A consultation by Natural England, the body that advises the government on the natural environment, has made the case for allowing people to destroy the birds‘ nests and remove their eggs, amid growing concerns that they threaten health and safety. - Halil

I bet we see an increase in bugs and mosquitoes now! Not sure what health and safety risks they pose, but we need birds to eat the mosquitoes etc. - Halil

That's right up there with our government putting a call out to hunt barred owls because they're threatening spotted owls. Or killing sea lions because they're eating endangered salmon. Never mind that humans are the reason that spotted owls and salmon are endangered to begin with. The stupidity with which people act out against nature is appalling at best. - Hookuh Tinypants

The article only really cites them as 'pests' to homeowners and farmers because they nest under roofs and eat crops and crop residue. Not really a health and safety problem, in my opinion. More of a nuisance issue. Sometimes when animals have sufficient populations and are lobbied as pests, the governing body will allow people to kill them indiscriminately. It is very common in the US with both birds and mammals. - Jenny H.