in relation to the species listed below, “killing or taking birds, taking or destroying their eggs, and taking, damaging or destroying their nests while that nest is in use or being built.”  Anyone wishing to use this licence must first apply to Natural England to be registered. Natural England are meant to keep records of all the killing and measures taken against birds. The species included in the licences are varieties of geese, crows, gulls and ducks. Also pigeons, woodpigeons, starlings, parakeets, magpies, jackdaws, rooks and lapwings (a Red list endangered bird).  Means of killing allowed include shooting with a firearm/ ammunition combination (including a semiautomatic weapon*) appropriate for the species concerned; pricking of eggs;  oiling of eggs using paraffin oil; d. destruction of eggs and nests; cage trap; a pen or corral used as a trap; falconry.  Airports and their surroundings are NOT safe places for birds.
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Natural England

Statutory guidance

Birds: licence to kill or take them for air safety purposes (CL12)

Updated 1 January 2022

To kill or take certain species of wild birds to preserve air safety.

Overview
This licence permits a range of otherwise prohibited activities against the species of wild birds listed in the terms and conditions below.

This licence may only be relied upon:

For the purposes of preserving air safety.

Where it is strictly necessary to take action to preserve air safety, and

Where reasonable steps to prevent problems by lawful methods have been and continue to be taken.

All species listed in this licence may be taken on the aerodrome itself. In addition, some may be taken in the immediate vicinity (up to 250m), others may be taken up to 13km from the aerodrome (the ‘safeguarding’ zone).

The terms and conditions set out what species can be controlled where. Where control is undertaken off-aerodrome the user must ensure they have the permission of the landowner.

Users of this licence must comply with all licence terms and conditions including those in Standard Licence Conditions for trapping wild birds and using decoys under a Natural England licence https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standard-licence-conditions-for-trapping-wild-birds-and-using-decoys-gl33 (GL33).

Registration: Anyone wishing to use this licence must first apply to Natural England to be registered.

Recording and reporting: There are data recording and reporting requirements during and at the end of the licence term.

Reference: WML – CL12

Licence terms and conditions

Valid for the period: 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 (inclusive).

Area valid in: All counties of England (landward of the mean low water mark).
Purpose(s) for which this licence can be used: This licence can only be used to preserve air safety.
What this licence permits: in relation to the species listed below, this licence permits killing or taking birds, taking or destroying their eggs, and taking, damaging or destroying their nests while that nest is in use or being built.

The species covered by this licence:

(a) on, or within 13 kilometres (km) of the perimeter of, an aerodrome:

– Goose, Canada (Branta canadensis)

– Goose, greylag (Anser anser)

– Gull, great black-backed (Larus marinus)

– Gull, lesser black-backed (Larus fuscus)

– Gull, herring (Larus argentatus)

– Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

– Pigeon, feral (Columba livia)

– Rook (Corvus frugilegus)

– Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

– Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

 

(b) on, or within 13 km of the perimeter of, an aerodrome (without the need for non-lethal methods of control to be used):

– Goose, Egyptian (Alopochen aegyptiacu)

– Parakeet, ring-necked (Psittacula krameri)

(c) on, or within the immediate vicinity (up to 250 m) of, the perimeter of the aerodrome:

– Crow, carrion (Corvus corone)

– Gull, black-headed (Chroicocephalus ridibundus – formerly Larus ridibundus)

– Gull, common (Larus canus)

– Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

– Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

– Magpie (Pica pica)

…. and it continues with other categories etc.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-them-for-air-safety-purposes/birds-licence-to-kill-or-take-them-for-air-safety-purposes-cl12


 

See earlier:

 

Natural England and the licences it gives airports to kill birds 13km from airport boundary

The law in the UK allows airports to get licences to kill a range of bird species, within an area 13 kilometres from the airport boundary. The licences are issued by Natural England, the body whose description is: “We’re the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide”. A large number of species are listed, by Natural England, including Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Starling and Woodpigeon.  Other birds can be killed within 250 metres of the airport boundary, such as Magpie, Carrion Crow, Lapwing and Jackdaw. The killing is meant to be if there is danger to the safety of plane flights. Birds can be trapped, shot, or have their eggs oiled (which kills the chick before it can hatch). According to Natural England, 12,956 birds were culled in 2015-16, with rooks, crows and pigeons making up the largest number.  A FoI request has been submitted to ascertain the number of airports issued with licences recently, the number of birds killed, and the ways in which they were killed. 

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2020/01/natural-england-and-the-licences-it-gives-airports-to-kill-birds-13km-from-airport-boundary/

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Gatwick objects to new hospice due to increase in ‘bird strike risk hazard’ – as within 13 km radius of airport

Under guidance from the DfT, airports have to be statutory consultees for any planning application within a radius of 13 km of the airport, that might have an impact on it, for a variety of reasons. One of these is the risk of bird strike, and so new developments that might attract birds are opposed. Now Gatwick Airport has objected to plans for a new hospice and homes in Pease Pottage [south of Crawley, and about 6km south of Gatwick airport] due to an increase in ‘bird strike risk hazard’. St Catherine’s Hospice would provide a 48-bed care facility, and there would also be up to 600 new homes, cafe, a community building, retail units, and a new primary school. The current hospice has only 18 beds, and is not able to cater for the number of people needing palliative support in the area  nor has sufficient family areas. Gatwick says the areas of open water in the application would attract birds large enough to endanger planes, including  feral geese, duck, grey heron and cormorants – especially if the public feed them. Gatwick also fear the mown grassland would provide a grazing habitat for birds. Gatwick wants minimal water. Airports keep their grassed areas as unappealing to bird life as possible. Gatwick set out, for the Airports Commission, what it would do to “control and where possible reduce bird hazard.” 

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/12/gatwick-objects-to-new-hospice-due-to-increase-in-bird-strike-risk-hazard-as-within-13-km-radius-of-airport/

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