Scottish Birds Of Prey Still Threatened

Scotland’s birds of prey continue to be threatened by illegal killing, according to a report by RSPB Scotland.

Illegal shooting, trapping, nest destruction and poisoning were highlighted in the latest report, covering 2011.

The Illegal Killing of Birds of Prey in Scotland in 2011 showed that some of Scotland’s rarest bird of prey continue to be the victims of crimes like the illegal use of crow traps and the setting out of baits laced with illegal and highly toxic chemicals.

The report did acknowledge a decline in the number of detected poisoning incidents in comparison to the previous few years.

But in 2011 a total of 20 birds, including 4 red kites and a golden eagle were confirmed to have been poisoned.

Other incidents included a buzzard starved to death in a crow trap, a short-eared owl, two peregrines and three buzzards shot and a goshawk nest destroyed.

The majority of incidents of illegal killing took place in the eastern and central Highlands and the southern Uplands of Scotland.

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations said: "While at last there may be some welcome indications that the indiscriminate use of illegal poisons is on the wane, it is clear from this report, and the events of the last few months, with a golden eagle being illegally trapped in Angus, and another found shot in Dumfries-shire, that there is a long way to go before these crimes are eradicated. We were pleased that these events received cross party condemnation in the Scottish Parliament."

Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management said: "We hope that a decrease in poisoning cases is a trend that continues and is reflected in the return of birds of prey in their former ranges. However, it is deeply concerning that over this same period, there is no evidence of a decline in other forms of illegal killing. These crimes can have a devastating impact on the long-term population of rare and slow breeding species such as hen harriers, golden eagles and red kites. There can be no place for these appalling crimes in Scotland in the 21st century."

(IT/GK)