the Protection of Wild Birds



3



Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Whimbrel, Red-necked Plialarope,

Snipe ; Stone Curlew ; Water Rail ; Quail. Capercailzie; Swans,

Ducks, Graylag Goose. Schedule B is composed of the following

species to be protected all the year round : Chough, Golden Oriole,

Crested Tit, Reedling or Bearded Tit, Dartford Warbler, St. Kilda

Wren; Hoopoe; Osprey, Kite, Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Common

Buzzard, Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle ; Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl,

Barn Owl, Tawny Owl; Bittern, Spoonbill; Avocet, Kentish Plover;

Baillon’s Crake ; Bustard ; Pallas Sand Grouse.


The species contained in schedule B sort themselves at a glance into

two groups, namely, those that are common but useful, like our

indigenous Owls; and those that are so rare that even if destructive

by nature the harm they effect is practically negligible. It is noticeable,

in passing, that protection formerly extended to the Little Owl, an

imported species, has been rightly withdrawn, because it preys upon

small birds. It thus adds one more instance to the many already on

record of the dangers of importing and releasing foreign species of

animals in strange lands ; and in connexion with this and similar cases

we welcome the recommendation of the committee that for the future

the liberation of non-British birds is to be strictly controlled.


On putting the two schedules together, it will be seen that protection

of one kind or another is afforded to practically all our birds of prey,

resident or visitant, apart from the Sparrow Hawk. Presumably this

species, certainly not the least attractive of our Accipitres, is omitted

for reasons similar to those that led to the removal of the Little Owl

from the list; but in connexion with the Peregrine it may perhaps be

doubted if the owners of grouse moors will note altogether with approval

the inclusion in schedule A of this rapacious, if beautiful, Falcon.

But to meet a case of this kind, and others possibly similar to it, where

a species may be a pest in one place and comparatively or actually

harmless in another, the wise recommendation is made that the local

authority may appeal to the central authority for extension or

shortening of the breeding season and for the removal of a particular

bird from either of the schedules. The Raven, for instance, is on the

protected list because of its extreme rarity in most English counties;

but application could be made for its exemption from protection in



