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Summary
Scottish Ministers are committed to protect and enhance Scotland's exceptional natural environment, including its rich and varied birdlife. However, they are also aware that some species of bird, in particular circumstances, can cause serious and significant problems to members of the public or people who are going about their legitimate businesses, whether as land managers, farmers, airport managers, managers of places where food is stored, processed or served, or members of the public. Certain birds may be so dominant and populous as to cause, in certain cases, significant threats to populations of other birds.
Such problems include gulls which attack people, flocks of pigeons which may become sucked into aircraft engines and therefore pose a threat to safety of aviation and passengers, birds which may damage crops or contaminate foodstuffs, and crows which predate on the chicks of capercaillie or black grouse. These are just a few examples.
In response to these problems Scottish Ministers issue licences which allow individuals to take certain strictly controlled actions against birds which cause, or may cause significant problems. Some of the licences issued are General Licences, which allow legitimate and authorised persons, without having to make a specific application to Scottish Ministers, to take actions to control certain species of birds where they pose a serious problem.
Scottish Ministers also recognise that there is a reasonable expectation that people should be able to buy and sell ornamental wildlife and buy, sell, and present show birds. General Licences are also issued for those purposes, and others are issued which allow veterinary surgeons and certain other specified people to look after sick and injured birds. There is also a licence which allows nest box owners to maintain the good state of their nest boxes by clearing out un-hatched eggs at the end of the year and a licence which allows the legitimate trade in dead wild birds and parts of dead wild birds.
It is the intention of Scottish Ministers to bring the General Licences up to date and make them clear and usable, and it is for this purpose that changes are proposed to those licences.
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