Shocking death toll of birds of prey
A SHOCKING death toll of birds of prey killed by poison in the Highlands has been revealed by the RSPB.
The tally includes four golden eagles, the most recorded in a single year since the organisation began keeping records, which were amongst 29 birds illegally poisoned in Scotland last year.
And of that number, which the RSPB says may only be the tip of the iceberg, 14 were found in the Highland region with the area in and around the strath being a hotspot.
The four dead golden eagles were found in the Skibo area, renowned as a playground for the rich and famous, where two buzzards and a sparrowhawk were also poisoned.
One red kite, one golden and one white-tailed eagle were found dead from carbuforan poisoning at Farr, near Inverness, while other fatalities were recorded near Cawdor, Moy and Boat of Garten.
In Glen Lochy, near Fort William, two buzzards were killed after ingesting a rabbit bait laced with carbofuran.
Other incidents of illegal trapping and killing were recorded in Dornie, Wester Ross, and in Dingwall where a sparrowhawk was shot with an arrow.
The RSPB report, The Illegal Killing of Birds of prey in Scotland in 2010, indicates persecution remains at high levels and continues to pose a serious risk to the long-term populations of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable birds of prey.
Thirteen buzzards, seven red kites, two peregrines and one white-tailed eagle were amongst those confirmed by Scottish Government testing to have been poisoned, in addition to the golden eagles. A further eight birds of prey were also confirmed as victims of shooting, trapping or nest destruction.
The majority of incidents involving banned poisons took place in areas managed for driven grouse shooting.
Now, RSPB Scotland is raising fresh concerns that if this illegal behaviour continues, the Scottish populations of long-lived and slow breeding raptor species, including the golden eagle, will continue to suffer and remain well below natural levels.
Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "The criminal practice of illegally killing birds of prey remains a most serious conservation issue.
"We are working hard with the authorities and responsible land managers to see how we can use both intelligence and scientific information to better target enforcement against the perpetrators.
"We look forward to this yielding the visible results of an increase in the population and range of vulnerable species such as the hen harrier, red kite, golden eagle and white-tailed eagle."
