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Producing rapid keck-keck-keck sounds that echoed across a central Berlin green space, the large hawks soared far over the canopy and circled before swooping down to chase off a disorganized flock of crows that had begun to mob them.

"It's essentially a soaring Batman bringing justice to the city," remarked a conservationist, observing the large light-breasted birds through binoculars. "They are like fighter jets."

The Accipiter gentilis is an apex predator – and conservationists aspire it will soon bring wonder and joy to UK cities, following its presence in German metropolises. In the UK, this swift raptor was hunted to near extinction and only began to recover in countryside areas during the 1960s. It is still commonly targeted on shooting estates and hunting grounds.

Thriving in Continental Capitals

In other parts of Europe, the goshawk is thriving – even in busy capitals such as the German capital, the Dutch capital, and the Czech capital. From a park in the city, where a sizable eyrie rested in the top of a tree under 100 metres from a monument, the elusive hunter preys on city birds in the roads and even perches on building tops.

The birds have adapted to heavy vehicle flow – although tall transparent structures still pose a danger – and are much more comfortable with the steady stream of pet owners, joggers, and schoolchildren than their woodland counterparts would be with humans.

"It is similar to any green space in the United Kingdom, that's the amazing thing," said the director of a conservation project, which plans to bring goshawks to two UK cities in the first stage of a program introducing them to urban environments. "It demonstrates this can be done swiftly – with little much fuss, but with so much enthusiasm."

Urban Reintroduction Plan

The conservationist is preparing to submit a proposal for the "assisted colonisation" of the northern goshawk to the regulator in the coming weeks; the scheme foresees the freeing of 15 birds in both of the selected urban areas, sourced as juveniles from natural continental nests and UK breeders.

He hopes they will come to the rescue of Britain's beleaguered songbirds by preying on mesopredators such as crows, black-and-white birds, and small crows, whose numbers have increased unchecked and endangered birds lower on the ecological pyramid.

Their presence should have an immediate impact on the "bold" mid-sized birds that prey on tiny species that the public love, explains the conservationist, referencing a comparable effect observed in wolves. "This is what's known as an ecology of fear. Everyone knows the big guys are in the city."

Possible Challenges and Dangers

Rewilding efforts throughout the continent have encountered fierce opposition from agricultural workers and political factions in the past decade, as large carnivores such as wolves and bears have returned to territories now populated by humans. As their numbers have expanded, they have begun to consume livestock and in certain instances confront humans.

The introduction of the goshawk into city Britain is not expected to trigger a comparable backlash – the species already live in different parts of the country, and pet-owners and city residents have minimal to worry about from them – but the species has caused conflicts even in urban centers it has long called home.

In the German capital, where an estimated 100 mated couples constitute the highest-known density in the world, and additional European cities, goshawks have turned into the target of bird fanciers whose birds are being eaten.

A researcher who has studied goshawk adaptation to city settings used GPS transmitters to monitor 60 birds as part of her doctorate, and says that although there could be possible advantages from using goshawks to regulate mesopredators in UK cities, young birds taken from rural nests may struggle to adjust to urban life and emphasized the need to involve all stakeholders early on. "Overall, it's a hazardous endeavour."

Expert Views

An ornithologist who has studied goshawk behaviour in rural Britain commented it was uncertain if the birds would decide to remain in urban environments and improbable that the suggested numbers would be enough to have a significant beneficial effect on garden bird numbers. "What will happen of those 15 birds?" he said. "I suspect is they'll probably scatter into the closest countryside."

The project leader is nevertheless optimistic about the project's chances. The specialist, who has previously been awarded a permit to tag the Highland tiger and was a scientific consultant for a program that reintroduced the great bustard back to the UK, argues that approaching releases in a "humane way" is the key to success.

Previous Reintroduction Efforts

The conservationist's initial effort to bring back wild cats to the United Kingdom was rejected by the government official on the recommendation of the wildlife body in recent years. A preliminary application for a trial release has also faced resistance, although the chair of the nature organization recently expressed interest about the prospect of releasing the feline predator during his 24-month tenure.

If the goshawk project goes ahead, the raptors will be fitted with GPS transmitters – an task expected to account for almost half of the projected project cost of £110,000 – and be provided a steady supply of nourishment for as long as is required after being released. In Berlin, the conservationist highlighted the mental benefit of city-dwellers being able to observe a hunter as elusive as the raptor while they go about their lives, rather than locating conservation projects only in countryside areas.

"It'll bring such excitement," he said. "Individuals visit the green space to give food to birds. In the future they'll be traveling to see goshawks."