Revised Category C and Introductions Listings from BBA

In terms of the BBA/UK400 Club, the rules for inclusion of a Category C introduction are such

A) That the species must be completely self-supporting in a natural environment for a period of no less than 10 years;

B) That the population of self-supporting in Britain or Ireland exceeds a total of 100 individuals

Once the population dies out due to interference by man (eg Ruddy Duck, Lady Amherst's & Golden Pheasant), one may still count those birds that were admitted to Category C during a given period of time but those subsequent records revert to Category E

Category C Species currently accepted and fully countable by UK400 Club/BBA rulings -:

1) Egyptian Goose (population of over 2,000 individuals)
2) Atlantic Canada Goose (50,000+)
3) Barnacle Goose (1,000+)
4) Mandarin Duck (4500 birds)
5) Red-crested Pochard (325)
6) North American Ruddy Duck (225 and decreasing)
7) Golden Pheasant (42 and decreasing)
8) Lady Amherst's Pheasant (3 males)
9) Red-legged Partridge (50,000+)
10) Northern Goshawk (800+)
11) European Eagle Owl (100+)
12) Little Owl (1,000+)
13) Ring-necked Parakeet (7,500)

Category C Species not accepted or still under review; some records may relate to vagrants from Category C populations elsewhere in Europe; number in parentheses represents UK population at large -:

1) Sacred Ibis (self-supporting populations in France and Italy)
2) Chilean Flamingo (Germany)
3) Muscovy Duck (very few genuine Muscovy Ducks in Britain, mostly hybrids)
4) Australian Black Swan (66 currently at large in Britain and breeding; The Netherlands)
5) Bar-headed Goose (28; The Netherlands)
6) North American Wood Duck (39)
7) Red-tailed Hawk (5)
8) Monk Parakeet (UK population hovering around 75 individuals)
9) Reeve's Pheasant (5; France)
10) Chukar Partridge (35)
11) Alexandrine Parakeet (5; Turkey)
12) Black-headed Laughing Thrush (5)

INTRODUCTIONS

By current rulings, the following species from successful introduction schemes may be counted -:

1) Golden Eagle (Ireland)
2) White-tailed Sea Eagle (Ireland and Britain; 85 individuals)
3) Capercaillie (Scotland)
4) Grey Partridge
5) Common Crane
6) Cirl Bunting
7) Red-billed Chough

Great Bustard cannot be counted, whilst the status of Scandinavian Lesser White-fronted Geese remains under review

Lee G R Evans