Summary of the meeting of the Hawk Board held at Kennington Road, London
on Thursday, 28th January, 2010.
Present were; Pete Eldrett(PE), Terry Burden(TB), Gary Gabriel(GG), Jim Chick(JC), Bryan Morris(BM), Nick Fox(NF), Terry Large(TL), Nick Havemann-mart(NHM), Mike Roberts(MR), Andrew Knowles-Brown(AKB), John Hounslow(JH), Andy Barfield(AB), Derek Stotton(DS), Graham Irving(GI), Paul Gray(PG), Dean White(DW), Jim Collins(JCO) & Mike Clowes(MC).
Apologies were received from: Miranda Stevenson, John Hill, Dale Johnson, Doreen Page, Steve Halsall, Nick Kester and Mike Nicholls.
Matters arising: PE asked if there was any news about the lady who requested a refund of vets bills from the festival? JC has written to her with the decision of the HB and has not received any reply. TL asked if anything else had been heard from Kent falconry? JC replied that he had passed it onto Gary Biddiss. PE asked if Lee Featherstone had been contacted and JC replied that he had visited him and explained personally. GI asked if there was any news on the Sparrowhawks in Scotland? AKB stated that the report is out but he has not read it. There is a possible link that he will pass to MC to be included in the minutes. The link is:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/15105533/0
Animal Health: JH began with information on registration charges. The HB will no doubt be aware that there has been speculation and allegations on a number of web sites and internet chat rooms about the legality of bird registration charges and what did, or did not, happen to amendments to schedules within the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Department’s position is as follows:
“Charges were levied from the start of the bird registration programme and following questions raised as to the legality of those charges an Act of Parliament -Birds (Registration Charges) Act 1997- was passed which retrospectively cleared any doubts as to their legality. Furthermore on 24th May 1994 a Statutory Instrument was approved by Parliament (S.I. 1994 No 1151) which amongst other amendments to the bird registration regime made explicit that all “hybrids” should be registered, by including on Schedule 4: “Any bird one of whose parents or other lineal ancestor was a bird of a kind specified in the foregoing provisions of this Schedule”. We have no reason to believe the processes whereby this S.I. came into force did not follow all of the protocols/practices current at that time.”
Eagle Owls: JH confirmed to the HB that there was no truth in a press statement that eagle owls were about to be culled. The true position is as set out below:
The three GB Administrations have set out their policy framework on invasive non-native species in The Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain, available here: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/
An assessment of the risk posed by the eagle owl as an invasive non-native species has been published on the GB Non-native Species Secretariat website at: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/04_Risk_Assessments.cfm
The period for public comment on the risk assessment runs until 6 February;
The GB Non-native Species Programme Board will consider the evidence of threat posed by establishment of the eagle owl in GB and will recommend what policy approach should be adopted regarding the species. JCO had attended the PAW meeting at Kew where the International Owl Society were obviously in favour of keeping the Eagle Owls as a UK species. Putting the EO on Sch. 9 had been discussed but this was a short cut to allowing the Minister to ban EOs at any time in the future without further consultation. Information has shown that the majority of the birds were self-introduced from the continent. NF pointed out that if they were banned it was opening the gates to government deciding what lives or does not live on these Islands. It was agreed however, that EOs would be a threat to all bird life including all hawks etc in the UK.
JH continued: CITES charges are under review but nothing is likely to change until at least 1 Oct 2010.
JH informed the HB that major investigations ongoing throughout the EU had already shown up weaknesses in current practices and prima facie cases of fraudulent use of permits and certificates. It was incumbent on AH, as a regulatory authority, to review procedures in light of this evidence and to tighten up work practices where they facilitated fraudulent activity.
He stressed that although he was not in a position to discuss any details of current investigations that the intention was to arrange a briefing with the Chairman of the HB as soon as that was possible (N.B. this may not be until end of 2010) and that future changes to procedures and record keeping would be consulted on and would be developed with the expertise and the views of breeders fully taken into account.
JH stated that the HB and AH shared a common goal in ensuring that falconry in the UK was clear of illegal activity and therefore had a good reputation. He suggested that the HB may wish to consider putting together a sub group/working group to work with AH on the development of new procedures. This was agreed.
JH stressed to the HB that he was not in a position to state what would happen to keepers who innocently found themselves in possession of an illegal bird. This was just one of the problems that would need to be solved by the records & procedures working group.
The WG will consist of AKB, DW, DS & MC
It was also decided that another group should be formed to cover procedures for illegal or confiscated birds. This will consist of JC, MC & JPJ.
JH informed the HB that he was sympathetic to the problems outlined in NK e-mail of 25th Jan 2010 about the need for separate import permits for swabs. He would work with UAE to develop a suitable solution.
JC asked JH to confirm that feathers still required an Art. 10 unless they were moulted feathers. JH was not sure and would check and let MC know.
GI asked what safeguards were in place to protect breeders when hybrids became pure bred after a number of years? JH believed that in CITES it was F7 but there was nothing in law at present.
JH will check and report back to MC.
General Licences & Scotland: Briefly AKB confirmed that Scotland had adopted Sch 4 as in England & Wales. No change at present on General Licences.
Lantra Update: Julie Murphy had sent a short report that MC read out. A number of new assessors were trained in December including NHM. It was the first training day run by the new EV Grant Fergusson and reports say that it went very well. Numbers achieving the award continue to rise gradually but it’s more of a trickle than a flood. There have been enquiries from N. Ireland and the first admin point over there is in the pipeline. There are continuing enquiries about the `next level`.
Those that have the award are keen to progress and experienced falconers want something of a higher level.
The next module was discussed and MC pointed out that originally captive breeding and raptor rehab had been suggested. JH asked if the rehab module would involve in returning birds back to the wild. When answered yes, he asked if Animal Health could have input to assist with formalities. NF correctly stated that the existing assessors would not be qualified foe captive breeding or rehab. Going on to practical falconry had been put on hold due to the difficulties. NHM was of the opinion that it should be examined and it was agreed that it was a job for the EWG. This consists of JC, NHM, NK, NF and Mike Nicholls. Grant Fergusson also has ideas and MC will invite him to attend the next HB meeting.
CLA Game Fair: The CLA had enjoyed the festival and decided that they would like a new look to the CLA display. JC outlined their suggestion that the twice a day display be replaced by one in the morning but for the afternoon a parade around the main arena of several groups dressed in clothing of a variety of ages in English history, with hawks and dogs accompanied by a commentary. Possibly a falcon flying in the centre as the groups move around the outside. It had been hoped for Arab sponsorship but this is unlikely. JC was the CLA contact for arrangements for the parade. Obviously extra persons would be required and tickets will be provided.
MC continued, he had been asked to re-vamp the falconry area and had submitted a diagram for the area to consist of a 40 metre base tent with four other 20-metre tents set out in a hexagonal shape forming the new Falconry Village. This had been very favourably received by the CLA and was to be adopted. Invitations will be sent to the BFC, WHC, SHC and the SEFG to attend with a Belgian club as the overseas guests. Two more UK clubs will be invited but it has not yet been decided which.
A discussion took place about the possibility of moving the area to a more central position next to the Arab exhibit organised by NF. Both JC and MC thought it highly unlikely that this would be agreed to due to cost. MC was asked to contact the CLA to enquire.
(This has been done. The CLA will not entertain it as the loss in revenue to them, even without the camping and parking, would be in the region of £100,000. The CLA have asked TL to provide the morning flying display subject to an agreement on fees and Gary Biddiss has agreed to fly his Perlin during the parade).
The organisation of the parade will obviously take a lot of work and JC will need help. Therefore a Parade WG was set up consisting of JC, TL, MR, AB, PG and MC to ensure sufficient manpower and costumes etc.
CFF update: TL thanked the WHC, YHC, HCHC and SERA for their recent hospitality and donations. He asked for two minor alterations to the website which have been done. NHM offered to assess WHC members for the Lantra award free of charge. TL will send details of future fairs to MC to be entered on the website. The subject of revenue for the CFF was mentioned and the suggestion made to hold another dinner/auction. DS said that Jose Soto must be contacted before it went any further as he was the chef and part organiser. If agreed it would hopefully go ahead
Feb 2011.
Club News: MC read out a report from the YHC. The club membership is increasing steadily and is now 70 spread throughout the UK. They have held field meetings every weekend and have a fully booked week’s hawking holiday arranged for January 2011. They are doing quite a few displays this summer, mainly for local charities.
PE: The Wessex is carrying on as usual.
GI: The BFC had a successful 2-day AGM and field meet in October when Robert Kenward was elected Vice-President. The Club website has been re-vamped and the grey partridge scheme is going well. TL asked for a contact for a speaker on the scheme to talk to the WHC in N. Wales.
BM: The BHA has had terrible weather with snow and floods. The AGM had to be postponed but the Club has signed up for an open day at a local college.
DW: The SEFG has held its AGM. He and Gary have been re-elected. They had a good meeting at Xmas and are holding field meets every weekend.
PG: The HCHC has changed venues again. The membership is increasing and the AGM is in March, at which only Paul is standing for re-election.
GG: SERA have had field meets clobbered because of snow. At the AGM the committee was re-elected and the club hopes to visit JPJ`s in summer. GG asked which clubs would be attending the FF this year? AB replied that he was assisting in the arrangements for the new style fair. There are new people in charge with a 3-year plan. He will be writing to the clubs and the HB/CFF with details. GG asked if there was to be a festival in Abu Dhabi and if so, will there be a chance for group visits? NF replied that he would be going there soon. They want it to happen and might consider a group trip but it will be in 2011. They are trying to develop sustainable hunting areas for hares and possibly houbara so any trip could contain 2/3 days of hunting.
DS: The Cheshire HC has had bad weather but has managed frequent field meets.
AKB: The weather has not really interfered in Scotland. The SHC have caught rabbits but the weather has killed a lot. At the AGM the Lantra scheme was pushed but there is a lot of opposition because a lot of members believe the enforced taking of the award could curtail the Club.
MR: The WHC have a new website.
AB: The weather stopped a lot of hunting and the AGM has been delayed.
A.O.B: MC would like to do away with Club News as an agenda item as it could take a lot of time for very little return. He suggested that any clubs who wish to give an update about their club could do so in Any Other Business (A.O.B.) This was agreed.
AKB stated that Colin Woolf is providing 2 new banners for the Scottish HB as he has for the HB. He will contact MC with the invoice.
Alastair McKissock asks what is the position with hawking seagulls? Reply: it is ok if you comply with the licence conditions but not just for sport.
NHM has been appointed by the BFC as the UK’s IAF rep with the intention of improving the relationship between the IAF and the HB. He had attended the funeral of Nancy de Bastyai. MC informed the meeting that Bryan Patterson has requested some of Lorant’s memorabilia for the Archives. NHM: We are trying to set up UK Archives at the Hawk Conservancy and suggested that they be retained in the UK as a falconry heritage.
TL asked if the HB/CFF were attending the FF. MC- I have heard nothing up to now but if AB is writing to us then we probably will dependant upon the cost.
NF mentioned that the CA had a picture of Judith Wrighte on the front cover advertising her as their falconry education contact. What is the HB doing? JC replied that he had been asked about her but he had thought she had pulled out.
