Disputed hawk trapping trial postponed

from Sunday Herald, 16 March 2008

An intensely controversial scheme to trap sparrowhawks to prevent them from killing racing pigeons has been postponed because of last-minute problems in getting licences from the UK government.

The Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, decided at the end of last week to delay a trial programme to relocate sparrowhawks hunting near pigeon lofts. The trial had been due to begin on Monday, but it won’t now take place until the autumn at the earliest.

The surprise decision prompted an angry reaction from pigeon-fanciers, who claimed they had been “shafted”. Wildlife groups, however, were pleased because they regarded the trial as unnecessary, illegal and potentially harmful.

Disputes about the conflict between homing pigeons and sparrowhawks have raged for many years. The owners of urban doocots are angered when they see their birds being torn apart by the avian predators.

But a study in 2004 by government scientists suggested that less than one per cent of pigeons were taken by sparrowhawks. This was disputed, however, by the Scottish Homing Union, which represents Scotland’s 3,500 pigeon-fanciers.

Lobbying by the union and the Scottish Nationalist MSP, Alex Neil, persuaded Russell to reopen the issue last November. Despite opposition from wildlife groups and concerns from the government’s conservation agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Russell decided to go ahead with a trial “translocation scheme”.

The plan was for 15 pigeon-owners to trap and relocate prowling sparrowhawks as an experiment to see what difference it would make. But to protect the sparrowhawks’ young, it had to be done before the breeding season began in April.

Civil servants belatedly realised that trapping the birds of prey using live pigeons as bait would require a licence from the Home Office in London. But this was going to take at least another week to process.

“This unforeseen delay would bring the project too close to the sparrowhawk breeding season and I have therefore accepted advice that the field activity should be postponed until later in the year,” Russell told the Sunday Herald.

He was adamant, however, that the trial would still go ahead. "I strongly support the desire of the Scottish Homing Union to find ways to reduce sparrowhawk predation at their lofts - something which causes much distress and considerable damage,” he said.

“Their proposal to undertake a controlled and limited research project, which involves humane relocation of some birds and compares that to other means of deterrence, is sensible and responsible.”

But Linda Brooks, the secretary of the Scottish Homing Union, was “very upset” by the postponement. “I think we’ve been shafted,” she said, though she didn’t specify by whom.

“I am at a complete and utter loss as to why this has happened,” she continued. “There is nothing more cruel and barbaric than having to stand and watch a sparrowhawk strip open a pigeon.”

Brooks was backed by Alex Neil, who has long championed the pigeon-fanciers cause. “I’m disappointed it has taken us ten years to get to this position,” he said.

Other MSPs, however, urged Russell to use the delay to reconsider the proposed trial. “There are clearly serious concerns that remain to be addressed”, said the LibDem MSP for Orkney, Liam McArthur.

The Green MSP Robin Harper added: “We fail to see what the point is of pressing on with this pseudo-science, and it's disappointing to see that the minister has listened to Alex Neil and the "doo lobby" rather than to the scientists.”

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was “encouraged” by the postponement. “But we're baffled as to why the Scottish government is even considering this misguided scheme,” said Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management for RSPB Scotland.

“Without properly examining any alternatives, this scheme has a doubtful legal basis, and would set an extremely worrying precedent for how we treat our birds of prey.”

The trial has also been heavily criticised by scientists, and was threatening to mar the good reputation Russell has won amongst wildlife groups. Now at least he has bought himself some breathing space.

Russell urged all those who care about birds to help further improve the protocols for the trial so that progress could be made on this “contentious” matter. “Problems such as this have the potential to turn into positive advantages if all those involved treat them in that way,” he said.

There are no signs, however, of peace breaking out between the pigeon-fanciers and the raptor protectors. According to the Scottish Homing Union’s Linda Brooks, some people were “hell bent on preventing us from protecting our pigeons”.

While raptor worker, Logan Steele, pointed out that number of pigeons taken by sparrowhawks was “minimal” compared to the number that were strangled by their owners to save on feeding costs over the winter.

An earlier story on this issue can be found here.