Guidance

Apply for an individual licence to kill, take or disturb wild birds (A08 or A09)

Apply to control wild birds for air safety, conservation, public health and safety or to prevent disease or agricultural damage.

From:
Natural England
Published
24 February 2025

Applies to England

You must act under a licence from Natural England to control wild birds by killing, taking or disturbing them.

If the birds, you want to control or the required methods of control are not covered by Defra’s general licences or Natural England’s class licences. You may be able to apply for an A08 or A09 individual licence.

You can get an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison if you do not act under a licence when carrying out an activity that needs one.

What you can do under a licence

You can use these licences to control wild birds, their nests and eggs by:

  • killing them
  • taking them
  • disturbing them
  • using a prohibited method of control on them

If you use a trap or decoy bird to disturb wild birds, you must also follow the standard licence conditions.

Disturbing Schedule 1 birds

Some bird species have extra protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Disturbance includes:

  • operating machinery near the nest
  • close human or animal presence to wild or nesting birds
  • visual or auditory disturbance
  • vibrations

You must apply for an individual licence if your planned activities could disturb a nesting bird listed under Schedule 1.

It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb a Schedule 1 species, while it is:

  • building a nest
  • in, near or on a nest containing eggs or young

It is also illegal to disturb the young of birds listed in Schedule 1.

Disturbing birds not listed in Schedule 1

You do not need a licence to disturb birds that are not listed in Schedule 1 as it’s not an offence.

However, it is an offence to:

  • destroy an active nest of any wild bird
  • destroy the eggs of any wild bird

It is not an offence to disturb a bird are not listed on Schedule 1. However, you may be committing an offence if your activities are likely to disturb a bird enough to make it abandon its active nest or young.

If you think this might happen, you should apply for a licence before taking any action.

Consider suitable alternative methods  

You may be able to control wild birds by using alternative methods that do not require a licence. Read our guidance on non-lethal methods you can use to deter certain wild birds without a licence.

If you need to control wild birds to preserve air safety, read the Civil Aviation Authority’s Wildlife hazard management at aerodromes to find out about suitable alternative methods.

Examples of alternative methods of control you can use without a licence to control wild birds include:

  • using habitat management to maintain good conditions for the species you want to conserve
  • providing cover or refuges for other birds you want to conserve
  • using enclosed feeding options for livestock to prevent damage
  • providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementing safety measures for working at heights to prevent risks to public health and safety
  • using physical barriers or deterrents to stop birds from accessing specific areas, preventing disease spread to or through livestock
  • using physical proofing, netting, or spikes on buildings to stop birds from roosting or nesting, to prevent risks to air safety

You do not need to use an alternative solution if the method would be impractical, ineffective or disproportionate in the circumstances. For example, it may depend on the cost of the alternative methods, or the size or type of problem.

If non-lethal methods do not resolve the situation, check if your circumstances are covered by one of Defra’s general licences or Natural England’s class licences before applying for an individual licence.

When you can apply for a licence

You must only apply for an A08 or A09 licence to control wild birds by killing, taking or disturbing them for the purpose of:

  • preventing serious damage to livestock, animal feed, crops or growing timber
  • preventing the spread of disease (this includes preventing diseases spreading to wildlife or livestock, both directly and indirectly through animal feed or crops)
  • preserving public health or safety (this includes preventing the spread of diseases to humans, either directly or through food contamination)
  • conserving wild birds, animals, or plants that are of recognised concern
  • preserving air safety

If you require a licence to kill fish-eating birds to prevent damage to fisheries, you will need to apply for an A06 or A07 individual licence.

Prevent serious damage

You can only apply for a licence if the wild birds you want to control are causing, or are likely to cause, serious damage to:

  • livestock
  • animal feed
  • crops
  • growing timber

Serious damage means that it is more than a minor inconvenience or exceeds the normal risks of running a business. 

You must be able to provide evidence that shows the damage caused or likely to be caused by wild birds is serious, such as:

  • photos or videos of the damage
  • records or diary observations (how often the birds attack, numbers of livestock or the extent of crops damaged)
  • financial records showing losses incurred
  • observations on the size of the local bird flock, such as counts or estimates of birds visiting or roosting on site
  • statements explaining how the birds’ behaviour causes the damage

Prevent the spread of disease

You can only apply for a licence if the wild birds you want to control have spread, or there is a high risk of them spreading a disease:

  • directly to wildlife and livestock
  • indirectly through animal feed or crops

You must be able to provide evidence that there is a risk of the wild birds spreading a disease to wildlife or livestock, such as:

  • positive test results showing disease-causing bacteria or viruses in livestock, feed or other areas that are linked to the wild bird species
  • photos or videos that show the risk of a disease spreading
  • advice from qualified professionals such as your vet
  • observations on the size of the local bird flock, such as counts or estimates of birds visiting or roosting on site
  • statements explaining how the birds’ behaviour causes or creates high risk of spread of disease

Preserve public health or safety

You can apply for a licence when there’s a risk to public health and safety that is more serious than a public nuisance or inconvenience.

This could include when the presence or the behaviour of wild birds:

  • risks vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, or people with physical and mental health problems or disabilities
  • is a disease risk through contamination of foodstuffs or medical equipment
  • causes injuries, near misses or a high risk of harm
  • causes serious health and safety risks that regular building maintenance cannot fix, such as a roof damage leading to water leaks and mould
  • increases other serious risks that cannot be mitigated with other actions
  • causes damage that needs urgent work to preserve public health and safety that cannot wait until the birds leave

You must be able to provide evidence that the wild birds are causing or are likely to cause a risk to public health and safety. Evidence you could provide includes:

  • accident, incident, and near-miss logs (with the personal or sensitive information redacted)
  • engineers or other relevant professionals’ reports where the problems relate to technical, structural, or electrical risks If this type of evidence is not available or relevant to your situation, Natural England may also consider:
  • statements, diaries, complaints, repair or maintenance receipts or invoices, or other records that show how often risks occur and how serious they are
  • photos or videos that demonstrate the risk

Conserve wild birds, animals, or plants that are of recognised concern

You can apply for a licence to control wild birds to conserve wild birds, animals or plants of recognised conservation concern. A species is of recognised conservation concern, if they are:

You must be able to prove that the birds you want to control are having a negative impact on the species you’re trying to conserve. You must be able to show:

  • it’s more than just one-off attacks
  • there is a pattern over time
  • the wild birds you want to control poses a direct risk to the species you want to conserve

Evidence you could provide of the impact the wild birds are having could include:

  • nesting statistics
  • observations in a diary format
  • results of monitoring by local wildlife groups or other suitably experienced individuals such as an ecologist or qualified conservation staff

You may also be able to apply for a licence to protect a species that is especially vulnerable at the site where it exists.

You must be able to provide evidence that shows the species’ is vulnerable at a site where it exists, such as a report from an ecologist that has assessed and shows the species’:

  • importance
  • condition
  • the level of risk posed by the wild birds you want to control

Preserve air safety

If you operate or manage an aerodrome (airfield or airport) you can apply for a licence to control wild birds to preserve air safety.

Examples of risks to air safety that could be caused by wild birds include:

  • damage to aircraft from bird strikes
  • injury or death to people on board
  • distractions for pilots, leading to accidents
  • damage to aircraft engines or other parts
  • obstruction of runways

Natural England recognises that if birds are present on or close to your aerodrome, they will present a risk to air safety.

You must be able to provide evidence that shows the:

  • wild birds are present within the ‘risk area’ on or near your aerodrome
  • the behaviour of the birds and the types of air safety risks it could or is likely to cause for your aerodrome

Suitable evidence of this could include counts or estimates of the numbers of birds of each species that are causing a risk.

This is so Natural England can assess proportionate numbers to include on a licence.

If the birds are on land outside your aerodrome, you need the landowner’s permission to use the licence there.

When you cannot apply for a licence

You cannot apply for a licence if birds are present but not causing a problem.

Natural England will not approve an application for actions to:

  • allow development work to proceed (unless it is to prevent a serious risk to public health and safety)
  • prevent financial loss or damage (other than agricultural damage or damage that presents a risk to public health and safety)
  • prevent a public nuisance or inconvenience caused by the bird’s behaviour
  • prevent the spread of widespread infectious avian diseases to other birds such as bird flu

Allowing development work to proceed

Natural England will not approve a licence to control birds for development or maintenance work, which is not essential to preserving the public’s health and safety.

You must reschedule work at height if:

  • the work does not address an immediate risk to individual or public health and safety
  • the active nests or parent birds are a safety threat to the workers
  • the active nest belongs to schedule 1 birds that are likely to be disturbed
  • the works are likely to disturb non-schedule 1 birds enough to cause them to abandon their active nest

Preventing financial loss or damage

Natural England will not grant a licence if a bird is causing damage to property or any subsequent financial loss to the owner.

You could only apply for a licence under the relevant licensable purpose, if the damage could or is causing:

  • a serious risk to public health and safety
  • damage to crops, livestock, animal feed, crops, growing timber or fisheries

Prevent public nuisance or inconvenience caused by birds’ behaviour

Natural England will not approve a licence for problems caused by the birds’ behaviours unless they are posing a serious risk to public health and safety.

Examples of natural or nuisance bird behaviours include:

  • dive-bombing
  • swooping
  • food-theft
  • noise disruption
  • bird droppings

You could resolve issues with bird droppings by:

  • cleaning areas affected by bird droppings more frequently
  • wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in places with bird droppings

If you think you need a licence, you must be able to provide evidence that shows:

  • these alternative methods are not effective and proportionate for resolving the problem
  • the bird’s behaviour poses a serious risk to public health and safety

For example, the bird droppings have created a contamination risk in areas where food or medication for humans is prepared.

Widespread and infectious avian diseases

Natural England will not approve a licence to prevent widespread avian diseases such as Avian Influenza, Newcastle disease, and West Nile virus to other birds.

Find out how to prevent and spot the spread of Bird Flu (Avian Influenza).

If you suspect any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301.

If you suspect any type of avian influenza in wild birds, you must report it using the report dead wild birds service or call the Defra helpline on 03459 335 577.

Using a licence on a protected site

You must only carry out licensable activities on a protected site such as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) if you or the landowner have got consent from Natural England.

Find out if the licensable activity you plan to carry out would need consent from Natural England by reading our guidance on managing land within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

If you are working for a public body, and your work will affect an SSSI, you may need to get advice and approval (‘assent’) from Natural England.

Depending on your circumstances and type of licence, the Natural England Wildlife Licence Service (NEWLS) may consult with relevant area teams and get consent on your behalf.

If we do this, we’ll include the consent in your licence notes and conditions when we grant your licence. If not, we’ll let you know if you need to apply for consent separately.

If the land is also within a European protected site, Natural England will complete a habitats regulations assessment before they give consent. This is to make sure there will be no negative impacts on the site’s conservation.

Apply for a licence

Check if you are eligible to apply for an A08 or A09 individual licence by completing the eligibility form.

Start now

What happens next

Natural England will email you within 10 working days of you submitting the eligibility form either to:

  • let you know if you can apply for an individual licence
  • ask for more information

You must not carry out any licensable activities until Natural England grants your licence.

Report your actions and renew your licence

You must report any actions taken under your individual licence to Natural England using the relevant reporting form for your licence. You must submit a reporting form, even if you have not taken any action.

You must use the:

The email you received from Natural England when they granted your licence will tell you which form to use.

You must submit the report within 2 weeks of your licence expiration date. You can use the relevant report form to request renewal of your licence.

If you fail to submit your report this could result in your licence being revoked or any future applications being refused.

Submit your completed form to Natural England using the email in the form or by post to:

Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service 
Horizon House 
Deanery Road 
Bristol 
BS1 5AH

Get help

You can contact the Natural England bird licensing team if you need help with:

  • applying for a licence
  • reporting actions you’ve taken under your licence

Contact Natural England by:

Updates to this page

Published 24 February 2025

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