Bird protection group Vogelbescherming Nederland had made a formal protest about a decision by Drenthe provincial officials to allow 41 different sorts of bird to be shot or caught in nets at Eelde airport near Groningen.

‘Even endangered birds which pose no problems for air safety can be culled,’ the organisation said. ‘This decision is far too broad… and lacks proper motivation.’

Among the birds which can be culled if they venture near the airfield and which are on the Dutch red endangered species list are the partridge, widgeon and the curlew.

The bird protection group is also angry at the methods approved for killing the birds, which includes the indiscriminate use of nets and traps.

Instead, the airport authority should use alternative methods to prevent the risk birds present to aircraft, Vogelbescherming said.

The proposal, which also covers 26 species of mammal, was past by provincial councillors in January. The six week period for objections ended last week.