Wildfowl shooting banned in Northern Ireland in big freeze

Wigeon feeding in the snow on an RSPB reserve. Picture by Chris Gomersall

December 2010. Following two weeks of freezing conditions, the Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, has imposed a statutory suspension on the shooting of wildfowl for at least seven days. The suspension, which comes into effect at midnight on 9 December 2010, follows the British Association for Shooting and Conservation's (BASC) call last week for voluntary restraint. It is aimed at protecting birds during the exceptionally cold weather.

Anne-Marie McDevitt, Conservation Manager for RSPB NI, said: "This is the second time this year that the statutory ban has been imposed and we are fully supportive of it. During freezing conditions, birds are concentrating on replenishing their fat reserves to keep warm. This is made doubly difficult by the snow as food is harder to get at when covered in ice and snow. They need all the help they can get."

Feeding Red kites
RSPB NI's Red Kite Officer, Robert Straughan based in Castlewellan, has been tracking the released population of red kites to see how they are faring. "All are accounted for and doing fine," said Robert, "but I am putting out supplementary food for them to ensure they get through this cold period."

Agri-environment scheme
Our work encouraging farmers to plant wild bird cover through agri-environment schemes is also providing a vital food resource for farmland birds in this freezing weather.

Claire Barnett, RSPB's Farmland Bird Recovery Officer, said, "Wild bird cover is a cereal crop that is not harvested. Seed-eating birds like the yellowhammer and tree sparrow can't get to seed in stubbles, as much of it is covered, but wild bird cover stands above the snow and ice and our fieldworkers are seeing record flocks of seed-eaters using it. It is effectively a giant bird table in the countryside."

Don't approach birds
Ms McDevitt said, "We know that many people are feeding birds and putting out water in their gardens, and would encourage them to continue doing this. We are also calling for those that use the countryside, including birdwatchers, walkers, anglers and water sports enthusiasts, to minimise disturbance to groups of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds on lakes, rivers, wetlands and coastal areas.

"Large flocks of wetland birds, such as ducks, geese and waders, can be disturbed by people getting too close to them. This causes them to expend energy needlessly and if they can't find sufficient food, they will be in serious trouble."

Wildfowling in Scotland
RSPB Scotland has received reports of sluggish or starving woodcocks arriving in gardens and cities in search of food.

Monitoring stations in Scotland have recorded 12 days of freezing temperatures. If conditions continue then, for the second time this year, shooting of certain species of wildfowl, including woodcock and its closest relative, snipe, will be temporarily suspended for two weeks so the birds can feed undisturbed.