I am controlling hooded crows on a hill farm to help protect sheep and lambs during lambing time in the spring. Hooded crows will pray on young lambs or even fully grown sheep who can get stuck on their backs when heavily pregnant unable to protect themselves. The crows will generally go for the soft tissue areas like the eyes tongue and anus and i have seen the damage they can do myself, this wont kill the sheep right away but will leave it weak and injured with a long suffering death unless found by the farmer.
Magpies and crows will also take any eggs or fledglings of ground nesting birds that they find.
This can legally be done through the Department Of Agriculture, Environment And Rural Affairs Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (As Amended) Licence.
This Licence hereby authorises for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease and preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber and fisheries ANY AUTHORISED PERSON to kill or take any of the following birds:-
Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pigeon (Wood), Pigeon (Feral), Rook, Sparrow (House), Starling.
This was all filmed on land that i have permission to shoot on with legally held fire arms in a way to nether prolong or glorify the death of the birds.
Rifle CZ 527 Varmint .17 Hornet
Scope Meopta 4-16x44 Tactical
Ammo .17 Hornet with 20gr Vmax hand loads
Bush Wear The Bush chair hide
Range Finder Bushnell Scout 1000