Licensing Service for the Ringing and Marking of Wild Birds and Schedule 1 Species

This is a service to manage the process of permitting the capture, handling and marking of wild birds and the engagement in nest observations on behalf of the UK statutory agencies. For the purposes of this service, these monitoring activities include marking some species of birds and observing the nests of some species of birds. The four statutory country agencies will issue Licences to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) who will in turn provide annual Permits to individuals to carry out ringing and Schedule 1 activities, nest recorders will be registered but not issued with a permit.

Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) gives provision for the issue of licences to allow, amongst other actions, the taking of wild birds and such Licences authorise actions which would otherwise be illegal under the provisions of the Act. In accordance with Section 16(5) of the Act such Licences can be issued to individuals or classes of individuals. Section 18 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 makes equivalent provisions for Northern Ireland.

The BTO manages these licensed activities according to UK law and the requirements of the statutory country agencies with regard to animal welfare, accuracy of scientific observation and recognise the work done by the ringers and other volunteers. NRW do not have the expertise in house in relation to certain elements of this service, such as ‘special method’ applications.