We will be closely monitoring the operation including through asking the applicants for evidence to ensure compliance, whilst staying within the government guidelines around Covid-19. An estimated 10,000 species of bird are scientifically described across the world by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO, 2022). But unfortunately, many of these species – around 1,500 types of birds – are of conservation concern (BirdLife International, 2022a). The recent “State of the world’s birds” report by BirdLife International (2022b) has shown that 49 percent are in decline globally; therefore, species-specific and habitat-focused conservation action continues to be required. Using zoo populations of threatened bird species, such as the southern ground hornbill ( Bucorvus leadbeateri) ( Figure 1), as a safety net ensures some form of conservation can continue should the wild population crash. These zoo-housed individuals also promote the gravity of the species’ role in its ecosystem, educating people on why they should be protected because of their ecological benefits. Such increased awareness reduces the chances of a crash in wild numbers and promotes the relevance of the zoo bird to its wild cousins and, subsequently, to their conservation action. Keeping avian conservation sustainable Special greenfinch mixes can be bought from suppliers and in addition, they can enjoy safflower, sunflower and hemp seeds, mung beans, defrosted garden peas, egg food and niger seed. They are sturdy birds so if kept in a cage; watch levels of fattening seeds such as sunflower and niger to avoid overweight birds. Bullfinch Evidence for aviculture: identifying research needs to advance the role of ex situ bird populations in conservation initiatives and collection planning. Birds, 2, 77-95

The Avicultural Society is concerned with the keeping and breeding of all types of birds other than domesticated varieties. The society, based in the UK, has a world-wide membership which includes most top aviculturalists, as well as leading zoos, bird gardens, conservation organisations and research institutes around the world. The behavioural biology of hornbills, toucans, and kingfishers. In: Rose, P. E. (ed), The Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals, 1st edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 185-196 British finches are often associated with mules, a term used by cage bird breeders to refer to hybrids of finch species bred in captivity, such as that of a goldfinch and canary. There are now strict ringing regulations on British finches in places such as the UK, but they are still kept by aviculturists who care for them in much the same way as canaries. The seed mixture in the UK known as British Finch & Mule is their basic diet. So we can verify that there is no conflict of interest (or personal connection to high powers in government), would you be able to disclose the identity of the chosen three falconers, and divulge how many applied vs. how many got a license to do this? I am sure the successful applicants will make themselves known in due course advertising their wares, but this may take several years. BBIA is for anybody and everybody within the hobby of breeding & exhibition British birds throughout the world and is especially beneficial to individuals who cant get out and about to the specialist clubs or society's such as people with disabilities etc.These licences are intended to provide birds for a specific breeding programme and the issuing of a licence does not mean that we will issue licences for further taking of wild birds in future. The British finches are made up of several species of finch which were formerly very popular as cage birds in Great Britain. They are not currently commonplace, but are still kept by a few dedicated fanciers. Most successful breeders recommend a canary mix rather than a bullfinch mix to feed them with as there are less fatty seeds in a canary mix. They also enjoy treats such as blue maw, also known as poppy seeds, and apples. The whole dandelion plant can be offered, as long as it comes from a spot which has not been treated with any chemicals.

Since the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it has been illegal to capture, attempt to capture or sell any British bird, and only those on Schedule 3 Part 1, may be sold if they are closed ringed and proof can be given that they were bred in captivity. [2] Species [ edit ]Falconry is an ancient tradition which has been practised in England for centuries and is recognised as an ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ by UNESCO. The applicants wish to breed verifiably British peregrines for use in their falconry activities, and the European Commission’s (EC) Wild Birds Directive includes reference to the sustainable use of species to fulfil cultural requirements, providing this does not affect their conservation status.

You can gift someone a un-rung bird as long as you have records to prove it was captive bred. This would usually be the ring number of the two parent birds. But it is illegal to sell birds without rings. Living with British Birds The knowledge of bird behaviour gained from observing populations in the wild benefits the development of ex situ husbandry programmes for captive individuals. Expertise from the zoo, eg design, construction and siting of nest boxes to encourage breeding in new locations (Beilby, 2022), has direct impact on wild populations by evidencing how to augment habitats to improve their quality and usefulness for threatened species at specific times. Final thoughts Following comprehensive discussions, we concluded that birds already held in captivity cannot provide verifiably British birds. This is because it is incredibly difficult to definitively establish the provenance of birds held in captivity due to poor documentation. As far as breeding British goes, these species mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a great number of species kept in captivity as well as mutations of these birds and European versions, such as the Siberian Bullfinch and Goldfinch. These are very similar to our familiar British birds so when purchasing, always find out exactly which bird you are buying. However the desire to establish a pure British blood lineage sounds almost sinister to me; at best it is entirely branding/marketing-driven and I cannot see how this is in the public interest. Considering the ability of these birds to cover large distances I also wonder to what extent it is fiction - while individual breeding pairs might be sedentary, the population as a whole may well be connected to those on the Channel Islands and those in continental Europe.The behavioural biology of passerines. In: Rose, P. E. (ed), The Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals, 1st edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 197-211 Depending on where in the country you live, the redpoll may not a familiar bird to you. There are two main types of Redpoll kept in aviculture, the Lesser and the Mealy. The Lessers are the smaller of the two and cross-breeding should be avoided. We have limited the licence period to two years and have the power to revoke or suspend the licence if there was evidence that the licences have been assessed on false information.

Birds are, perhaps, the best studied and most well understood group of animals. Their presence on every continent and country and across a wide range of habitats means birds are excellent indicators of the ecological quality of ecosystems. Due to their popularity and strong associations with humans (through bird watching, bird feeding, aviculture and ornithology, for example), birds can help engage people with wider conservation messages. Furthermore, citizen science activities, such as the RSPB’s “Big Garden Birdwatch” (2022), add valuable data to our understanding of population trends and how well certain species are doing. Integrated species conservation strategies The applicants have declared that any birds taken, and their young, will remain within the breeding programme. In the unlikely event that a licence holder ever wishes to sell a bird, they would first need a CITES certificate for ‘commercial’ use – this would be a decision for APHA (who manage CITES in England) however we understand that such a certificate would not be issued. There are no restrictions on the movements of the birds under the licences, however a CITES certificate would need to be obtained to export any of the birds. Since seeing a real live Falcon at the age of ten, some 33 years ago, I have always found complete awe in the knowledge that it is possible for a human being to take a completely wild animal, the Peregrine Falcon, some would say the wildest of all the animals, and tame her using infinite patience, positive reinforcement only (punishing a bird of prey is counter productive, we never consider even speaking harshly to our falcon), love and time. To such a level that the Falcon will genuinely want to fly with and hunt with the human for no other reason than the symbiosis that they have together developed. The falconer would feed the falcon when she was unsuccessful, and share in her kills when the hunt bore fruit. Thus ensuring her survival for the first few critical years of her life. Then when she reaches sexual maturity the falconer would cast her to the wind for the final time safe in the knowledge that she was completely self sufficient and could go on to breed more of her kind that he may one day encounter himself. This chain of events has continued in broken for literally 2000 years. And every time I consider it, then it completely blows my mind. We aren’t barbaric killers, we are the worlds best and least understood naturalists. And every Falcon that we touch lives within us for the rest of our lives. We understand that some people may have questions and concerns over the taking of birds from the wild and so I wanted to outline more about our decision. A peregrine falcon. Credit: PixabayFIGURE (3) IUCN threat categories of least concern, ie the species is doing well, compared to incremental increases in endangerment, right up to extinct in the wild, where a species only occurs in ex situ managed populations. The triangles explain the intensity of management required to sustain the species into the future Greenies start breeding from late March to early April and like to use a nesting pan high off the ground and surrounded by some greenery. This mimics a tree environment and allows the hen to feel she has blended into her surroundings while incubating. Species extirpated from the wild require investment in captive facilities (eg aviaries in zoos for captive breeding programmes) to ensure their long-term future. More common species, on the other hand, benefit from an investment in the supplementation of their populations through habitat and ecosystem management that enables populations to maintain high levels of growth and expansion. It is true what they say – that “common species are easier to conserve because they are common”. Therefore, knowledge of their ecological requirements allows habitats to be conserved, which, in turn, keeps the species prevalent and reduces the need for intense species-specific conservation action. The above alternatives have been carefully considered by Natural England when reaching a decision. This has included the need to consider the alternatives and evidence in a manner proportionate to the likely conservation impacts which could occur from the licensable activity. In concluding our decision we have noted that there are likely to be some minor conservation benefits to the peregrine falcon population as a result of these licences; for instance in reducing the likelihood of non-native and hybrid birds escaping into the wild during falconry. This will provide UK native peregrine falcons to falconers and potentially limit the amount of peregrines taken from the wild in the future, and it will also have the added benefit of creating a captive population on known provenance which we have never had before and would give us options in the future.