Presumption against granting future licences welcomed but more needed to stop bird crime.
England’s Peregrines should no longer be taken under licence from the wild for falconry or aviculture, following several years of controversy and uncertainty. The announcement by the UK Government that there will now be a presumption against granting licences for wild take in England is a significant step forward, and we thank the many RSPB supporters who have campaigned with us to achieve this.
With a ‘presumption against’, however, the power to grant licences for wild take remains. Natural England’s review found that, at the present time, it would be extremely difficult for applicants to justify the need to take wild birds, and that no evidence was provided that would support the issuing of licences for any specific exceptional circumstances. It is therefore essential that robust assessment criteria remain in place for any future licence applications.
This positive change for wild Peregrines does not end the threats that these birds face from illegal trade and persecution. We’re now calling on the Government to go further and reinstate a robust registration system for captive Peregrines.
We also need stronger action in England to address bird of prey persecution more widely. For example, we know that birds of prey are illegally killed by gamekeepers on grouse moors and pheasant shoots, and for this reason the RSPB is calling for new legislation to better regulate shoots.
In May 2020, Natural England issued three licences allowing the capture of six wild Peregrine chicks for falconry. This sparked widespread concern. Peregrines have endured a long history of persecution and there is also a long and chequered history of their illegal trade, which we outlined in a blog at the time, asking how low can you stoop?
Deeply concerned about the issuing of these licences, we acted quickly to challenge the decision and justification behind it. We also provided evidence showing that the existing population of captive Peregrines could support a breeding programme without taking birds from the wild. Thankfully, due to Covid restrictions, these licences weren’t used, and fortunately several additional applications were rejected.
Natural England launched a public consultation in 2022 and held workshops in 2023 to review policy options. The evidence is clear: the licensing of wild take is neither necessary nor appropriate. We are pleased the Government has followed the evidence and listened to the RSPB and our supporters by announcing a presumption against granting licences for wild take in England.
Welcoming the news, Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) said: “This is a welcome progressive step forward. Since 2021 the NWCU have been conducting one of the UK’s largest wildlife crime policing operations to date, centring around the wild taking of Peregrine falcons. Sadly, despite the convictions this is still ongoing with enquiries stretching the length of the UK and overseas.
“The illegal wildlife trade is alive and kicking within the UK and the scale of what I have seen is truly shocking, as I have learnt that sadly you can put a price on our wildlife. This is a step forward to offering one of our most iconic species the protection they deserve.”
Despite legal protections, Peregrines are still at risk and totemic of the many problems that birds of prey face. Our latest review of the illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK, Birdcrime 2023, showed that, between 2009 and 2023, 154 Peregrines were confirmed victims of persecution. This is just the tip of iceberg, representing only a fraction of the actual number.
Wild Peregrines continue to be illegally laundered into the commercial falconry market, where they can fetch high prices. Recent criminal cases highlight the problem. In early 2024, a man was jailed after being captured on video abseiling down a quarry cliff face in Derbyshire to steal Peregrine eggs, with two others convicted for illegally possessing and selling Peregrine chicks in Scotland. We are very concerned that much of the interest in the wild take of Peregrines has an underlying commercial basis.
To protect Peregrines and other birds of prey, we’re now urging the Government to:
Peregrines are the world’s fastest bird of prey. They are symbols of power, grace, and recovery, now thriving in cities as well as rural areas. Yet their decline in upland areas, linked to persecution, remains a major conservation issue.
A huge thank you to the many RSPB supporters who have been instrumental in encouraging the Government to provide better protections for wild Peregrines. We will continue working together to ensure these magnificent birds are protected for generations to come.
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