Another record year for hen harriers as 141 chicks fledge in England
New data from Natural England shows 141 hen harrier chicks fledged in England this year, the seventh year in a row that numbers have increased.
Life will be harder for farmers after magpies removed from Welsh general licence, says BASC
The decision by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to remove magpies from the list of birds that can be controlled under general licence in Wales could make it even harder for farmers to stay economically viable, says BASC.
NRW has confirmed that from 1 January 2024, it will be an offence to take or kill a magpie in Wales under GL001. Individuals will instead have to apply to NRW for a specific licence.
BASC Wales director Steve Griffiths said: “Magpies were removed previously from GL004 for conservation purposes. The removal of the species from GL001 could result in a loss of livestock, which will make it even harder for farmers to stay economically viable in difficult times.”
For more information or to download a copy of the 2024 general licences for Wales visit: Natural Resources Wales / General licences for birds 2024.
Share
BASC Species of the month – April
Curlew is Britain’s largest wader and was once common throughout the UK, which hosts around 25 per cent of the international population.
The GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count gets underway
The GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count allows shoots to measure the positive impact of their conservation work.