cookimonster wrote: »

This smacks of desk top studies with individuals not even crossing a farm gate

A desktop study formed the basis of a review of the extent of the issues in Ireland

Some concern was expressed about breaches of some these derogations, specifically that:
· The derogation is being abused in relation to Woodpigeon which is subject to widespread recreational shooting for local and tourist hunters during the height of their breeding period.

Crop damage is the degradation of crops through consumption, damage to roots, and can also be caused by trampling, where for example large flocks of waterbirds are implicated

The species on the General Declaration in Ireland with respect to livestock, forests, fisheries and water are listed for agricultural reasons. There are currently five species on the General Declaration for the reasons identified below. The allowable periods of control are restricted to those when the
likelihood of damage is greatest:
· Damage to livestock: Magpie, Hooded Crow. Control is between December and May, during the peak lambing and calving period.
· Damage cereal crops: Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Rook. Control is between November and May, during the early growth phases of the crop.
· Damage livestock feedlots: Jackdaw, Rook. Control is between November and May, during the period when livestock are housed and/ or fed large amounts of supplementary meal

As discussed above, there is very little evidence globally that informs on the extent to which bird give rise to these issues. Based on the responses received on the questionnaire (See Section 3.3), there was no objection to these listed species. However, Magpie was implicated in causing damage
to livestock feedlots.

Recommendation that the grain growers section of the IFA should be included as major stakeholder.

In the UK, raptors generate considerable concerns in relation to the predation of game stocks, livestock and pigeon racers (Kenward et al. 2001, Park et al. 2008). Corvid predation has also been reported on, and one study in the UK demonstrated that Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes and corvids were the most important nest predators, accounting for at least half of all predation events (Draycott et al. 2008), particularly of nests and chicks. Other studies have shown the impacts of corvids to be relatively low, especially in comparison with other predators (Park et al. 2008). Furthermore, in their review of 42 studies, the large majority from the UK, it was shown that there is little evidence that suggests there is a positive effect on resulting game stocks when corvids are controlled (Madden et al. 2015).