RSPB angered by buzzard-control plans
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been criticised by the RSPB for its proposed measures to control buzzards.
Defra is to spend up to £375,000 researching ways to prevent buzzards from targeting captive-reared pheasants, with suggested methods including destroying nests to stop birds breeding, catching and relocating buzzards to places such as falconry centres, or providing alternative food sources for the predators.
The RSPB, however, has hit out at the plans, calling the idea of taking wild buzzards into captivity or destroying their nests "totally unacceptable", as well as calling Defra into account for the budget of the project, when money is tight for conservation measures.
A Defra spokeswoman commented: "The buzzard population in this country has been protected for over 30 years, and as the RSPB says, has resulted in a fantastic conservation story. At the same time we have cases of buzzards preying on young pheasants. We are looking at funding research to find ways of protecting these young birds while making sure the buzzard population continues to thrive. This research is about maintaining the balance between captive and wild birds."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
