There was great excitement in the Warwick 100 team a couple of days ago, when a report of a white stork flying North of the Saxon Mill came in. Confirming that the source of the sighting was a respected one, it went on our list with smiles all round.
Unfortunately, the source of the bird itself was not so positive - in all likelihood being the presumed escapee seen at Otmoor RSPB on the same day, or possibly from the White Stork Project, in SE England. It was kicked off the list as quickly as it went on, with only a couple of singing willow warblers keeping the smiles going in the team.
It got me wondering about 'plastic' birds around the UK; questioning when they should or shouldn't be added to a list.
- What actually is a 'wild' bird?
- What are the differences in tickability between escaped, released or introduced birds?
- When or where does a plastic bird become wild? How many generations does it take before they class as resident, if ever?
- Does it really matter, when everyone's list is their own anyway?
What a minefield! Here's what I learned from a very basic bit of research, which I hope I've understood correctly...
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, a wild bird is 'any bird of a species which is resident in or is a visitor to the European Territory of any member state in a wild state.' Helpful for animal welfare and protection, but not so much for our birding list.
Melissa Mayntz states that the bird 'should be observed in the wild (so the peacocks at Warwick Castle are out) and behaving as a wild bird would be expected. Domesticated birds, escaped pets or birds that are deliberately imported, such as for a zoo, are not acceptable.' (so the peacock we found in our garden last year is also out!)
She also talks of pure lists only containing 'established birds that have had viable breeding populations for at least several generations.' Nicely put, but still a little vague.
Thankfully, I have just discovered the BOU official British List (late to the game, I know), which really clears things up in my mind. Birds are categorised from A-F, depending on length of naturalisation and establishment, along with self-sustainability of feral, introduced and re-introduced populations. Those in A,B and C appear to count, whereas birds in D, E and F do not. Nice and clear.
So I guess this means that red kites, Egyptian geese and ring-necked parakeets are in, but white tailed eagles, wood ducks and, indeed, our white stork, are out. It remains plastic...for now.
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Brilliant post Lizzy. Take a look at Bubo listing as well.
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