Association between gamebird releases and generalist predators
More than 40 million gamebirds (Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges) are reared and released into the UK countryside each year for recreational shooting.
Written by: Martin Harper
Published: 2 Jul 2019
Topic: Gamebird releases and generalist predators
More than 40 million gamebirds (Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges) are reared and released into the UK countryside each year for recreational shooting. This is a tenfold increase since the 1970s and there are increasing concerns over the environmental impacts of continuing this practice and at such levels. New research from the BTO shows these concerns to be well-founded.
What the study shows is that larger numbers of predatory and scavenging species, such as crows, are found where gamebird releases occur. It may be that they are feeding on the millions of Pheasants and partridges that fail to make it through the winter. The populations of these predators are also growing faster, maybe fuelled by this annual bonanza of released meat. These changes could be adding further pressure on ground-nesting birds such as Lapwings and Curlews. Birds that are already in trouble from the way we use and manage our countryside.
Somewhat ironically, conservation organisations like the RSPB are resorting to lethal control to keep numbers of crows from impacting these species of conservation concern.
The situation of increasing numbers of predatory species is unbalancing the sustainable future for our countryside. This study is an important addition, to a growing body of evidence, on the negative impacts of high-density gamebird releases on the natural environment. It is surely now time to look more closely at implementing effective regulation for the release of such huge numbers of non-native birds into the environment.