Killing them is the only answer…

I’m not a great one for killing things.

I won’t kill spiders and I won’t kill bugs and beetles. I’ve even been known to pick slugs and snails off my hostas and transport them away from my garden.

So, when I say killing them is the only answer – I don’t say it lightly.

Parakeets.

I’ve been prattling on about these bloody things for years, since I spotted them in various London parks and thought …. ‘There’s a problem ahead with these guys’.

The ‘Ring necked parakeet’ has not only expanded its habitat but its numbers have increased by an estimated 2600% since 1995, to a figure quoted as being over 30,000.

Monk parakeets have dwindled to less than 50 after the government spent £259,000 between 2009 and 2014 to remove nests and eggs.

Conservationists argue over the impact of these species and no clear answer has been arrived at – my thoughts tend to go towards the ‘take action’ end of the argument…bearing in mind that given a short period of time of time the opportunity to have a significant impact on the expanding population will be missed.

I’m thinking grey squirrels vs red.

Hunting groups have asked for people to be allowed to shoot these noisy pests to prevent their relentless spread.

Currently, landowners are only allowed to shoot parakeets if they are causing serious harm to crops or if they are deemed to be a threat to wild bird populations.

Killing the birds for any other reason could result in a fine or six month custodial sentence.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has applied for a legal amendment to add the ring necked parakeet to the official list of wild birds that can be hunted for recreational purposes.

The decision was due to be made in August, but has faced delays.

Where’s my shotgun?

  

Mike C