Magpie dropped from 2024 Welsh general licences

[Conor O'Gorman]

From 1 January 2024 you will need to apply for a specific licence to take or kill a magpie in Wales for any purpose. That includes the use of magpie as a call bird in cage traps (Larsen, Ladder etc.).

Magpie had been dropped from the 2023 general licence for the purpose of conserving wild birds and will not be on the 2024 general licence for that purpose. Magpie was on the 2023 general licence for the purpose of preventing serious damage or spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit but will be dropped from the 2024 general licence for that purpose. This means that from 1 January 2024 magpie will not be covered by any general licence in Wales, which is a precedent in the UK for this species since general licences first came into being in the 1990s - under a UK-specific derogation from EU directives for the protection of birds.

The reasoning that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) gave for the removal of magpie is in relation to species population data and that is outlined here:

Review of 2023 General Licences for wild bird control - Natural Resources Wales Citizen Space - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by Natural Resources Wales

ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru

The 2024 Welsh general licences for species such as Canada goose, carrion crow, feral pigeon, jackdaw and woodpigeon have been published and are here:

Natural Resources Wales / General licences for birds 2024

naturalresources.wales

 

[Malxwal]

You've furnished us with the information, but what are the BASCs comments and opinion ?

 

[.25-06]

You've furnished us with the information, but what are the BASCs comments and opinion ?

Not sure they were to be listened to as a stakeholder, but a 'mine recovery specialist' appears to be on the target audience.

 

[Lancaster]

Is this an indication that England will follow suit and Magpies will be removed from the GL, that's a great way to reduce the population of a lot of song birds and ground nesting birds then.....

 

[Morkai]

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

You've furnished us with the information, but what are the BASCs comments and opinion ?

This will result in a loss of livestock which will make it even harder for farmers to stay economically viable in difficult times.

 

[Daisymay]

What will be next,any takers??

 

[Malxwal]

What will be next,any takers??

Given their rampant lunacy, crows is my bet.

 

[Daisymay]

Definitely lunatics running the asylum

 

[Malxwal]

Definitely lunatics running the asylum

Devolution proving itself to be a completely disastrous move.

 

[CookM]

Can everyone film them pulling Grey Partridge nests apart,or Long Tailed Tits etc....

 

[ColinBr]

Wow never thought I'd ever see these banded song bird terrorists be given a green card.

Have none of these idiots seen the devastation they do in a short period of time.

 

[Malxwal]

Wow never thought I'd ever see these banded song bird terrorists be given a green card.

Have none of these idiots seen the devastation they do in a short period of time.

All collateral damage when your goal is to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator, which is Labour through and through.

 

[Daisymay]

Does the Welsh government seek any advice/consultation on these subjects??

 

[Namman]

Does the Welsh government seek any advice/consultation on these subjects??

Yes, but just ignores it.

 

[David.evans]

Is that in black and white then

 

[jall55]

Write a letter - get all your syndicate to write a letter - complain complain complain
I do keep wondering whether we need another march because when Labour get in - oh dear !

 

[Smellydog]

The law is an ass, bias agenda / narrative nonsense.
Three esses!

 

[Woodenbeam]

You drive around the housing estates around Bury St Edmunds and all you see is bloody magpie’s. With people feeding birds all the time now (which is great) it has resulted in an explosion of the buggers over the last few years. They IMO should be culled heavily not protected - can’t imagine it any different in any other part of the country.

 

[tarponhead]

Are you still allowed to scare them? They learn quickly and flee whenever my car appears on mother’s drive…