As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 21 June 2013

Bird of prey poisoner given fine

A gamekeeper who poisoned a bird of prey and owned illegal pesticides has been fined £4,450.

The common buzzard died after eating the carcass of a pheasant that Peter Bell laced with highly toxic pesticide carbofuran.

The 62-year-old left the bait in a field on Glasserton Home Farm near Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, on December 23 last year.

The full-time gamekeeper is responsible for rearing pheasants and organising shooting on Glasserton and Phsygill Estates which includes land on the farm.

The illegal poisonous substances carbofuran, strychnine and alphachloralose were found in his tool shed and home during a search on March 5.

Bell, of Whithorn, Newton Stewart, pleaded guilty at Stranraer Sheriff Court to one charge of killing a wild bird and three of having illegal pesticides under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Craig Harris, wildlife and environment procurator fiscal, said: "The killing of this buzzard was considered and deliberate criminality. The laying of bait laced with carbofuran was shockingly irresponsible conduct.

"It was compounded by the stocks of other illegal poisons that were kept.

"The law protects wild birds and those who seek to poison them, or continue to possess stocks of illegal poison, can fully expect to be brought before the courts."

A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said the organisation condemns illegal poisoning.

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