FINAL REPORT Review of the Derogation Process under Article 9(1)(a) of the EU Birds Directive Prepared by Olivia Crowe, Gary Goggins and Derek McLoughlin September 2018 Review of the Birds Directive Article 9(1)(a) Derogations Process Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 2. Legislation ............................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Background & objectives ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 The EU Birds Directive ............................................................................................................................ 7 Articles 5 to 8 ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Article 9 .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.3.1 General principles of the Article 9 derogation system ...................................................................... 8 2.3.2 No Other Satisfactory Solutions ....................................................................................................... 9 2.3.3 Derogations ‘in the interest of public health and safety and in the interests of air safety. ................. 9 2.3.4 Derogations ‘to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water’ .............. 10 2.3.5 Derogations ‘for the protection of flora and fauna’ ........................................................................ 10 2.3.6 Conservation status of species ....................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Article 10 .............................................................................................................................................. 10 2.5 Situation in Ireland ............................................................................................................................... 11 2.5.1 Implementation into Irish law of the Birds Directive and the Article 9 derogation ........................... 11 2.5.2 Key legislative provisions regarding protection of wild birds ........................................................... 11 2.6 The United Kingdom ............................................................................................................................. 16 2.6.1 England ......................................................................................................................................... 16 2.7 References ........................................................................................................................................... 18 3. Species status review ............................................................................................................................ 19 3.1 Background & objectives ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Methods............................................................................................................................................... 21 Data and literature sources .................................................................................................................... 21 Analyses ................................................................................................................................................ 21 3.3 Species Accounts .................................................................................................................................. 22 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ...................................................................................................................... 22 Whooper Swan Cygnus Cygnus............................................................................................................... 23 Mute Swan Cygnus olor .......................................................................................................................... 24 Buzzard Buteo buteo .............................................................................................................................. 24 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria ............................................................................................................ 25 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus ...................................................................................................................... 26 Curlew Numenius arquata ...................................................................................................................... 27 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus ....................................................................................... 28 Common Gull Larus canus ...................................................................................................................... 29 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii ........................................................................................ 30 Herring Gull Larus argentatus................................................................................................................. 30 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus ................................................................................................... 31 Feral Pigeon Columba livia ..................................................................................................................... 32 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus ............................................................................................................ 33 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto ...................................................................................................... 34 Swallow Hirundo rustica ......................................................................................................................... 34 Magpie Pica pica .................................................................................................................................... 35 Jackdaw Corvus monedula ...................................................................................................................... 36 Rook Corvus frugilegus ........................................................................................................................... 37 Carrion Crow Corvus corone ................................................................................................................... 38 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix ................................................................................................................... 39 2 Review of the Birds Directive Article 9(1)(a) Derogations Process Starling Sturnus vulgaris ......................................................................................................................... 39 House Sparrow Passer domesticus ......................................................................................................... 40 3.4 Overview of species status .................................................................................................................... 42 3.5 References ........................................................................................................................................... 43 4. Extent of issues ..................................................................................................................................... 44 4.1 Background & objectives ...................................................................................................................... 44 4.2 Derogation circumstances .................................................................................................................... 44 4.2.1 Public health and safety ................................................................................................................. 44 4.2.2 Air safety ....................................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.3 Damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water ................................................................ 48 4.2.4 Protection of flora and fauna (including game) .............................................................................. 50 4.3 Targeted consultation with stakeholders .............................................................................................. 50 4.3.1 General Declaration questionnaire ................................................................................................ 50 4.3.2 Air Safety Declaration questionnaire .............................................................................................. 55 4.4 References ........................................................................................................................................... 57 5. International Best Practice Review ........................................................................................................ 61 5.1 Overview of responses