Raptor Politics received the attached information earlier today and because of the serious nature and implications of what we are being told it has been decided to publish the question being asked by Adrian.
Raptor Politics, I hope you will take the enclosed information seriously because together with several of my colleagues we all believe what we are hearing is factual. When you recall the RSPB pulled out of their commercial partnership with Scottish Power after discovering Golden Eagles were being illegally exterminated to make way for successful wind farm planning applications associated with this energy company, the detail I am sending to you appears logical. At least you could do no harm by making public the question which I feel needs a reply. Do you think its possible there is a correlation between what we are hearing and that there appear to have been no successful breeding hen harriers at Langholm this season?
Let me put our concerns very diplomatically; is that right that the RSPB have pulled out of their partnership in the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project? I hear the latest tactics now being employed by some estate keepers up there to kill raptors is to sprinkle slithers of lead over carrion so it will kill these birds through lead poisoning so any birds found dead and subsequently tested won’t show up the usual poison residuals which have normally been used in the past to kill birds of prey. If these suspicions turn out to have a factual base then it’s not only sick, but why are the public hearing nothing from the RSPB?
Adrian.
Its not like RSPB to make a decision without a press statement. It might be that they are looking at the runes before making a decision.
Adrian, having spoken with several people associated closely with the RSPB in Scotland about this matter your concerns appear to be wrong. We can tell you however that the head warden for the RSPB at Langholm, Aly McCluskie who has been employed by the RSPB at Langholm since 2008, will be leaving the project at the end of this season. One additional item of information, only two nesting pairs of hen harriers have been recorded this year in southern Scotland, one of these pairs being a late nester at Langholm. We have no information of the success of either pair.
I can help them out, I too have a set of Runestones
Sadly the shooting ‘back handers’ win again. If there is no shooting the keepers get no ‘back hands’. If there is shooting the money can reach 4 figures with one gun even giving 4 figures! Holidays, guns and cars have been given at the end of a shooting season. Shame there is tax system for some in this country!!!
I can tell you that 4 chicks have hatched at Langholm from the late nester and hopefully we successfully fledge as a result of the diversionary feeding provided by the excellent band of keepers employed by the Langholm Moor Demonstation Project. These keepers are nothing like those described by the author of this article and have worked hard to protect all the ground nesting birds on the moor as well as the grouse. This project deserves to succeed as many people work hard to make It a success but poor springs, wet weather and heather beatle have made life very difficult for them.
Thank you for this very welcome information – a little light at the end of the tunnel at last! We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the keepers involved. It’s a refreshing change to print positive news about gamekeepers.
Adrian,
if you have heard anything about illegal killing of raptors, or the placing of potentially poisonous baits, it would be valuable if you could contact the RSPB directly to discuss exactly what you have heard, in order that it can be investigated as quickly and effectively as possible, in confidence. Please contact the RSPB’s UK HQ in Bedfordshire on 01767 680 551, and ask to speak to someone in the Investigations team. Many thanks.
Elsie, The Forest of Bowland have licensed RSPB persecutors….start there!!!