Conservation & Ecology
All birds of prey are fully protected, and many are listed, under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. No bird of prey can be shot, poisoned or trapped at any time or for any reason. There are currently no exceptions.
Any incident involving a bird of prey should be recorded and reported immediately.
Reporting a wildlife crime (or even a suspected wildlife crime) is important for two reasons. If the event is still happening, it may enable the authorities to catch the criminals ‘in the act’ (which means a higher chance of prosecution) and, if the event is over, a report can still help to build up a more accurate picture of what might be happening in a specific location or across the country as a whole.
If you witness a wildlife crime taking place (or someone is at risk of getting injured or being threatened), call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Ask to speak to a Wildlife Crime Officer and make sure to get an Incident Report number.
Do not approach suspects yourself (they may be violent or be carrying firearms).
When you call the police, try to give them information on:
• What is happening
• The exact location (a map reference or local landmark can be useful)
• Who is involved (e.g. number of people, clothing worn, tools being carried, number and breed of any dogs being used)
• The make, colour and registration number of any vehicle
• Whether or not you have photos which may be used as evidence
Please always follow their advice, and ask for an incident reference number and for a Wildlife Crimes Officer to be made aware.
The police assure the public that their help is welcomed and that, if we’re in any doubt that what we’re seeing is a wildlife crime, we should report it anyway. Remember, if what we see ‘feels’ wrong, it probably is!
Even if in doubt, take a photograph and email it (at the time or later) to the police or an investigations officer - they are trained to quickly recognise when a snare is illegally placed, whether a trap is being used correctly, or whether a crime is being committed or not.
www.birdersagainst.org 102 I PC APRIL/MAY 2017
Tawny owl chicks (Strix aluco) leave the nest before they can fly!
on the ground (probably near a tree), DO NOT PICK IT UP! If the bird is in danger, then move it to a safe place nearby, the adults will be nearby and be aware of its presence.
LITTLE OWL
Another perhaps less familiar owl is the Little Owl, the smallest owl in the UK. This species is not a native bird of the UK. It originates from elsewhere in Europe, particularly the Mediterranean where it is sacred to the goddess Athene the virgin goddess of wisdom (perhaps that’s why owls are thought of as wise) and can be found on some Greek coins. It is also found elsewhere in continental Europe. One of the reasons for the Little Owl not
getting here by natural means could be this: The UK used to be joined to mainland Europe and, at that stage, the owls hadn’t reached this far. When the UK broke from the rest of Europe, the little owl stayed in Europe. There were several attempts at introduction, but none were successful until the end of the 19th century when they were introduced to parts of Northamptonshire and Kent, by wealthy landowners, to eat garden pests and have since spread to many other areas, but mainly in the south and east of the country. The little owl could be described as a benign introduction causing no significant damage to current ecosystems - unlike the Canada goose or the grey squirrel - but, unlike many other species, the little owl is of no conservation concern, even though there has been some contraction of its range. It is a very sedentary bird with established pairs using the same site for many years. A little owl’s main food source is small
invertebrates such as beetles which it can find easily in habitats consisting of short grass, but it will also feed on worms, small mammals, small birds and even some plants and berries. It may be small, but the little
owl is certainly a feisty bird. When approached or threatened, it will bob up and down furiously ... and humorously! It is a small cavity nester and birds will
readily take to some box designs when suitable cavities are in short supply. They lay up to six eggs, usually in April or May.
KESTREL
The kestrel is perhaps one of our most familiar birds of prey and can often be seen hovering at the side of a road. It is this hovering technique that has earned it the name windhover. It is a small falcon and is widely distributed throughout the UK. It can be found in habitats wherever there is short or medium length grasses, such as grass verges by the road or rough areas on a golf course.
However, although the kestrel might seem like our most common bird of prey, it is on the amber list of species
Little owl (Athene noctua)
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