Conservation & Ecology
Over-wintering birds have a higher testosterone level due to the effort required in migration and this makes them even more aggressive
” During this flightless period they will
often form creches and become fiercely protective. Their primary aim is to ward off anything that comes close to their offspring - whether that be a pigeon or a human - with ‘kill’ as the bottom line! This will include first year adults and other goose species. First, the geese stand erect, spread their wings, and produce a hissing sound. Next, they charge. They may then bite or attack with their wings. It is believed that the over-wintering birds
have a higher testosterone level than resident birds due to the effort required in migration and this makes them even more aggressive. As well as aggressive and obnoxious
behaviour, one of the biggest areas of concern surrounds their excrement, which carries a wide variety of bacteria that can cause serious illness, including gastroenteritis. Canada geese eat around 4lb of food
daily, and half that amount is returned to the ground as poo. It looks more like the faeces of a small dog rather than typical bird droppings. In addition to being disgusting, the waste has been known to carry such disease-causing organisms as E. coli and salmonella. Since youngsters tend to climb, run and explore when they are playing outside, they might unknowingly come into contact with the birds’ excrement, touch their mouths or rub their eyes and, therefore, develop an infection. Dogs too, seem to enjoy a good old roll-
around in goose poo. If this happens, the dog should be washed off thoroughly, taking care that you also wash your hands thoroughly. The droppings will also kill grass, much in the same way that worm casts do. Whilst the goslings are undeniably ‘cute’, it is during the flightless period that any culling should take place. This can only be done with the appropriate licence issued by Natural England; see boxed items for full details.
In 2009, a collision with a flock of Canada
geese resulted in US Airways Flight 1549 suffering a total power loss after take-off. The pilot brought the plane to an emergency ‘splash-landing’ in the Hudson River, causing only minor injuries. So there you have it; lovely to look at, but perhaps not the best visitor to have come calling!
Getting a general licence:
As a land owner or other authorised person to catch alive or kill certain wild birds to prevent serious damage or disease (licence GL04).
If you’re a land owner, occupier or other authorised person, you can use this general licence to carry out a range of otherwise prohibited activities against certain wild birds. You don’t need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.
You are an authorised person if you’re:
- the land owner, occupier or anyone authorised by the owner or occupier
- authorised in writing by the local authority
- authorised in writing by any England, Scotland or Wales conservation body, a district board for fisheries or local fisheries committee
- authorised in writing by the Environment Agency, a water undertaker or a sewerage undertaker
When you can use this licence
You can only use this licence to prevent serious damage to: - livestock - foodstuffs for livestock - crops, vegetables and fruit - growing timber - fisheries or inland waters
You can also use it to stop the spread of disease.
You can’t use this licence to kill birds because they are damaging your property, such as your car or house, or if they’re a nuisance.
Birds you can catch alive or kill with this licence
With this licence you can catch alive or kill: -crows - collared doves - jackdaws -jays
- lesser black-backed gulls -magpies - pigeons (feral and wood pigeon) -rooks
You can catch alive or kill, as well as take, damage or destroy the nests, or take or destroy the eggs:
- Canada geese - Egyptian geese -monk parakeets -ring-necked parakeets
You must still follow animal welfare laws and kill birds in a quick and humane manner.
You can eat birds killed under this licence, but you can’t sell any for human consumption, other than wood pigeons.
How you can catch alive or kill wild birds
In addition to other legal methods, this licence lets you use a: - semi-automatic weapon
- cage trap that doesn’t meet the size requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
- hand-held or hand-propelled net to take birds not in flight
For feral pigeons only, you can also use: - a device to illuminate a target - sighting devices for night shooting - mirrors, lighting or other dazzling devices
If you use a cage trap, you can only use the following decoy birds: -crows - jackdaws -magpies -monk parakeets -ring-necked parakeets -rooks
https://www.gov.uk/government/publication s/wild-birds-licence-to-take-or-kill-to-prevent- damage-or-disease
PC APRIL/MAY 2016 I 105
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