Shooting Red and Amber Listed Birds!

   
It's very unlikely that many Red and Amber listed birds are shot, at least on purpose, although studies around the world indicate that shooters just aren't very competent at identifying the correct quarry species, so that could be having an adverse effect on populations already threatened.

All wild birds are "protected" in that there are rules, laws and regulations that apply, some which do allow birds to be shot.

The information below is available in the public domain and deals with; 

What methods are illegal for killing birds and mammals.

Selling dead birds.

Species which are legal to shoot.

The seasons in which shooting can take place.

I did want to go into the continuing use of lead shot, hundreds of very small lead projectiles fired from shotguns to kill game and wildfowl, but I don't have time just now. 

One for the pot......

All wild birds

It is illegal to use:

Any spring, trap, gin, snare, any electrical device for killing, stunning or frightening, or any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substance so placed as to be calculated to cause bodily injury to any wild bird

Any net, any baited board, bird-lime or substance of a like nature to bird-lime

Any bow or crossbow

Any missile which is not discharged from a firearm including any arrow or spear

Any metal bar, axe, hatchet, cudgel, club, hammer or similar instrument

Any explosive other than ammunition for a firearm.

Any automatic or semi-automatic weapon against any bird except the Bird Pest Species listed on the general licences

Any shotgun where the barrel has an internal diameter at the muzzle of more than 1¾ inches

Any device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting or any form of artificial light or any mirror or other dazzling device

Any gas or smoke not covered any where else in this section, any chemical or wetting agent

Any sound recording

Any live animal or bird as a decoy which is tethered, secured by braces or other similar appliances, or which is blind, maimed or injured.

Any mechanically-propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of birds for the purpose of killing or taking.

 

Any wild mammal

It is illegal to use;

Any self-locking snare

Any bow or crossbow

Any missile which is not discharged from a firearm including any arrow or spear

Any explosive other than ammunition for a firearm.

Any live bird or mammal as a decoy which is tethered, or which is secured by means of braces or other similar appliances, or which is blind, maimed or injured.

Any sound recording

Mammals (with special protection)

It is illegal to use;

Any trap, snare, any electrical device for killing, stunning or frightening, or any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substance so placed as to be calculated to cause bodily injury

Any net

Any metal bar, axe, hatchet, cudgel, club, hammer or similar instrument

Any automatic or semi-automatic weapon, any device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting, any form of artificial lighting, mirror or other dazzling device or any gas or smoke not covered anywhere else in this section (see note below).

Any sound recording

Any mechanically-propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of mammals for the purpose of killing or taking (or driving that animal 

Sale of birds

England, Wales and Scotland The sale of the following dead birds is permitted from 1 September to 28 February inclusive. Red and Amber listed birds marked in colour

Mallard,  Pintail,  Pochard

Teal,  Tufted Duck,  Shoveler

Common Snipe,  Wigeon,  Coot

Golden Plover,  Woodcock           

Woodpigeon can be sold dead at any time

Species

England, Wales & Scotland

The species that can be shot during their open season are (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981):  Status: Red and Amber listed birds marked colour marked  

SEASONS