My REPLY from NE regarding my e-mail asking for a licence for magpies to protect other wild birds...received today...

[enfieldspares]

Dear Mr XXXXXX,

I acknowledge receipt of your email query regarding wildlife licences for action previously covered under the recently withdrawn general licences, to take or kill wild birds. Apologies for the delay in responding while clarifying the options available to replace the withdrawn licences.

It is expected that, over time, most situations currently covered by the three general licences will be covered by new, targeted licences. These will be made available as soon as possible. A licence to kill or take carrion crows (GL26) has already been put in place, and others will follow shortly, prioritising those methods that are most urgent and in demand at this time of year. Please see Natural England for updates on progress being made to replace the withdrawn licences. An indicative time-table for the introduction of the new licences can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.g...ngland-general-licence-position-statement.pdf

If you are not in position to await the new general licence which covers the particular actions/bird species your circumstances require there is an option to apply for a licence. Natural England have put in place a new and simplified application process for licencing individuals who urgently need a licence. Please see Wild birds: licence to control certain species for details, including a number of specific application forms. Please submit your (fully and correctly completed) application using the most appropriate form(s) for your circumstances.

I note your comment regarding your email access. If, having read the above and the further information online, you still require posted copies of the application forms please contact our enquiries team to request these.

Please also ensure that all relevant non-lethal methods of control are being utilised where practicable: Wild birds: prevent damage to your land, farm, fishery or business.

(Please note the A08 licence application process is not the correct option to be able to legally continue to use lethal control methods previously covered by the general licences. Natural England are not assessing and issuing licences for these methods under the A08 application process.)

If you cannot find an answer to your query on our website please contact the enquiry team on 0300 060 3900 or email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Paul Fulcher

Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service
Natural England | Horizon House | Deanery Road | Bristol BS1 5AH
Telephone: 0208 026 1089
Email: birds2019@naturalengland.org.uk

 

[JMikeyH]

Aye, received an identical email about 15 minutes ago. Don't know what I expected but a bit disappointing to see the same regurgitated information, again and again

 

[enfieldspares]

At least it gives a link with the time schedule for the new General Licences. Meanwhile my application for magpies as noted was already filled in and in the post on Friday!

Here: https://assets.publishing.service.g...ngland-general-licence-position-statement.pdf

Or as below:

Indicative timetable for new licences issued on a priority basis (subject to the assessments for each of the licences being confirmed)

Priority 1: To be issued from w/c 29 April or sooner
Prevent serious damage to livestock – Carrion crow
Conserving wild bird – magpie
Conserving wild bird – Carrion crow
Prevent serious damage to crops – woodpigeon
Prevent serious damage to crops – Rook
Prevent serious damage to crops – Canada goose
Preserving public health and public safety – Feral pigeon
Preserving public health and public safety – Canada goose
Preserving public health and public safety – Lesser Black Backed Gull
Preserving public health and public safety – Herring gull

Priority 2: To be issued from w/c 13 May
Conserve wild birds - Canada goose
Prevent the spread of disease - Feral pigeon
Prevent serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock – Carrion crow
Prevent serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock – Rook
Prevent serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock – Carrion crow
Prevent serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock – Rook
Prevent serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock – Magpie

Priority 3: date to confirmed
Preserving public health and public safety - Monk parakeet
Conserve wild birds - Rook
Conserve wild birds - Jackdaw Conserve wild birds - Jay
Conserve wild birds - Ring-necked parakeet
Conserve wild birds - Monk parakeet
Prevent serious damage to crops - Feral pigeon
Prevent serious damage to crops - Carrion crow
Prevent serious damage to crops - Jackdaw
Prevent serious damage to crops - Egyptian goose
Prevent serious damage to vegetables/fruit - Wood pigeon
Prevent serious damage to vegetables/fruit - Rook
Prevent the spread of disease - Rook
Prevent the spread of disease - Jackdaw
Prevent the serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock - Woodpigeon
Prevent the serious damage to foodstuffs for livestock - Feral pigeon

 

[finnbear270]

Couldn’t help but see a comparison with this, same situation when a fac renewal cannot be issued in time.

 

[B&W FOX]

I got the same reply so now I've submitted my application for the licence I need.

 

[BRYAN]

So yet another organisation gets the addresses of all the shotguns.

 

[Millerich]

So yet another organisation gets the addresses of all the shotguns.

They will only have your address if you fill in an application for one of the temporary licences.

 

[enfieldspares]

Not me..I asked for air rifle use to kill magpies in my garden. There's no requirement on the form to specify that it's a shot gun or whatever.

 

[Klenchblaize]

My eye went straight to this just before noting the no rush category 3 rating for jays:

"Please also ensure that all relevant non-lethal methods of control are being utilised where practicable."

So are you? And if if asked to demonstrate such, could you?

K

 

[finnbear270]

I shouted at these maggies but they insist on coming back.

 

[enfieldspares]

Yes. I told them I'd tried CD Rom discs, I'd tried banging on the window, I'd tried going opening the window and clapping my hands but local traffic noise negated that. Just like Finnbear! And as it is a PCP air rifle firing it off with no pellet is inaudible. And as for going outside often by the time I'd seen the magpies form an upstairs window going about their nesting robbing and got downstairs and unlocked the door to go outside they'd done the deed. I haven't however put up notices stating "THIS IS A MAGPIE FREE ZONE" but haven't got the right sort of paint. Nor the brushes.

 

[kes]

There was clearly no plan when the GL was revoked - that is critical to the past and current head of NE - wilful and unsustainable incompetence. I shall be writing to My Mp again, demanding he support the sacking of Packham, juniper and the NE lady ex CO. Anyone who has been associated with this mess, Gove included has nothing but contempt for the people who pay their salaries. time to burn a few effigies (metaphorically speaking).

 

[Pedro]

The real problem is that you have to jump through so many hoops to be able to do it legally now that many people will just say "sod it" and not bother. Which I suspect is part of the great master plan.

 

[Woodenbeam]

I’m already getting as bored with this debacle as Brexit - what a pile of shite!
Whereas prior to the removal of the general licences I could quite easily assist in popping off corvids & Woodpigeons as & when opportunity’s arose now it would seem I have to apply for possibly 18 licenses? It ain’t going to happen........
The general license was exactly what it said on the packet and needs to be reinstated.

I read on one of the many threads/posts about this being the start of a new wave of protests against the shooting community & I think that’s true. Lead ammo, plastic wads, importation of game, restriction of calibre’s, increased pricing..........all these measures & more I’m sure to wheedle away at an already highly restricted and controlled group of society who on the whole are law abiding and respectable - I value my license to much to risk losing it, however with this load of bollocks I feel like having a cracking day out on the pigeons & crows and dumping the f’ing lot at the door to No.10.
Actually not the pigeons as they’re too tasty to waste.

O’ and the icing on the cake would be one of them bloody stripy shites that are now getting everywhere doing uncountable damage that Joe Public have been hoodwinked into thinking have been persecuted to the brink of extinction dumped on the bloody top.

Actually is this the new way forward - licensed culling of corvids and pigeons??? We all know what a grand success this has been with other protected species!

Rant over, sorry

 

[Millerich]

I’m already getting as bored with this debacle as Brexit - what a pile of shite!
Whereas prior to the removal of the general licences I could quite easily assist in popping off corvids & Woodpigeons as & when opportunity’s arose now it would seem I have to apply for possibly 18 licenses? It ain’t going to happen........
The general license was exactly what it said on the packet and needs to be reinstated.

I read on one of the many threads/posts about this being the start of a new wave of protests against the shooting community & I think that’s true. Lead ammo, plastic wads, importation of game, restriction of calibre’s, increased pricing..........all these measures & more I’m sure to wheedle away at an already highly restricted and controlled group of society who on the whole are law abiding and respectable - I value my license to much to risk losing it, however with this load of bollocks I feel like having a cracking day out on the pigeons & crows and dumping the f’ing lot at the door to No.10.
Actually not the pigeons as they’re too tasty to waste.

O’ and the icing on the cake would be one of them bloody stripy shites that are now getting everywhere doing uncountable damage that Joe Public have been hoodwinked into thinking have been persecuted to the brink of extinction dumped on the bloody top.

Actually is this the new way forward - licensed culling of corvids and pigeons??? We all know what a grand success this has been with other protected species!

Rant over, sorry

You only have to apply for licences until the new GLs are released, which is happening now. Once they’re in you don’t need to apply, just like the old ones. Whether they’re fit for purpose is another matter, as the first one released as of Friday is drawing widespread criticism.