Skylarks, starlings and mistle thrushes: Endangered songbirds licensed to be killed for sport in UK Skylarks, starlings and mistle thrushes are among the red-listed species approved to be hunted by falconers. Should endangered wild birds be hunted for sport? It sounds like an odd question to be asking in 2023, in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Yet, at a time when many avian species in the UK are under threat of regional extinction, government data reveals falconers are permitted to hunt rare songbirds. The data, released this week by government watchdog Natural England, has caused concern among environmentalists. What is falconry and how is it regulated in the UK? Falconry involves hunting wild animals in their natural habitat using a trained bird of prey. There are reportedly around 25,000 falconers in the UK. The sport itself dates back hundreds of years, and it has seen a resurgence in recent times. While it remains legal throughout Britain, many outside the hobby are u
Post: 8 November 17:47
