Government department shot parakeets in 2008 Borehamwood trial

Christine Brock SEVEN perched monk parakeets were shot dead in Borehamwood as part of a fact-finding mission by the Government's environmental body in 2008.

Freedom of information requests reveal the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spent £37,000 investigating the most effective options to attempt an eradication or population control programme, between September and November 2008.

Documents show a range of techniques were employed in an unknown Borehamwood location, censored due to privacy issues, to find out how the birds would react.

Following a four day test in which nests were removed, a report dated October 7 states: “During agonistic activity and rebuilding activity birds presented themselves openly on branches (easy targets for shooter).”

A very concerned resident, Simon Richardson, 49, of Mildred Avenue, a road currently at the centre of a £90,000 eradication project by DEFRA, which has seen four birds humanely culled, fears shooting could soon be back on the agenda.

He believes all deaths are unnecessary, saying: “I'm not convinced the problems stated are as serious as we have been told. I dispute the evidence is there to kill them.”

Mr Richardson has started a petition with Christine Brock, 57, of Glenhaven Avenue, calling on the Government department to stop the operation.

Ms Brock said: “These little birds have been in the town for a very long time and they haven't to my knowledge caused any damage to crops or pylons. I believe the reason they haven't is because they won't.”

Ms Brock claims a report by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS), under The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) – an agency of DEFRA, indicates the threats posed by the birds is relatively minor.

She points to a risk assessment by the NNSS, dated January 1, 2010, which in-part concedes previous populations in the UK have died out and massive agriculture damage predicted by researchers 30 years ago in North America has not materialised.

However, a wealth of the research contained in the report refers to problems faced in other countries, many of which consider the monk parakeet a pest.

And a DEFRA spokesperson maintained the birds pose a critical threat to national infrastructure, crops and native British wildlife.

He said: “This invasive species has caused significant damage in other countries through nesting and feeding activity and we are taking action now to prevent this happening in the UK.

“Where possible the control measures will mean trapping the birds and rehousing them safely, or moving their nests. Only if these measures are unsuccessful or not appropriate will a culling of some monk parakeets be considered.”

However, a furious Ms Brock said she could not agree with the Government department and saw their actions as a gung-ho ethnic cleansing of an alien species.

She urged residents to sign the petition calling on DEFRA to stop the eradication programme.

Hard-copy petitions are available to sign in Y&A Locksmiths, Fields Pharmacy, Golden Plaice, Dipa Newsagent, Lots of Rice Chinese takeaway and Petzone in Shenley Road, or Crystal Moon, in Drayton Road.

An online petition is also available here, which now has more than 300 signatures.

The Borehamwood & Elstree Times asked to speak to a FERA officer involved in the Borehamwood eradication programme, but was told the agency would not be putting anyone up for interview.

The freedom of information documents relating the field trials in 2008, can be viewed here.

Some of the key points are as follows:

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• Request received by DEFRA from Susan Davis on October 24, 2008, asking for all information relating to the culling of Monk Parakeets in Britain
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• Email on March 31, 2008, says license is granted to begin trial in Borehamwood to test possible methods of control and to assess their appropriateness and humaneness
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• Public statement announces trials in Borehamwood, which will “inform any future policy decision towards management of this species”. Budget is £30,000.
• Email on September 16, 2008, confirms start date of trial as September 22.
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• Report on October 7, 2008, confirms seven parakeets were shot, removal of nests, but failure to cage any birds. Proposal made to continue trials.
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• Email on October 20, 2008, allocates a further £7,000 for completion of trials in November 2008