Nidderdale dog walkers warned over banned bait poison

Dog walkers and countryside users are being warned about a dangerous banned poison being used in bait to target birds of prey in North Yorkshire.

A red kite was found dead close to Pateley Bridge in March and tests have shown traces of Bendiocarb and the banned poison Isofenphos.

North Yorkshire Police are warning anyone who may find a carcass of a bird or rabbit not to go near it.

The county had the highest number of offences against birds of prey in 2018.

Officers said the kite was found close to a caravan site near the Nidderdale town and submitted to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme.

Analysis of the bird showed the two pesticides were present and concluded these were responsible for the death as it was otherwise fit and healthy and had died soon after eating a large meal.

North Yorkshire Police said: "Bendiocarb is licensed for use as a pesticide in England, but Isofenphos is banned in the UK.

"Both pesticides are highly toxic and their use has previously been identified as the likely cause of death of other red kites in North Yorkshire.

"Despite extensive investigations, police have not been able to find evidence to understand how the pesticides reached the red kite or to identify those responsible for misusing these toxic substances."

In August the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' (RSPB) annual report said birds of prey were being subjected to "relentless persecution".

The highest number of recorded offences, 15, took place in North Yorkshire.

Police have urged dog walkers to be vigilant and not let pets "eat or investigate any animal carcasses they might come across when out walking".

"If you find any evidence of bait like this or a poisoned animal, then do not touch it. Many chemicals are extremely toxic and can be absorbed through skin," the force added.

Source

Scottish gamekeeper who killed protected birds of prey avoids jail

Campaigners call for stiffer penalties after Alan Wilson given community sentence

A sheriff has criticised Scotland’s weak wildlife crime laws after a gamekeeper convicted of killing protected birds of prey and mammals avoided a prison term.

Alan Wilson, 60, pleaded guilty in July to shooting and trapping badgers, an otter, goshawks and buzzards and installing 23 illegal snares in a small wood on a grouse- and pheasant-shooting estate at Longformacus near Duns.

Wilson, then a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, also admitted using snares illegally and possessing two bottles of carbofuran, a banned carbamate nerve agent used to poison birds of prey.

Sheriff Peter Paterson, sitting at Jedburgh sheriff court, said such crimes usually deserved a prison sentence. However, the Wildlife and Countryside Act allowed sentences of up to six months, and Scottish ministers had recently introduced a presumption against jailing offenders for less than 12 months.

“It highlights the difficulties with the legislation,” Paterson said. “If it wasn’t for this provision [on short-term sentences] then in my view a custodial sentence would have been appropriate.”

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Chris Packham calls moor ‘a death zone’ for birds of prey

Marc Horne

July 16 2019, 12:01am, The Times

An area of west central Scotland has been branded a “death zone” by Chris Packham after dozens of birds of prey were killed there.

A hen harrier that died after suffering appalling injuries in an illegal trap is the latest raptor to die in or around grouse moors in South Lanarkshire. The incident takes the total to 50 since 2003, but there have been only two successful prosecutions.

The adult male harrier had stumbled into a spring trap that had been set next to its nest on Leadhills Estate. Its right leg was almost completely severed by the metal jaws of the trap and veterinary surgeons were left with no choice but to euthanise the bird.

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Zoos starve birds of prey to make them perform circus-style tricks, investigation finds

Food is withheld from falcons, hawks and eagles, and many are also deprived of clean drinking water, a report says

Jane Dalton @JournoJane

Saturday 29 June 2019 13:45 

The Independent

Birds of prey are effectively starved to force them to obey human commands at zoos across the UK, investigators have found.

To train them to perform tricks for entertainment, food is withheld from the birds, such as falcons, hawks and eagles, which are naturally frightened of people, until their hunger outweighs their fear, a report says.

It’s claimed the tactic – together with forcing them to perform in displays – makes such zoos “a circus by any other name”.

The government is in the process of banning wild animals in circuses, with a bill currently going through parliament.

Freedom for Animals, a charity that opposes animal captivity, says avian veterinary experts believe going without food for three days may cause dehydration and kidney disease.

Depriving wild birds of food, known as “manning”, can take several days.

The group investigated 25 zoos around the UK, filming in 24 of them, finding one in three enclosures did not have clean drinking water.

Birds of prey spent an average of just 11 minutes 18 seconds flying during a public display, the investigation found.

At one zoo, a staff member told visitors how “naturally wild birds are terrified of humans” so to get one to sit on his glove, food is withheld and “then it is a matter of waiting until appetite outweighs fear”.

This “appears to be an extreme approach to training, especially when keepers have a legal obligation to provide food for animals ... we see this carried out widely across UK zoos,” the charity said.

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Predators fall prey to poison attacks by pigeon fanciers

Shingi Mararike

March 31 2019, 12:01am, The Sunday Times

Birds of prey are being illegally trapped and poisoned by pigeon fanciers to protect their prized racing birds, according to Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity. The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has raised concerns about the activities of some pigeon breeders, who allegedly go to extreme lengths to keep their birds safe from predators such as sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons.

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Pile of dead animals discovered in Monmouthshire

10/02/2019

The RSPCA has launched a public appeal after an apparent wildlife killing spree was discovered in Chepstow, Monmouthshire.

The 'horror film' collection of dead animals included a decapitated deer, as well as Canada Geese, Eurasian Teal, Mallard and two unidentified birds of prey. The grim discovery was made on New Year's Day, with RSPCA Cymru urgently appealing for information and details on the apparent killings.

Shockingly, a decapitated deer and its severed head, as well as a separate deer skin and rib cage, were also found at the site. The location – St Pierre – is very close to the A48 and the RSPCA believes it's likely that the animals were dumped from a vehicle having been poached, killed for sport or gruesome entertainment.

Sian Burton, RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer, said: "This site at Hayesgate was like a horror film with a pile of dead wild animal bodies, and body parts, strewn across the floor. A deer carcass, removed deer head, separate deer skin and rib cage have all been found, as have two Canada Geese, two Mallards and what I believe to be a bird of prey. 

"It was so sad to witness this pile of dead bodies. It seems very likely that someone has gone on a killing spree and taken the lives of these animals for so-called sport or entertainment, and dumped them here.

"We're urgently appealing to the local community for information. This is a rural location - and we're hoping somebody witnessed something, or can shed any further information on what happened to these poor animals."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

Source

Behind the headlines: why are birds of prey under attack?

New RSPB report Birdcrime 2017 reveals raptor persecution is a problem in the UK, with birds being deliberately shot, poisoned and trapped. Conservationists blame the shooting industry, which in turn says rogue individuals are responsible. We examine the issues

November 14th, 2018 at 10:30 am

What is the problem?

The RSPB’s Birdcrime 2017 report highlights hen harrier persecution (other birds of prey crimes are also included). Hen harriers live on moors and hunt for birds and small mammals. Where they fly over moors that host grouse shooting, they also take grouse chicks, putting them in conflict with gamekeepers. Satellite tags that track the movements of birds of prey have collected irrefutable evidence of their persecution: 68% of all hen harriers tagged by Natural England have vanished on or near grouse moors. “The bird and the tag just disappear and we can pinpoint exactly where that happens,” says Mark Thomas of the RSPB’s investigations unit. Typically, the carcass will be incinerated and the tag smashed with a mallet.

2017’s recorded birdcrime incidents

The report highlights incidents featuring the major raptor species in the UK. “These are confirmed cases, accepted by the police as reliably recorded; in some cases, police themselves have witnessed the crimes,” says Thomas. Some gamekeepers have provided intelligence about estates where hen harriers have been killed.

Shooting: A first-hand account of a man shooting a hen harrier on a driven grouse moor in South Lanarkshire was given to Police Scotland in 2017. The same month on this estate, a witness heard a single gunshot. The next day, the RSPB recovered the body of a short-eared owl. Police investigated both incidents but no prosecution has followed.

Poisoning: In May 2017, two adult peregrine falcons were found poisoned at a quarry in Shropshire. They had died after eating a pigeon illegally laced with diazinon. The RSPB says the site has a history of poison being used to target birds of prey. No one has been charged with the crime. More happily, a chick was rescued and fledged.

Nest disturbance:

A marsh harrier nesting attempt was recorded at a grouse estate in North Yorkshire in May 2017. RSPB officers installed a covert camera to monitor the nest. The footage revealed armed men visiting the nest and removing eggs. Four other uncategorised incidents of persecution were recorded in 2017.

Does grouse-moor management help harriers?

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust argues that the demise of grouse moors would adversely affect hen harriers. “The irony is that gamekeepers actually protect hen harriers,” says Dr Adam Smith, GWCT’s director for Scotland. Smith points to Langholm Moor in Dumfries & Galloway, which has been monitored for predator-prey interaction. “That showed that if raptor predation of grouse chicks is too high then management is withdrawn, sheep graze the land, the heather deteriorates, foxes and crows come in and predate on hen harrier chicks,” he says. “This is not a simple story; so many people are not prepared to listen.”

Smith suggests legal measures, such as brood management, may help. This sees raptor chicks removed from nests and raised in an aviary, then later released near to where they were taken. “It is unpopular with some but it means raptors are not taking grouse chicks to feed their own chicks.”

An RSPB study in the Peak District National Park suggests strong associations between intensive grouse-moor management in the Dark Peak and raptor persecution: goshawks and peregrines declined significantly in the Dark Peak between 1995 and 2015 but increased five-fold and 20-fold respectively elsewhere in the park.

“There’s growing public knowledge and anger about what is going on,” said Martin Harper, conservation director at the RSPB. “Unless the grouse industry changes, there will come a point when that anger is focused less on the welfare of birds of prey and more on shooting.”

What is the shooting community doing about it?

Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, says the report, in contrast to the RSPB’s interpretation, contained positive news. “This report demonstrates that progress is being made on the issue of raptor persecution,” she says. “We are committed to a representative assemblage of birds of prey across our uplands.” She added that she was encouraged by a decrease in confirmed incidents of persecution of 15% from 2016. The RSPB’s Mark Thomas responded: “Every year, the shooting community points to a hen harrier that has fledged and that the corner has been turned. But we report the same statistics year after year; it’s not changing. The defence is always that it’s a rogue gamekeeper but this is not just a bloke down the road doing this; this is industry-wide. We conduct our survey every year; you can’t dismiss this as just one year’s statistics.”

What more can be done?

Many conservationists believe changes are needed. “Even if we get a conviction, it doesn’t bring the bird back,” says the RSPB’s Mark Thomas. “We need to stop it happening in the first place.”

Bird crime has now been categorised a national priority by the police, but some senior wildlife figures, such as former RSPB conservation director Mark Avery, are calling for a complete ban on grouse shooting. The RSPB favours a licensing system, whereby estates must apply for a licence in order to conduct shoots. If a bird of prey is killed on the estate, or nearby, the licence would be withdrawn. “That could be for up to five years,” says Thomas. “If an estate costs £24m to buy and you charge £10,000 for a shoot, that would make them think twice.”

Walkers, bird lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts can help monitor birdcrime when they’re in the countryside, says the RSPB. “The public are our eyes and ears,” says Thomas. “If they see something that seems odd, they can call us.” The RSPB and Natural England are keen to raise awareness of the issue.

What does the law say?

The prevailing view among conservationists is that the law in England and Wales is inadequate. Alleged bird crimes are treated as summary offences, which means they are heard in magistrates’ courts. “Cases can be hard to prove because the defendants will often have top QCs, paid for by their employers,” says Thomas. Of the 68 confirmed cases in 2017, only four prosecutions and one conviction were secured. Also, film footage of gamekeepers killing birds has been presented in court in England but can be deemed inadmissible if the defence maintains it is not comfortable with surveillance. In Scotland, such footage has a higher rate of convictions. Scotland has the additional charge of vicarious liability, that can see a landowner charged if a bird is killed on their property, even if they did not commit the act themselves.

Source  

Birds of prey flocking to cities to escape drought, data shows

By Shelley Lloyd

Posted Tue at 3:43am

Eagles, hawks and other large birds of prey are flocking to cities and towns, with the drought forcing them out of the parched countryside, bird watchers say.

Data compiled by Birdlife Australia from citizen scientists has revealed large numbers of birds of prey are moving into urban areas.

Figures from past the four years of the Aussie Bird Count revealed 27 of Australia's 34 raptor species have been spotted in capital cities.

Birdlife Australia's Sean Dooley said nearly all raptor species are on the decline in rural area across most of Australia.

"You wouldn't think of eagles, hawks and owls as being suburban birds but they certain do occur and they're being attracted into cities looking for food," he said.

"The cities can offer raptors rich pickings … what we are seeing is more inland raptors, like barn owls and even black-shouldered kites coming towards coastal and city areas in search of water and food."

He said last year, a very rare forest owl decided to roost in the pulpit of a church in Toowoomba.

"Masked owls sometimes roost in caves and this owl had decided that the church pulpit looked very much like a cave and took up residence … you just never know what will turn up," Mr Dooley said.

"Famously there are the peregrine falcons that nest in the skyscrapers in Collins Street in Melbourne and there are thousands of people around the world watching them on web cameras."

Continued  

Powys birds of prey are "second most persecuted in UK"

28th September

By Mike Sheridan 

Powys has the second highest number of attacks against birds of prey in the United Kingdom over the past five years, according to new figures.

The 'BirdCrime' report authored by the RSPB and released this week shows there were 68 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK during 2017, but the charity says many illegal killings are going undetected or unreported.

In Powys three incidents of Red Kite poisonings were recorded and a rare Peregrine Falcon, a Schedule 1 listed species protected by law, was shot between Llanfair and Berriew.

The county saw 25 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents in the period between 2012 and 2017 – quite a distance ahead of the next highest county in Wales, Conwy, with four.

Bob Elliot, RSPB Head of Investigations, said: "The persecution of birds of prey is a widespread problem in the UK, and is affecting some of our most loved and vulnerable species, like owls and eagles.

"Every week the RSPB’s Investigations team get reports of yet another raptor being shot, trapped or poisoned. But for every report we receive, scientific studies suggest there are many more that go undetected and unreported. As such, these figures only scratch the surface of the true extent of raptor persecution in the UK."

Continued 

Figures show scale of crime against birds of prey in Cumbria

24th September

BIRDS of prey continue to be illegally killed in Cumbria, according to the latest figures.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Bird's Birdcrime report has revealed that there were four confirmed incidents of bird of prey crime in the county last year.

These include the shootings of a buzzard, two short-eared owls and a peregrine.

Between 2012 and 2017 there were 19 confirmed bird of prey crimes in Cumbria, making it the joint sixth worst county in the UK for raptor persecution.

Nationally, there were 68 incidents of bird of prey persecution in 2017.

The Birdcrime report found there were 48 shootings, nine poisoning, three trappings, four nest destruction and four other incidents of illegal persecution against raptors.

The RSPB said the numbers were "just the tip of the iceberg ", with charity bosses saying many illegal killings had gone undetected or unreported.

The charity also pointed out there were only four raptor persecution-related prosecutions in the UK in 2017 and only a single conviction.

Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director, said: “Birds of prey are part of our heritage and inspire us.

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52 Percent of World's Birds of Prey Populations in Decline

Lorraine Chow

Sep. 11, 2018 01:16PM EST

Grim news for the world's raptors—an iconic group of birds consisting of hawks, falcons, kites, eagles, vultures and owls.

After analyzing the status of all 557 raptor species, biologists discovered that 18 percent of these birds are threatened with extinction and 52 percent have declining global populations, making them more threatened than all birds as a whole.

Comparatively, 40 percent of the world's 11,000 bird species are in decline, according to an April report from BirdLife International.

The new research, published last week in the journal Biological Conservation, was led by biologists at The Peregrine Fund and in collaboration with nine scientific organizations and is the first to focus specifically on the status of raptors, according to Stuart Butchart chief scientist at BirdLife International and one of the paper's coauthors.

Continued  

Color vision makes birds of prey successful hunters

Date:  August 29, 2018

Source:  Lund University

In many cases it is the colour of the prey that helps predatory birds to detect, pursue and capture them. In a new study, biologists at Lund University in Sweden show that the Harris's hawk has the best colour vision of all animals investigated to date -- and in certain situations, even better than humans. The findings may help to protect threatened birds of prey against hazards such as wind turbines and power lines.

"It's fascinating. I did not think that colour vision would be of such significance, rather that birds of prey simply have better visual acuity than humans and that was the reason they detect objects so early and at a great distance. However, colour is of considerable importance," says Almut Kelber, biologist at Lund University.

Normally, the size of the eyes determines optical resolution and thus what people or animals can see. The bigger the eyes, the higher the resolution. The size of the eyes in turn is usually linked to body size. Large body, large eyes; small body, small eyes. Particular to birds is a poor ability in general to see contrasts between different objects. Their contrast vision is almost ten times lower than ours.

However, there are exceptions, and the Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is one of them. The study by the Lund biologists shows that if an object is not distinguishable from the background and the colour is approximately the same, it is more difficult for a bird of prey than a human to detect it. If, on the other hand, the object has a different colour than the background, the Harris's hawk can detect it at twice the distance compared to human vision.

"It's exciting! The hawk weighs less than one kilo and has small eyes. Nonetheless, it can see many times better than us, even though it is so small and light," says Simon Potier.

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Vulture chicks and rare bird eggs seized at Heathrow airport

Man arrested and bailed after discovery of 19 eggs from South African birds of prey

Press Association

Fri 29 Jun 2018 13.44 BSTLast modified on Fri 29 Jun 2018 17.05 BST

Two vulture chicks and more than a dozen eggs containing rare and endangered species have been seized at Heathrow airport.

Border Force officers confiscated 19 eggs, two of which had hatched, from a man who had arrived on a flight from South Africa.

While the exact species have not yet been identified, the eggs, which had been concealed in a body belt, were from South African birds of prey including vultures, eagles, hawks and kites, the Home Office said.

Border Force specialist officers identified that the eggs were protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The chicks and eggs were being cared for at a specialist facility, the Home Office said.

The man, 56, was arrested and bailed pending further inquiries. The investigation has been passed to the National Crime Agency.

Source  

POISONED - Rare birds of prey killed in south Kilkenny

INTENTIONALLY TARGETED - LARGE AMOUNTS OF THE POISON CARBOFURAN INGESTED BY DEAD RAPTORS

Sean Keane

2 Jul 2018

A pair or rare and legally protected birds have been intentionally poisoned at their nesting place in South Kilkenny.

Large amounts of the poison carbofuran was ingested by them near their nests at the Slate Quarries, close to the Tipperary border.

Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Jimi Conroy believes that a live pigeon was probably used as bait and was first covered in the poison and then tied to a stake close to the nest to lure the nesting couple.

He said that the fact two had been killed had made it certain they were knowingly poisoned and because carbofuran is a controlled substance, he believes it was intentionally used to kill them.
He said it was a shocking crime and that because peregrines are so rare they are protected under The wildlife Acts.

He is looking for information which will lead to the conviction of those responsible. He is asking anyone that saw anything suspicious in the Slate Quarries area over the last number of weeks, including the tying up of a pigeon to come forward. The number to ring is 076-1002655

Source  

Scientists stunned by decline of birds during epic Southern African roadtrip

Birds of prey fast disappearing from one of Africa's last great wilderness areas

Date:  June 6, 2018

Source:  University of Cape Town

Summary:

A two year project repeating a famous bird survey by driving over 20,000 km in a 4x4 across Botswana has confirmed researchers' fears: many birds of prey are fast disappearing from one of Africa's last great wilderness areas. Reported sightings of iconic species of eagle and vulture declined by as much as 80% compared with the previous survey, while some migrant species recorded last time have vanished, according to the study.

Read on  

'Arms race' to beat bird of prey killers

CONSERVATIONISTS battling to protect Scotland’s birds of prey are in an “arms race” with criminals, it has been claimed.

By DAVID SCOTT

PUBLISHED: 20:16, Fri, May 18, 2018 | UPDATED: 20:29, Fri, May 18, 2018

Ian Thomson, head of investigations at RSPB Scotland, made the claim after a series of satellite-tagged birds of prey including golden eagles and sea eagles disappeared in suspicious circumstances.

He said satellite transmitters had led to a “massive reduction” in illegal poisoning cases in recent years as those targeting raptors know that if a tagged bird stops moving, somebody will look for it, increasing the chances of its killer being caught.

But while tagging technology was improving, it had also brought about a change in tactics as those who would persecute protected species tried to stay a step ahead, he warned.

Mr Thomson said: “The technology is changing all the time. A few years ago these GPS satellite tags could only be fitted to big birds like eagles or cranes or storks and things like that and now we are fitting them to smaller birds of prey like hen harriers.

We know from the disappearance of satellite-tagged birds that these birds are being literally shot off their perches

 “But at the same time we have to recognise that in some perverse way we are almost in a strange arms race because those who are killing birds of prey, rather than chucking out half a rabbit laced with carbofuran, now they are wandering about at 2am with thermal imaging gear.

“We know from the disappearance of satellite-tagged birds that these birds are being literally shot off their perches in the middle of the night. And that’s difficult to combat and they know that.

"We’ve caught people on camera committing wildlife crimes. A solution to that is they all go out wearing balaclavas.”

Continued  

DNA to help find suspects in bird of prey offences

A BREAKTHROUGH in the recovery of human DNA could help police crack wildlife crimes, including the illegal persecution of Scotland’s iconic birds of prey. Investigations could be supported by new research into retrieving human DNA found at crime scenes.

By DAVID SCOTT

PUBLISHED: 18:49, Fri, Apr 20, 2018 | UPDATED: 19:04, Fri, Apr 20, 2018

GETTY / SALTIRE EDINBURGH

DNA testing could help catch wildlife criminals who harm birds of prey

The research was initiated by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland and carried out by the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) Forensic Services, the Scottish Government and the University of Strathclyde.

It found DNA can be traced on traps that have been outside for at least 10 days, and from rabbit baits and bird carcasses at crime scenes after at least 24 hours. Until now, efforts to prosecute have been hampered by a lack of evidence.

The RSPB’s most recent Birdcrime report revealed there were nine confirmed incidents of raptor persecution in Scotland in 2016, but not a single prosecution.

It was claimed the number was likely to be “the tip of the iceberg”, as many illegal killings go undetected or unreported.

Continued 

Birds of prey brought in to tackle Gwynedd town's seagull problem

A hawk and falcon will visit Ysgol Eifion Wyn and Glaslyn leisure centre in Porthmadog

By

Eryl Crump

18:26, 20 FEB 2018

Patrols have been introduced at a Gwynedd school to tackle unwelcome visitors who made pupils’ lives a misery.

Over the next few months, a falcon and a hawk will visit Ysgol Eifion Wyn and the nearby Glaslyn leisure centre in Porthmadog to drive away seagulls, after they caused a nuisance last year .

The gulls were nesting on the leisure centre roof and, as some chicks had fallen onto the school yard, the adult birds were swooping on people and worrying children, staff and parents.

Today, John Evans of Anglesey Hawking was at the school with his birds of prey to keep the seagulls at bay.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Gulls are an everyday sight around the Gwynedd coast and can cause real concern to residents.

Continued  

Police crackdown on North Yorkshire bird of prey killings

17 February 2018

Police have joined forces with wildlife experts to combat bird of prey killings in the county with the UK's worst record for attacks.

Operation Owl will see officers in North Yorkshire sent to "persecution hotspots" to try and catch offenders.

As part of the campaign, the RSPB has launched a hotline to allow people to report incidents in confidence.

Its latest figures show 54 attacks were reported in the county between 2012 and 2016 - by far the worst area in the UK.

A report by the RSPB claimed many of the incidents were on "land managed for driven grouse shooting".

It cited an incident in 2016 when a gamekeeper on a grouse shooting estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park received a police caution after admitting setting three pole traps.

The RSPB said that in 2016, confirmed incidents in North Yorkshire included four shot buzzards, four shot red kites, two poisoned red kites, a shot peregrine, a buzzard nest destruction and seven incidents relating to the illegal use of spring traps.

Continued

Birds of prey numbers up; raptor persecution cases down...RSPB reports bird crime as 'national disgrace'

The headlines from the RSPB’s report into bird crime in 2016, out last week, highlighted the fact that despite 81 confirmed reports of the persecution of birds of prey no one had been prosecuted.

By

Philip Bowern

Print Editor, Western Morning News

13:05, 5 DEC 2017

The headlines from the RSPB’s report into bird crime in 2016, out last month, highlighted the fact that despite 81 confirmed reports of the persecution of birds of prey no one had been prosecuted. The conservation charity, unsurprisingly, made much of the statistics and what it sees as the lack of action by the police and prosecution service on this area of wildlife crime.

It highlighted in particular allegations of the persecution of the hen harrier, down to tiny numbers on the uplands of northern England and Scotland and targeted, it is claimed, by grouse moor keepers because hen harriers prey on grouse chicks. It also highlighted buzzard poisonings.

While none of the above is acceptable – and pro-shooting groups the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and the Countryside Alliance have both stepped up efforts within the country sports community to adopt a zero tolerance approach to raptor persecution – there is another story.

Continued