High above Berlin’s parks, northern goshawks glide between treetops and rooftops, hunting pigeons and holding their own against crows. Conservationist Dr Paul O’Donoghue believes this model can work in the UK too – and is preparing a proposal to release goshawks into Chester and London.
The plan, led by Rewilding UK, would see 15 goshawks introduced in each city, sourced from wild European nests and UK breeders. Once persecuted to near extinction in Britain, goshawks have rebounded in rural areas but remain under pressure from shooting estates. Across Europe, however, they thrive in capitals such as Berlin, Amsterdam, and Prague, adapting to traffic, people, and urban noise.
O’Donoghue argues that reintroducing the raptor could help restore balance in urban ecosystems by keeping mesopredators like crows, magpies, and jackdaws in check. “It’s what’s called an ecology of fear,” he explained. “Everybody knows the big guys are in town.”
The project faces challenges. Some experts warn that goshawks raised in rural environments may struggle to adjust to city life. Others doubt the release of 15 birds per city would significantly improve garden bird populations, predicting they may disperse into the countryside.
Nevertheless, O’Donoghue is optimistic, citing previous work with Scottish wildcats and great bustards. The £110,000 project would include fitting each bird with GPS transmitters and providing food during the early stages of release.
Berlin, home to around 100 breeding pairs – the world’s highest known concentration – shows how such a scheme could succeed. For O’Donoghue, the benefits are not only ecological but psychological: “People go to the park to feed pigeons. Soon they’ll be going to see goshawks.”
