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Producing quick keck-keck-keck calls that rang out across a central Berlin green space, the large hawks soared high over the canopy and circled before swooping downwards to scatter a disorganized group of black birds that had started to mob them.

"It's basically a flying superhero enforcing law and order to the urban environment," remarked a wildlife expert, observing the sizable pale-bellied birds through binoculars. "They are like stealth bombers."

The goshawk is an top predator – and conservationists hope it will soon deliver awe and joy to British cities, following its presence in German metropolises. In the UK, this swift bird of prey was hunted to near disappearance and only began to bounce back in countryside areas during the mid-20th century. It is still commonly targeted on shooting estates and grouse moors.

Thriving in European Capitals

In other parts of the continent, the northern goshawk is doing well – even in bustling cities such as the German capital, Amsterdam, and the Czech capital. From a public garden in Berlin, where a large nest sat in the top of a tree less than 100 metres from a monument, the elusive hunter hunts city birds in the roads and even perches on rooftops.

The birds have adapted to heavy traffic – while tall transparent structures still present a danger – and are much more at ease with the steady stream of dogwalkers, joggers, and kids than their forest-dwelling relatives would be with humans.

"It is similar to any green space in the United Kingdom, that's the amazing aspect," commented the head of a conservation initiative, which plans to introduce these raptors to Chester and London in the first stage of a project introducing them to cities. "It proves this can be accomplished swiftly – with little much fuss, but with great excitement."

Urban Reintroduction Plan

The conservationist is preparing to submit a application for the "urban reintroduction" of the northern goshawk to the regulator in the near future; the plan envisions the freeing of 15 birds in each of the selected urban areas, sourced as juveniles from wild European eyries and British aviaries.

He expects they will come to the rescue of the UK's beleaguered songbirds by preying on mid-sized predators such as corvids, magpies, and small crows, whose populations have grown without control and threatened birds further down the food chain.

Their presence should have an instant impact on the "bold" medium-sized birds that attack smaller ones that people love, says the conservationist, pointing to a comparable phenomenon observed in wolves. "It's what's called an ecology of fear. Everybody realizes the big guys are in town."

Possible Hurdles and Risks

Conservation efforts across Europe have faced strong resistance from agricultural workers and political groups in the past decade, as big predators such as wild canines and ursines have come back to territories now populated by people. As their populations have grown, they have begun to consume farm animals and in some cases attack individuals.

The reintroduction of the raptor into urban England is unlikely to spark a similar resistance – the species already reside in other parts of the nation, and pet-owners and city residents have minimal to fear from them – but the species has caused tensions even in urban centers it has long called home.

In the German capital, where an approximate 100 mated couples represent the highest-known density in the world, and other European cities, these hawks have become the focus of bird fanciers whose birds are being consumed.

A researcher who has studied goshawk adaptation to urban environments used GPS trackers to follow 60 goshawks as part of her PhD, and says that although there could be possible advantages from using these predators to control mid-level predators in UK cities, young birds removed from rural homes may find it hard to adapt to city life and emphasized the need to involve all interested parties early on. "In general, it's a risky business."

Expert Views

An ornithologist who has studied hawk behavior in rural Britain commented it was unclear if the birds would decide to stay in urban environments and unlikely that the suggested quantity would be enough to have a significant positive effect on garden bird populations. "What is the fate of those 15 birds?" he said. "I suspect is they'll likely disperse into the nearest rural areas."

The project leader is nevertheless upbeat about the initiative's chances. The expert, who has in the past been awarded a permit to tag the Highland tiger and was a scientific adviser for a program that reintroduced the large bird back to the United Kingdom, argues that approaching reintroductions in a "humane way" is the essential element to achievement.

Previous Rewilding Efforts

The expert's first attempt to bring back lynx to the UK was rejected by the government secretary on the recommendation of the nature body in 2018. A preliminary proposal for a trial reintroduction has also faced opposition, although the head of the nature organization lately expressed interest about the prospect of releasing the feline predator during his 24-month term.

If the hawk initiative goes ahead, the birds will be equipped with GPS transmitters – an endeavour expected to account for almost 50% of the estimated project cost of £110,000 – and be given a steady supply of food for as much as is required after being released. In Berlin, the conservationist highlighted the psychological advantage of city-dwellers being able to observe a predator as secretive as the goshawk while they go about their lives, rather than placing conservation schemes only in rural areas.

"It will bring such excitement," he said. "Individuals visit the park to feed birds. In the future they'll be traveling to see goshawks."