The above alternatives have been carefully considered by Natural England when reaching a decision. This has included the need to consider the alternatives and evidence in a manner proportionate to the likely conservation impacts which could occur from the licensable activity. In concluding our decision we have noted that there are likely to be some minor conservation benefits to the peregrine falcon population as a result of these licences; for instance in reducing the likelihood of non-native and hybrid birds escaping into the wild during falconry. We aren’t barbaric killers, we are the worlds best and least understood naturalists. And every Falcon that we touch lives within us for the rest of our lives. Peregrine falcons have a conservation status of green which means they are widespread and their numbers are not under threat. In fact, the species’ current range and numbers are greater than at any time since detailed recording began in the 1930s. The peregrine population has particularly increased over the last 50 years – there were just 47 breeding pairs in England by the 1970s but by 2014 this number had increased to 826 breeding pairs. The British Birds list of Western Palearctic birds sets out the names and taxonomic sequence used in all material published in and by British Birds. In terms of taxonomy and scientific nomenclature, the BB list follows the International Ornithological Union’s IOC World Bird List (v. 13.2). In most cases, English names are the same as the international English names used in the IOC World Bird List, but in some cases more familiar European names are retained (for example, divers and skuas rather than loons and jaegers). Separate columns in the BB list denote differences in common names from the IOC World Bird List and also from the vernacular names used by the British Ornithologists’ Union in the official British List.

British finches are often associated with mules, a term used by cage bird breeders to refer to hybrids of finch species bred in captivity, such as that of a goldfinch and canary. There are now strict ringing regulations on British finches in places such as the UK, but they are still kept by aviculturists who care for them in much the same way as canaries. The seed mixture in the UK known as British Finch & Mule is their basic diet.

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Most successful breeders recommend a canary mix rather than a bullfinch mix to feed them with as there are less fatty seeds in a canary mix. They also enjoy treats such as blue maw, also known as poppy seeds, and apples. The whole dandelion plant can be offered, as long as it comes from a spot which has not been treated with any chemicals. Collaboration between a wide range of practitioners and stakeholders is key to effective bird conservation – the knowledge and skills of invested parties enhance the efficacy and relevance of conservation action, making such outputs more likely to succeed.

Evidence for aviculture: identifying research needs to advance the role of ex situ bird populations in conservation initiatives and collection planning. Birds, 2, 77-95Since seeing a real live Falcon at the age of ten, some 33 years ago, I have always found complete awe in the knowledge that it is possible for a human being to take a completely wild animal, the Peregrine Falcon, some would say the wildest of all the animals, and tame her using infinite patience, positive reinforcement only (punishing a bird of prey is counter productive, we never consider even speaking harshly to our falcon), love and time. To such a level that the Falcon will genuinely want to fly with and hunt with the human for no other reason than the symbiosis that they have together developed. The falconer would feed the falcon when she was unsuccessful, and share in her kills when the hunt bore fruit. Thus ensuring her survival for the first few critical years of her life. Then when she reaches sexual maturity the falconer would cast her to the wind for the final time safe in the knowledge that she was completely self sufficient and could go on to breed more of her kind that he may one day encounter himself. This chain of events has continued in broken for literally 2000 years. And every time I consider it, then it completely blows my mind. FIGURE (1) The integration of in situ (wild-based) conservation action alongside ex situ (zoo-based) conservation action beneficial to a species’ attainment of population recovery and sustainability. Including all stakeholders in creating a species conservation action plan increases the buy-in to conservation initiatives and promotes a sense of commonality to what you are trying to achieve. A sliding scale of management (eg more in-zoo compared to the wild, or more wild intervention compared to in-zoo) can be implemented based on a species’ specific needs at a certain time We understand that some people may have questions and concerns over the taking of birds from the wild and so I wanted to outline more about our decision. A peregrine falcon. Credit: Pixabay