Starlings!

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Farm up the road, covered in them. Starling poop everywhere.

Crop scarers in the farm yard, no effect. Kites, useless. Falcon noises and loud speaker, no effect.

Are they still protected from shooting?

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Unfortunately Sausage they are protected and there is nothing you can do.

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Are special licences available?

[BenBhoy 4,706]

An “individual” licence is granted by DEFRA to approved, named individuals, to tackle a specific problem, within a specific period of time, in an agreed manner. DEFRA assess applications on a case by case basis. Without a licence it is illegal to kill starlings.

Obviously I've copy & pasted that! Taken from a pest control firm

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by BenBhoy

[Dervburner 2,549]

13 minutes ago, BenBhoy said:

An “individual” licence is granted by DEFRA to approved, named individuals, to tackle a specific problem, within a specific period of time, in an agreed manner. DEFRA assess applications on a case by case basis. Without a licence it is illegal to kill starlings.

Obviously I've copy & pasted that! Taken from a pest control firm

 

Yerr, I have to go through that regarding cormorants, even calibre of gun and ammunition specified on license.

As for starlings, they were everywhere when I was a lad. Regarded as pests (flying rats) at the time, we used to use them as target practice. Can’t say that I care for them now much either...

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

1 hour ago, Sausagedog said:

Are special licences available?

You can apply for an individual license but you have got more chance of winning the lottery. The starling has a red listed conservation status , God knows why there are loads up North. 

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Thanks all.

I will advise contact with DEFRA.

[Sausagedog 7,381]

6 minutes ago, FOXHUNTER said:

You can apply for an individual license but you have got more chance of winning the lottery. The starling has a red listed conservation status , God knows why there are loads up North. 

There was an unknown period when their numbers plummeted. Possibly 20 years ago but they have made a huge return.

Guberment out of date again, situation normal!

[BenBhoy 4,706]

1 hour ago, FOXHUNTER said:

The starling has a red listed conservation status , God knows why there are loads up North. 

There's a few species in red that make me scratch my head, starlings included plenty of them here. And house sparrows, wtf??

Edited November 23, 2021 by BenBhoy

[si brown 8,486]

49 minutes ago, Sausagedog said:

There was an unknown period when their numbers plummeted. Possibly 20 years ago but they have made a huge return.

Guberment out of date again, situation normal!

There’s a Mcains chip factory where I live and the sky’s black with the bloody things, safe to day they’ve never been scares round here

As for the licences they’ll probably specify first light with an air gun, just set up a few fac ones for the defra contractors