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The Stork Question: Should We Be Releasing Ancient Birds Back Into England's Skies?
Natural England has clarified the legal and conservation framework surrounding the release of white storks, black storks, and other vagrant bird species in England. While white stork releases are currently legal without a licence due to their established visiting presence, black storks require a licence as they are considered neither resident nor regular visitors, and neither species is recognised as native under Natural England's definition. Any proposed releases must follow the national Reintroductions and Conservation Translocations Code, including feasibility studies, risk assessments, and stakeholder engagement, with Natural England expressing caution about prioritising such projects.
The Giants Are Coming Back: White-Tailed Eagles Are Returning to Exmoor
Natural England has issued a licence allowing the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England to release up to 20 white-tailed eagles in Exmoor National Park over three years, building on the successful Isle of Wight reintroduction project. The licence followed a thorough evidence-based assessment that considered ecological impacts, biosecurity, and socio-economic concerns, including fears from farmers about livestock predation — fears which six years of Isle of Wight monitoring data have not supported. Key safeguards including GPS tracking, farming sector representation on a steering group, and long-term monitoring commitments are built into the licence conditions.