London Wildlife Trust welcomes Natural England’s review of the existing general licensing arrangements for the control of some bird and animal species, announced yesterday (more details) says Mathew Frith, deputy CEO.

There is a need to regularly review these as changes occur in populations of native birds under threat and others appear to cause potential damage to habitats or other species. We welcome the decision to remove herring gull and greater black-backed gull from the licences.

However, we believe the decision to include ring-necked parakeet and Canada goose (as well as monk parakeet and Egyptian goose) within the general licence for conserving birds from 1st January 2010 is misguided.

Whilst we recognise that populations of ring-necked parakeet and Canada geese have grown, and in some cases causing concern, there is currently no evidence that either species is having an adverse impact on native wild bird populations or natural habitats in London or elsewhere in Britain.

Ring-necked parakeets are increasingly visible and audible birds, and are now part of London’s wildlife, reflecting the cultural and historical diversity of the city. We’d contest that descriptions of them being bullies and pests reflects more on attitudes towards ‘foreign species’ than any empirical evidence to support these views. There is as yet little evidence that there is a problem to resolve in respect of ring-necked parakeets, or that licensed action will contribute to resolving the problem.

There is as yet no government strategy for ring-necked parakeets, and in the absence of data to assess population trends and their potential impacts on species or habitats, the decision to include them within the licensing is presumptuous. The damage that parakeets may cause to some crops (mainly outside London) can be addressed through existing licensing arrangements.

More worryingly, the lowering of evidence required to obtain licences to control parakeets could set a damaging precedent, allowing poorly-regulated and inappropriate controls (e.g. inhumane shooting) to take place upon the whim of land-owners. It could also serve to further the expansion of populations due to the fact that controls will be relaxed. Given the number of parakeets in London, we ask how do Natural England intend to monitor the licences they issue?

Whilst Canada geese can cause damage to some habitats (mainly through over-grazing), Natural England’s own Technical Advice Note states that “there is little hard evidence that Canada geese cause significant problems by competing with other wildlife.” Again, existing licensing arrangements can be used to control the species in particular circumstances. We ask why the need now to include the species on a general licence?

London Wildlife Trust would have expected a more rational and precautionary approach to licensing measures for ring-necked parakeet and Canada goose. This should have been based on good evidence that the species are indeed having an adverse impact on native species and/or habitats, and that control measures would be both humane and effective.

Notes:

1. London Wildlife Trust recognises that some non-native species are a major threat to global biodiversity. However, there are no bird populations of global conservation concern in London, and neither Canada geese or ring-necked parakeet adversely impact on Britain’s internationally important bird populations (e.g. gannet).

2. The pet trade first introduced ring-necked parakeets from the Indian sub-continent to England in 1840. 1855 saw the first recorded breeding of this species in the UK in Norfolk, but it wasn’t until 1969, with young raised at Gravesend, Kent, that their recent expansion began. By 1998 the known UK population was c1,500, but by 2005 this had reached c13,000. Ring-necked parakeets thrive in London and there can be no expectation that any natural factor will reduce numbers significantly.

3. A large number of Britain’s wild animals and plants originate from elsewhere in the world, and this is set to increase through climate change and global trade and human migration. Controlling non-native species is best implemented prior to them establishing themselves in the UK.