Defra Question/answers Re Falconry

[GM090158]

Listed below is a list of questions/answers re falconry from the DEFRA web site, it may help clarify where we stand. Appologies if this is already published
GM

Falconry
The advice in this Q & A is for guidance only and is subject to the caveat that only the courts can interpret the law.

Q16. Am I allowed to fly my bird of prey including for hunting purposes?
A. There is nothing that prevents you flying your bird. The new legislation prevents the gathering of birds in one place.

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Q17. I own more than one bird of prey. Can I fly them together?
A. Yes. This is not classed as a gathering because the birds are coming from one source.

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Q18. Can I fly my bird or birds with other birds of prey belonging to different owners?
A. No. If the birds are coming from different sources (i.e. different owners) then this constitutes a gathering and so is not allowed under the new legislation.

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Q19. I wish to fly my bird of prey at a ‘field meet’ (i.e. with birds of prey belonging to other owners). Is this allowed?
A. No. This constitutes a gathering and can therefore not go ahead.

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Q20. The birds of prey are taken to the ‘field meet’ separately and are flown individually. Is this allowed?
A. Yes. These gatherings can take place subject to licence conditions.

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Q21. Am I allowed to fly my bird(s) of prey at an event where there is a gathering of people (e.g. at a shopping centre, education day at a school etc.)?
A. If it is a bird or birds coming from one source then this is not a gathering and you are allowed to fly them at this event.

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[Tr1gger]

Thanks that clears up a few things

[Kentish Falconry]

Thanks GM. I realise that this temporary ban on meets is a pain in the backside but it is in the long term for our own good. If I was to tell you just how close AI is to the UK then you too would be worried. If your bird were to kill an infected wild bird you would have a high chance of your Hawk/Falcon picking up the disease if however you were in a group it is possible that some or all of the birds on the meet could contract the disease causing a spread then DEFRA would have to kill all birds concerned wether or not they were contaminated to reduce risk. The thinking behind this Law is that if 1 bird catches it and dies then at least the contaminated area is restricted if it is at a Falconry meet with Falconers from all over the place attending then they would have to set up contamination areas around each bird that was on the meet the cost for this would be high and more importently the risk of a full blown epidemic would shut the UK down and we would loose our clean status
As most of you are aware the H5N1 strain of AI is being carried by Waterfowl and is spreading though migration. DEFRA State Vet Service have advised us not to hunt Ducks or Geese under any circumstances, but we are on a migration path for waterfowl and are a high risk area.
Because we have birds in our Quarantine at the moment we are getting regular spot checks and therefore we have access to up to date info direct from DEFRA (MAFF) so we are up to speed on the situation
The ban at the moment is for one month starting last week and may be extended to end of December, by then the migration should have finnished and the ban will be lifted providing there are no outbreaks in the UK during this time.
There is a Flock (Gaggle) of geese heading towards the UK from a highly infected area the number I was given is 3000+ birds this is of major concern to DEFRA and they are being monitored closely. 8 dead Geese have been recovered in Germany all died from AI but the tests have not shown so far that it is H5N1 strain,these birds are not from the gaggle heading for the UK but still give rise for concern.
I will let you all know if I get any futher info on this

Terry
KFCC
www.kentishfalconry.co.uk

[Debbie]

Good post GM - better for it to be published 50 times than not at all.

Terry - thanks for the update - any idea when this gaggle will be arriving on our shores?

Debbie x

[Saker-Clive]

Can't the European parties, cull them before they cause too much damage or are they thinking on the same lines as the refugees?

Just let them pass over and someone else can have the problem:twisted:

[OutFlying]

Thanks GM. I realise that this temporary ban on meets is a pain in the backside but it is in the long term for our own good. If I was to tell you just how close AI is to the UK then you too would be worried. If your bird were to kill an infected wild bird you would have a high chance of your Hawk/Falcon picking up the disease if however you were in a group it is possible that some or all of the birds on the meet could contract the disease causing a spread then DEFRA would have to kill all birds concerned wether or not they were contaminated to reduce risk. The thinking behind this Law is that if 1 bird catches it and dies then at least the contaminated area is restricted if it is at a Falconry meet with Falconers from all over the place attending then they would have to set up contamination areas around each bird that was on the meet the cost for this would be high and more importently the risk of a full blown epidemic would shut the UK down and we would loose our clean status
As most of you are aware the H5N1 strain of AI is being carried by Waterfowl and is spreading though migration. DEFRA State Vet Service have advised us not to hunt Ducks or Geese under any circumstances, but we are on a migration path for waterfowl and are a high risk area.
Because we have birds in our Quarantine at the moment we are getting regular spot checks and therefore we have access to up to date info direct from DEFRA (MAFF) so we are up to speed on the situation
The ban at the moment is for one month starting last week and may be extended to end of December, by then the migration should have finnished and the ban will be lifted providing there are no outbreaks in the UK during this time.
There is a Flock (Gaggle) of geese heading towards the UK from a highly infected area the number I was given is 3000+ birds this is of major concern to DEFRA and they are being monitored closely. 8 dead Geese have been recovered in Germany all died from AI but the tests have not shown so far that it is H5N1 strain,these birds are not from the gaggle heading for the UK but still give rise for concern.
I will let you all know if I get any futher info on this

Terry
KFCC
www.kentishfalconry.co.uk

What about all the commericial shoots, all the dogs are in contact with each other and there owners - shooting thousands of ducks everyweek, picking up the shot birds, some live some dead. What chance of contamination this way ?

Jim.

[OutFlying]

These dogs then come into contact with pheasants on another shoot.

[Saker-Clive]

That wasn't the point Andy ;-) the EU's past experiences seem to just want the bad things to be moved on..............................and it's always the Uk that gets it in the neck!!

[Saker-Clive]

That's my point, if they shoot, trap or capture them, THEY will have to deal with the problem.....................

[GiantsEye]

Thanks for the info GM

[Renton]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/shows/qanda.htm