Row over threat to birds of prey
A row has broken out between RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) over the number of birds of prey being killed in Scotland.
The bird conservation charity insists in its latest annual report, coverign 2011, that Illegal shooting, trapping, nest destruction and poisoning continue to pose a significant threat.
However, the SGA was critical of the report, urging the Scottish public to take an evidence-led view of bird of prey deaths in Scotland and not to be blinded by what it called “emotive language”.
The report, The Illegal Killing of Birds of Prey in Scotland in 2011, revealed that, as in previous years, some of the country’s rarest bird of prey species continue to be the victims of wildlife crimes such as the illegal use of crow traps and the setting out of baits in the open, laced with illegal and highly toxic chemicals.
Whilst the report acknowledged a decline in the number of detected poisoning incidents in comparison to the previous few years, in 2011 a total of 20 birds, including 4 red kites and a golden eagle were amongst those confirmed by Scottish Government testing to have been poisoned.
Other incidents recorded by RSPB Scotland during the year 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 report also highlights the suspicious disappearances of nesting hen harriers and peregrines, and of golden eagles fitted with satellite transmitters by scientists studying their movements and survival.
As in recent years, the majority of incidents of illegal killing took place in areas managed for driven grouse shooting, particularly in the eastern and central Highlands and the southern Uplands of Scotland.
Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations said ”Many of these crimes were discovered purely by chance, by walkers or birdwatchers, in remote areas of countryside, it’s safe to assume that many victims of illegal killing are not detected or reported.”
He said that while at last there may be some welcome indications that the indiscriminate use of illegal poisons is on the wane, it was clear from this report, and recent incident outwith the Highlands, “that there is a long way to go before these crimes are eradicated”.
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”.
“We thank the public for their continued vigilance and those landowners who have already made marked efforts to stamp out this illegal practice. We call on all those working in Scotland’s countryside to take active steps to eradicate these despicable crimes once and for all. These birds are not only important for our wildlife heritage but also bring with them tourism opportunities, which benefit the country’s economy.”
However the SGA was extremely critical of the report.
SGA Chairman Alex Hogg said: “The foundation of this report is the 2011 SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) statistics, which are independently verified by government.
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“We welcomed these figures in March 2012, as did the RSPB, when they were released for the first time, and again in September 2012 when they were released for a second time. This is now the third time the SASA statistics for 2011 have been released to the public. However, in this case, 4 more incidents of abuse have been added compared to the 16 reported in March and September.”
He went on: “People have a right to question why this is the case and what independent verification exists for the other figures in the report.
“It was generally accepted by the RSPB and all partners in the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, including the SGA, that 2011 marked the lowest incidence of bird of prey abuse cases in Scotland since mapping techniques were started four years ago. There were also more cases investigated than ever before, with less abuse cases found.”
Mr Hogg added: “Much work, of course, remains to be done but the public deserve to know that, up until the end of June 2012, only two cases of abuse have been confirmed by SASA.
“We are, therefore, seeing a confirmed trend. For example, more birds of prey were killed by electrocution from power lines or trauma collisions with pylons and vehicles during the same period.”
