Berlin’s thriving goshawk population could soon provide a model for urban rewilding in the UK. Conservationist Dr Paul O’Donoghue, director of Rewilding UK, plans to release 15 goshawks each into Chester and London in a project designed to bring the apex predator back into British cities.
Once hunted to near extinction in the UK, goshawks have rebounded in rural areas but still face persecution. In contrast, European capitals including Berlin, Amsterdam and Prague now host healthy populations, with the birds adapting to busy parks, traffic and human activity. Berlin is thought to have around 100 breeding pairs – the highest-known concentration in the world.
O’Donoghue believes the birds could help restore balance in urban ecosystems by controlling populations of crows, magpies and jackdaws, which threaten smaller garden birds. “It’s basically a flying Batman bringing law and order to the city,” he said. “This proves it can be done quickly, without much fuss, but with so much excitement.”
The proposal, which will be submitted to Natural England, involves sourcing chicks from European nests and UK breeders. Each bird would be fitted with a GPS transmitter, with post-release feeding support provided. The estimated cost of the project is £110,000.
Experts caution that challenges remain. Manuela Merling de Chapa, who has tracked urban goshawks in Germany, warned that chicks from rural nests may struggle to adjust, while Ian Henderson of the British Trust for Ornithology questioned whether the small release numbers would have a lasting effect on bird populations.
Despite reservations, O’Donoghue is optimistic. He argues that city-dwellers could gain psychological and cultural benefits from seeing elusive predators in their everyday lives. “People go to the park to feed pigeons,” he said. “Soon they’ll be going to see goshawks.”
