#GameBird
Incredible views of a migrating Common Quail as it flew past the ship in the English Channel!
@sophieshrike.bsky.social
May 28, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Some 50 million pheasants are released into the countryside annually. Now DEFRA have opened a Call for Evidence on gamebird rearing, releasing & shooting, it’s vital that the public input - because you can be sure that the shooting industry will do so:

consultations.defra.gov.uk/call-for-evi...
Call for Evidence on Gamebird Release, Shooting and Welfare during Rearing in England
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking evidence on the environmental and animal health and welfare impacts of gamebird rea...
consultations.defra.gov.uk
September 4, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Defra confirms its call for evidence will encompass all aspects of gamebird rearing, release and shooting.

Good news!

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/09/04/d...
Defra confirms its call for evidence will encompass all aspects of gamebird rearing, release and shooting
Good news! Further to Wednesday’s blog about an imminent call for evidence by Defra about the welfare aspects of gamebird breeding, and confusion about whether this would also include gamebir…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
September 4, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Natural England confirms tighter restrictions on gamebird releases on/near to Special Protection Areas in England.

This includes no gamebird releases in the 'heartland' of the Breckland SPA in Norfolk/Suffolk.

New blog ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/09/n...
Natural England confirms tighter restrictions on gamebird releases on/near to Special Protection Areas in England
Further to this morning’s blog (here), Natural England has now formally confirmed its tighter restrictions on the release of non-native Pheasants and Partridges on, or within 500m, of Special…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
March 9, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Gamebird shooting in England is set to face increased regulation under new government proposals aimed at addressing environmental and biodiversity concerns:
UK Government considers stricter controls on gamebird releases
Proposals to tighten regulation of gamebird shooting in England could introduce new controls on the release of millions of birds, amid growing concerns over the environmental impacts of such releases.
bit.ly
March 27, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Gosh, anybody would think the UK gamebird shooting industry was full of irresponsible cowboys & criminals who couldn't meet the basic standards of a simple sustainability audit.

And why have 7 Directors left Aim to Sustain since January?

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/03/10/a...
Aim to Sustain’s Game Assurance Scheme collapses in industry’s latest self-regulation failure
The UK gamebird shooting industry’s flagship ‘Game Assurance Scheme’, which was set up to demonstrate to politicians and the public the supposed high standards of gamebird shoots …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
March 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
UK Government's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss claims: "Strong biosecurity is our best defence".

It isn't. Not releasing 60 million gamebirds is.

#AvianFlu #Ornithology

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/21/d...
Defra announces additional biosecurity measures for gamebird releases amidst heightened risk of Avian Influenza
Defra has announced increased biosecurity measures for gamebird releases amidst the heightened risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as ‘Bird Flu’. All of England…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
August 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The pheasant season is well and truly over, Yes? #pheasant #shotingseaon #game #gamebird #bird #photography
April 21, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Welsh Government inches towards gamebird licensing, with another 'evidence review'.

This is welcome news, but they really just need to get on with it. NRW recommended a licensing scheme 2.5 yrs ago!!

New blog ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/30/w...
Welsh Government inches towards gamebird licensing, with another ‘evidence review’
Following the welcome news last week that Defra intends to explore options for the introduction of a licensing scheme for ALL gamebird shooting in England, including Red Grouse, as well as the annu…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
March 30, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Hen Harriers and other birds of prey are still being killed illegally.

Enough is enough.

Join us and call on the UK Government to license gamebird shooting and help protect these incredible birds before it’s too late. 👇

action.rspb.org.uk/page/185536/...
January 30, 2026 at 2:23 PM
BBC rejects Scottish Gamekeepers Association's complaint about programme that linked raptor persecution to land managed for gamebird shooting! raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/02/17/bbc… via @RaptorPersuk.bsky.social.
February 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
January 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
ITV News highlights raptor persecution in North Yorkshire, & the arguments for & against gamebird shoot licensing.

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/07/15/i...
ITV News highlights raptor persecution in North Yorkshire & arguments for & against gamebird shoot licensing
ITV News ran a five minute feature yesterday on the continued illegal killing of birds of prey in North Yorkshire, and the RSPB’s calls for a gamebird shooting licensing scheme to tackle thes…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
July 15, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) at large gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire ☠️

New blog ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/04/o...
Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) at gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire
An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) was confirmed yesterday at a large gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
March 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Day 13 of @birbfest.challenge - White-Eared Pheasant (again)
Final version! Still floofy. Still sweet.

#birbfest2026 #birbfest #whiteearedpheasant #cutebird #birb #pheasant #gamebird #ornamentalbird
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Black Francolin.

The Black Francolin is a gamebird in the pheasant family. It was formerly known as the black partridge. It is the state bird of Haryana state, India.
Strikingly patterned male is unmistakable . Native to Asia; introduced to Hawaii.

📷: @raghunath.wildlife
September 1, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Defra's Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing & shooting is now open - this is your opportunity to be heard!

Closes 1 Nov 2026.

Details ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/09/05/d...
Defra’s Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is now open – this is your opportunity to be heard
Further to yesterday’s blog, Defra’s Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is now open, and will close at 23.59hrs on 1st November 2026. The Call …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
September 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Gamebird shooting in England is set to face increased regulation under new government proposals aimed at addressing environmental and biodiversity concerns:
UK Government considers stricter controls on gamebird releases
Proposals to tighten regulation of gamebird shooting in England could introduce new controls on the release of millions of birds, amid growing concerns over the environmental impacts of such releases.
bit.ly
March 25, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Government to consider licensing for all gamebird shooting & releases in England.

I don't think licensing is the answer but it's a good start. Now, about those 60 million non-native Pheasants & Red-legged Partridges released each year...

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/27/g...
Government to consider licensing for all gamebird shooting & releases in England
Somebody has finally switched the lights on at Defra. It’s been a very long time coming – too long in my opinion – but last week an announcement was made in the new Land Use Frame…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
March 27, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Another local community rejecting the gamebird shooting industry's fictional romanticism of the rural idyll.

New blog 🔽

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/18/r...
Rural villagers ‘at war’ about commercial Pheasant shoot in Wales
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard that gamebird shooting, whether it be Red Grouse, Pheasant or Red-legged Partridge shooting, and all its associated ‘management&#…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
August 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
2/ DEFRA: “We are also commissioning an independent assessment of the economic value of the gamebird sector.”

It’s crucial that this factors in the negative costs of gamebird releases (eg ecological impacts, spread of bird flu, lymes disease) & isn’t just an industry puff-piece like PACEC reports
September 4, 2026 at 11:52 AM
On the First Day of Christmas, a Partridge and a Pair of Trees. #Partridge #trees #xmas #Christmas #12daysofxmas #12daysofChristmas #gamebird #wall #winter #Photography
December 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A glorious dawn as the early morning mist lifts from the fields and a spectacular Pheasant is revealed.
A familiar gamebird, the pheasant is common in farmland and woodland throughout the UK.

#nature#birds#art
#watercolour#painting
#buyintoart

yvonnejohnstoneart.com/featured/phe...
July 13, 2024 at 11:04 AM