Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published the four new General Licences for the control of wild birds which came into force on 1st July 2022.
The full list of General Licences can be found here which includes:
- GL001 - Licence to kill or take wild birds or to take or destroy their nests or eggs for the purposes of preventing serious damage or spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit. Note the purpose to species matrix included in the licence which limits the lethal control measures compared to the existing general licence.
- GL002 - Licence to kill or take feral pigeon or to take or destroy their nests and eggs for the purposes of preserving public health, public safety or preventing the spread of disease.
- GL004 - Licence to kill or take carrion crow or to take or destroy their nests or eggs for the purpose of conserving wild birds. Note the exclusion of the Magpie, Jay and Jackdaw from the existing licence. The exclusion of the Magpie from the general licence was despite evidence indicating that Magpies were not under threat and that they posed a threat to other wild bird species.
- GL005 - Licence to kill or take ruddy duck or to take or destroy their nests or eggs for the purpose of conserving wild birds.