🔗 Share this article

Emitting quick keck-keck-keck calls that rang out through a central Berlin green space, the large hawks soared far above the treetops and wheeled before diving downwards to drive away a disorganized group of crows that had started to mob them.

"They are essentially a flying superhero bringing justice to the urban environment," remarked a conservationist, observing the large light-breasted birds through a telescope. "They are akin to fighter jets."

The Accipiter gentilis is an apex predator – and conservationists aspire it will soon deliver awe and joy to UK cities, mirroring its presence in European metropolises. In the United Kingdom, this fast-moving raptor was hunted to virtual disappearance and only began to bounce back in rural areas during the mid-20th century. It remains commonly persecuted on private lands and grouse moors.

Flourishing in European Cities

In other parts of Europe, the northern goshawk is doing well – even in busy capitals such as Berlin, the Dutch capital, and Prague. From a public garden in Berlin, where a large nest rested in the top of a tree less than 100 metres from a monument, the "phantom of the forest" preys on city birds in the roads and even perches on rooftops.

The birds have adapted to busy traffic – although high transparent structures still present a threat – and are far more comfortable with the steady stream of pet owners, joggers, and schoolchildren than their woodland relatives would be with people.

"This is just like any park in the United Kingdom, that's the amazing thing," commented the head of a conservation initiative, which plans to bring goshawks to Chester and London in the first stage of a program introducing them to urban environments. "It demonstrates this can be done quickly – without difficulty, but with so much excitement."

Assisted Colonisation Plan

The conservationist is planning to submit a application for the "urban reintroduction" of the northern goshawk to the authorities in the near future; the plan foresees the freeing of 15 birds in both of the selected urban areas, sourced as chicks from wild continental eyries and UK breeders.

He expects they will come to the rescue of Britain's beleaguered songbirds by preying on mid-sized predators such as crows, black-and-white birds, and small crows, whose numbers have increased unchecked and endangered birds lower on the ecological pyramid.

Their presence should have an instant impact on the "brazen" mid-sized birds that attack smaller ones that the public adore, says the scientist, referencing a comparable phenomenon documented in wolves. "This is what's called an landscape of fear. Everyone realizes the apex predators are in the city."

Potential Challenges and Risks

Conservation projects across the continent have faced fierce opposition from farmers and activist factions in recent years, as large carnivores such as wolves and bears have returned to territories now populated by people. As their populations have expanded, they have begun to eat farm animals and in certain instances confront individuals.

The reintroduction of the raptor into city Britain is not expected to trigger a similar resistance – the birds already reside in different parts of the nation, and animal guardians and city residents have minimal to worry about from them – but the species has caused tensions even in urban centers it has long called home.

In Berlin, where an approximate 100 mated couples represent the highest-known concentration in the world, and additional German cities, goshawks have become the target of pigeon and chicken breeders whose animals are being consumed.

A scientist who has studied raptor adaptation to urban settings used GPS transmitters to monitor 60 goshawks as part of her PhD, and says that although there could be potential benefits from using these predators to control mesopredators in British cities, young birds taken from rural nests may struggle to adjust to urban life and stressed the need to involve all interested parties early on. "In general, it's a hazardous endeavour."

Expert Opinions

An ecologist who has studied hawk behavior in rural Britain commented it was unclear if the raptors would choose to remain in cities and improbable that the proposed numbers would be enough to have a significant beneficial impact on backyard species numbers. "What will happen of those 15 birds?" he asked. "My guess is they'll probably scatter into the closest countryside."

The conservationist is nevertheless upbeat about the project's chances. The expert, who has previously been awarded a licence to track the Highland tiger and was a technical adviser for a project that reintroduced the great bustard back to the United Kingdom, contends that handling releases in a "humane way" is the essential element to success.

Past Rewilding Efforts

The expert's first effort to bring back wild cats to the UK was rejected by the environment secretary on the advice of the nature body in recent years. A draft application for a trial release has also met opposition, even though the chair of the nature organization lately expressed enthusiasm about the idea of releasing lynx during his 24-month tenure.

If the hawk project goes ahead, the birds will be fitted with GPS transmitters – an task projected to represent almost 50% of the estimated budget of £110,000 – and be given a steady supply of nourishment for as long as is required after being released. In the German city, the expert highlighted the mental benefit of city-dwellers being able to spot a predator as secretive as the goshawk while they conduct their lives, rather than locating rewilding schemes only in countryside locations.

"It'll inject such thrill," he declared. "Individuals visit the green space to feed pigeons. In the future they'll be going to observe hawks."