The Nantes administrative court of appeal has ruled: the prefectural decrees authorizing the slaughter and scaring of thousands of jackdaws in Morbihan, Côtes-d’Armor and Finistère are annulled. A decision which follows a long legal battle led by environmental associations, but which arouses anger and frustration among many Breton farmers, directly impacted by the damage caused by these birds.
A protected species, but problematic for agriculture
Jackdaws, a protected species, are accused of destroying crops, ravaging vegetable gardens and piercing silage tarpaulins, causing significant economic losses for farmers. In 2022, Breton prefects issued decrees to authorize the destruction of 1,800 birds in Morbihan, 8,000 in Côtes-d’Armor and 16,000 in Finistère. However, these orders have just been annulled by the administrative court of appeal.
At first instance, the Rennes administrative court annulled these decisions for formal reasons, judging the orders “insufficiently reasoned”. But this time, the Nantes court ruled on the merits, based in particular on a study commissioned by the State and carried out by the University of Rennes.
Alternative solutions advanced, but controversial
According to the university study, the increase in the jackdaw population is linked to favorable nesting locations, such as chimneys, and easily accessible food resources. Researchers believe that authorized destruction is not a lasting solution, as the species adapts its demographics according to the pressures placed on it.
The study authors recommend “effective and sustainable” alternatives, such as:
- Blockage of chimneys.
- The use of repellents.
- Restricting access to silage piles.
- Adapted agricultural practices, such as moving crops away from urbanized areas.
- Targeted topping to divert birds from seedlings.
These proposals, although theoretically viable, struggle to convince those who suffer the direct consequences of the proliferation of jackdaws. “These studies seem to have been written by people who have never seen their fields or vegetable gardens ravaged by these birds,” laments Paul, a farmer in Scaër.
An unfavorable opinion from the Regional Scientific Council
The Brittany Regional Scientific Council for Natural Heritage (CSRPN) also opposed the prefectural decrees, stressing that the repeated destructions did not make it possible to sustainably regulate the jackdaw population. The CSRPN instead recommended reducing nesting sites and available food resources.
The administrative court of appeal supported this position, recalling that successive destruction authorizations do not constitute a long-term response and that they could lead to ever-increasing quotas.
The State now has until February 17, 2025 to refer the matter to the Council of State and contest this decision. Without this, similar prefectural decrees can no longer be justified in the future, unless alternative solutions are first put in place.
This case illustrates a growing divide between the imperatives of protecting biodiversity and the economic realities of Breton farmers. If environmental associations hail a victory for wildlife, farmers denounce a lack of pragmatism and a lack of understanding of the damage caused by jackdaws.
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