Producing rapid keck-keck-keck sounds that echoed through a central Berlin green space, the large hawks climbed far over the canopy and wheeled before swooping downwards to drive away a ragged group of crows that had begun to mob them.
"They are essentially a soaring Batman enforcing justice to the city," remarked a conservationist, observing the large light-breasted birds through a telescope. "They are akin to stealth bombers."
The goshawk is an apex predator – and conservationists aspire it will soon bring wonder and joy to British cities, following its success in German metropolises. In the United Kingdom, this fast-moving raptor was persecuted to virtual extinction and just started to bounce back in rural regions during the mid-20th century. It is still commonly persecuted on private lands and hunting grounds.
Thriving in Continental Capitals
In different parts of Europe, the goshawk is thriving – even in busy capitals such as Berlin, Amsterdam, and the Czech capital. From a public garden in Berlin, where a sizable nest sat in the top of a tree less than 100 metres from a monument, the "phantom of the forest" hunts pigeons in the streets and even perches on rooftops.
The raptors have adapted to heavy traffic – while high glass buildings still present a danger – and are far more comfortable with the constant flow of pet owners, joggers, and schoolchildren than their woodland relatives would be with people.
"It is just like any park in the UK, that's the magical aspect," said the director of a conservation project, which plans to introduce these raptors to two UK cities in the first stage of a project reintroducing them to cities. "It proves this can be done quickly – without much fuss, but with so much enthusiasm."
Urban Reintroduction Proposal
The expert is preparing to present a proposal for the "urban reintroduction" of the northern goshawk to the authorities in the coming weeks; the scheme foresees the release of 15 birds in both of the two cities, sourced as chicks from wild continental eyries and UK breeders.
He hopes they will provide help of the UK's struggling songbirds by preying on mid-sized predators such as crows, black-and-white birds, and jackdaws, whose populations have grown unchecked and endangered birds further down the food chain.
Their arrival should have an immediate impact on the "bold" medium-sized birds that prey on tiny species that the public love, explains the scientist, pointing to a comparable effect documented in wolves. "This is what's called an ecology of fear. Everybody knows the big guys are in town."
Possible Challenges and Risks
Rewilding efforts throughout the continent have encountered fierce opposition from agricultural workers and activist groups in recent years, as large carnivores such as wolves and ursines have returned to lands now populated by humans. As their numbers have expanded, they have begun to eat farm animals and in certain instances confront individuals.
The introduction of the goshawk into urban England is not expected to spark a comparable resistance – the species already reside in different parts of the country, and animal guardians and city residents have minimal to fear from them – but the species has created conflicts even in cities it has long called home.
In Berlin, where an approximate 100 breeding pairs constitute the highest-known density in the globe, and other European towns, goshawks have turned into the focus of bird fanciers whose animals are being eaten.
A scientist who has researched raptor adaptation to urban settings used GPS trackers to monitor 60 birds as part of her doctorate, and says that while there could be possible advantages from using goshawks to control mesopredators in UK urban areas, young birds removed from countryside homes may find it hard to adapt to urban life and emphasized the need to involve all stakeholders early on. "In general, it's a hazardous endeavour."
Expert Opinions
An ecologist who has examined goshawk behavior in non-urban England commented it was uncertain if the birds would choose to remain in cities and improbable that the proposed quantity would be enough to have a significant beneficial effect on backyard species numbers. "What will happen of those 15 birds?" he said. "I suspect is they'll likely scatter into the closest rural areas."
The project leader is nonetheless upbeat about the initiative's chances. The expert, who has in the past been granted a permit to track the Highland tiger and was a technical consultant for a program that reintroduced the large bird back to the UK, argues that handling releases in a "humane way" is the essential element to success.
Past Rewilding Attempts
The expert's first effort to reintroduce wild cats to the UK was refused by the environment secretary on the advice of the wildlife body in recent years. A preliminary proposal for a test reintroduction has also met opposition, although the chair of the environmental organization lately showed enthusiasm about the idea of reintroducing lynx during his 24-month tenure.
If the goshawk initiative goes ahead, the raptors will be fitted with GPS transmitters – an task projected to represent almost half of the projected project cost of £110,000 – and be provided a steady source of food for as long as is required after being released. In the German city, the conservationist stressed the psychological benefit of city-dwellers being able to spot a predator as secretive as the raptor while they conduct their daily routines, rather than locating conservation schemes only in countryside areas.
"It'll inject such excitement," he said. "Individuals go to the park to feed pigeons. Soon they'll be going to see goshawks."
