Woodcocks and pochard, pintail and goldeneye ducks among threatened species protected by proposals
Hunters will be banned from shooting a rare and beautiful duck under new proposals to halt the decline of six British wild birds.
The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the distinctive woodcock, and the striking pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks, all of which are classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years.
Once a familiar sight on lakes and reservoirs during winter, the pochard, a diving duck, is declining rapidly but the proposals would see a total ban on shooting the threatened species. The UK supports a small breeding population and is an important wintering destination for the birds.
The breeding population of woodcocks, bulky wading birds with short legs and long bills, has also been falling in recent years. The resident British breeding population of woodcock is now Red-listed as a high conservation priority by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The proposals would extend the close season – the period of year during which they are protected – for woodcock across England, Wales and Scotland.
