Wildlife forensics team examines bird of prey deaths

By David Miller

BBC Scotland environment correspondent

The scientists examine the birds to identify the poisons used and how they were delivered

I am standing in a laboratory on the outskirts of Edinburgh, as two scientists remove a golden eagle from a plastic bag.

The smell of the decomposing bird hits me as they begin their examination.

As someone who is more accustomed to watching these birds flying high over Scotland's hills and glens, I am finding the experience unsettling.

But for the team here at Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), a division of the Scottish government, this is all in a day's work.

Those days have been busier in recent weeks, due to the mass poisoning of red kites and buzzards in Ross-shire.

It is now more than a month since a police investigation began. Twenty birds have been found dead, including 14 red kites.

Birds of prey which police suspect may have been poisoned are routinely sent to SASA's labs for testing.

The information which the Edinburgh scientists can provide in return is crucial.

Continued