§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on the effect of predator control on the sustainability of ground nesting bird populations. [158023]
§ Mr. BradshawGround nesting birds can be predated on by a variety of other species. There have been relatively few studies of the effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations. A recent review of studies (Cote, I. M. and Sutherland, W.J. 1997, The effectiveness of removing predators to protect bird populations Conservation Biology 11: 395–405) concluded that the studies indicated that the removal of predators had a large, positive effect on the hatching success and post-breeding population sizes of target bird species but not on breeding population size, the effects on which varied considerably between studies. Whilst predator control may thus be a useful tool for game managers, it may not meet the requirements of those seeking to increase the size of bird breeding populations.
281WBirds
All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and under Section 16 of the Act licences can be issued to allow certain birds to be controlled for the purposes of conserving wild birds or for the purposes of conserving flora and fauna. Defra currently issues a general licence to allow the control of certain species, such as those of the corvid family for this purpose.
Mammals
Mink may also predate certain ground nesting birds. Mink are not protected by domestic legislation and can thus be controlled on a year round basis.
With regard to badgers I have already informed my hon. Friend that Defra is currently funding research aimed at providing a scientifically vigorous assessment of the importance of badger predation on ground nesting birds. The Central Science Laboratory is due to report its findings in March 2005. Until that time I cannot give a definitive answer of the effect of badgers on ground nesting birds.