Blogs

Mark Glover’s view that gamebird releasing causes environmental carnage, “Slaughter of UK’s imported gamebirds carries a heavy price, 22 July”, is not supported by the scientific evidence.

“Pheasants are useless mothers”; how often I have heard those word, but are they true? This view certainly has a long history, and way back in 1895 the Rev H. A. Macpherson said they are “careless, clumsy mothers” in the fur, feather and fin volume on Pheasants.

General licence GL43, which permits the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges on and within 500m of the boundary of European protected sites in England has been granted for another 12 months until 30th May 2023.

The GWCT has undertaken a significant body of research into ecological impacts of gamebird releasing and management. Our research highlights that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative impacts.

Our research group at the GWCT is attempting to answer the question “Do sites that release gamebirds have more fox activity than non-release sites?” by collecting and analysing fox scats. 28 February 2022 saw our first day of fieldwork in a programme lasting until next spring.

An appraisal of: Harris (2021) A review of the animal welfare, public health, and environmental, ecological and conservation implications of rearing, releasing and shooting non-native gamebirds in Britain. Report to the Labour Animal Welfare Society.

For most lowland shoots, the cost of pheasant and partridge poults is probably the biggest single outlay in the annual budget, so you want to spend your money wisely. Shopping around is clearly sensible but beware of going on price alone.

Many a new pen will be going up over the next couple of months, so now is a good time to think about what makes a great place to release your pheasants. It is one of the biggest investments on many shoots, and getting it right is key to success.