Wild birds: record your non-lethal actions
Find out the requirements for recording non-lethal actions for wild bird control licences, and download the record of non-lethal actions template.
Applies to England
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You must provide a list听of non-lethal actions听you鈥檝e听taken听when you apply for a licence, renew a licence, or report your actions on a licence to:听
You can use the template on this听page听or听you can provide听a record of your actions听in another format,听as long as听you include the same information.听For example, if you gather the听information听using an app, you can听submit听the output from the app.听
Your听record听should include descriptions of the听non-lethal deterrent methods听you鈥檝e听used.听Examples include:听
- shooting to scare听
- falconry听
- human听disturbance,听such as clapping, shouting, driving vehicles听
- static visual deterrents such as听scarecrows听
- static audio deterrents such as gas guns听
- fish refuges听
- proofing, such as netting and听wires听
Find out more about听legal methods to help deter certain wild birds without a licence.听
New licences听
As part of your application for a new licence, you must听submit听a听record听of听non-lethal actions听you鈥檝e听taken听to deter听wild birds.听听
You鈥檒l听be asked to听submit听your record听when you complete the licence application form.听
The听record听must cover a period of at least听one month.听You must provide a daily summary of actions taken.听
Your听record of听non-lethal actions听must include:听
- the date of the action听
- the deterrent methods used听
- the species and number of birds present 鈥� you can estimate in 10鈥檚, 100鈥檚 or 1000鈥檚 per species if necessary听
- how effective the deterrent was听
You must also include details of any long-term听deterrent methods听you鈥檝e听used, such as visual deterrents,听modification of loafing and roosting areas, habitat management听(such as fish refuges).听
Renewing your licence and reporting actions听
If听you鈥檝e听taken any action under your licence, or you want to renew your licence, you must听submit听a听record听of non-lethal actions听you鈥檝e听taken to deter wild birds.听You鈥檒l听be asked to听submit听your听record听when you complete the reporting form.听
You can record this as听monthly summaries, covering the whole licence period.听听
Your听record of听non-lethal actions听must听include:听
- the听month听of听each听action听
- the deterrent methods used听
- the species and number of birds present听鈥撎齮his should be the monthly average and peak counts for each species on your licence听
- how effective the deterrents听were听
You must also include details of any long-term deterrent methods听you鈥檝e听used, such as visual deterrents, modification of loafing and roosting areas, habitat management听(such as fish refuges).听
You must听submit听a reporting form within 14 days of the licence expiry, even if you have not taken any action or do not want to renew your licence.