RSPB Scotland has today [24th September 2012] issued an appeal and a reward for information following the discovery of the body of a Golden Eagle on Deeside. The bird, fitted with a satellite transmitter, was found on 5th May 2012, after signals sent by the transmitter indicated that the bird had not moved for several days.
The body was found lying face down, with its wings folded, under a tree branch close to a lay-by on a quiet country road near Aboyne, and was seized as evidence by officers from Grampian police. The carcass was then taken for a post mortem at the Scottish Agricultural College laboratory in Aberdeen. This concluded that the bird had suffered two broken legs due to trauma “that could be consistent with an injury caused by a spring-type trap” and that the severity of these injuries “would prevent the bird from being able to take off.”
Golden Eagle (Photo: RSPB Scotland).
The bird had been fitted with a transmitter by RSPB Scotland staff, in full partnership with a local landowner, a few days before it had fledged from a nest in the Monadhliath Mountains, southeast of Inverness, in July 2011. By re-examining the satellite data, RSPB staff discovered that the young bird spent its first few months in its natal area before venturing further afield. By April 2012 it was frequenting an area of upper Deeside, before moving southwest into Glenshee. On 28th April the bird moved eastwards into Angus. At 6am the following day the bird was located on a hillside overlooking Glen Esk. Over the next 15 hours a succession of satellite tag readings accurate to within less than 20 metres showed that the bird did not move from this precise spot until at least 9pm that evening, after nightfall. However, by 4am the next morning, 30th April, according to transmission data, it appeared to have travelled during the hours of darkness, some 15km north, to the location where its body was subsequently discovered some five days later. Satellite readings revealed that while the bird did not move from this position, it was probably alive until 4th May.
Follow-up enquires by both Tayside and Grampian Police found no further evidence as to how the eagle came to suffer its injuries, nor could it be established how the eagle came to move from Glen Esk to a position under a tree branch on Deeside overnight. However, a number of eagle down feathers were found between the lay-by and the bird’s final resting place.
Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations, commented: “It is disgraceful that this magnificent bird was subjected to such suffering. The post-mortem evidence suggests that this bird was caught in an illegally set trap, smashing both legs. The data obtained from the satellite transmitter indicated that the eagle did not move from one spot on a hill high above Glen Esk for over 15 hours. Then, during the night, when eagles do not readily fly, it has inexplicably moved to a new position, hidden under a tree and close to a road. Here, over the next four days, this eagle suffered a lingering death.”
Stuart Housden, RSPB Scotland Director, added: “Anyone who cares about our wildlife will be disgusted by what appears to be an appalling crime and the lengths taken to hide the facts from discovery. Whilst efforts to stamp out the illegal poisoning of birds of prey are perhaps beginning to yield results, this dreadful case shows that the persecution of our raptors continues through the use of traps and other means.”
“We call upon anyone who can provide further information about this case to contact the wildlife crime officer at either Tayside or Grampian Police without delay. Cases like this really do have a negative impact on Scotland’s reputation as a country that respects and values all its wildlife heritage. I am today offering a £1000 reward for information that will assist a successful prosecution.”
Notes
Just when you think things can’t get any more grim for Scotland’s Golden eagles you get a case like this. No doubt this eagle died at the hands of the same types reponsible for poisoning incidents up and down the country. Until the law takes these crimes seriously and people get some proper jail time, we can never hope to see an end to such horrific cases.
ABSOLUTELY SICK!!!!
It appears that this eagle was removed from where it was killed, then taken well away to protect the estate from suspicion. With the estate owners as well as employee’s now liable to be prosecuted, I believe that this sort of practice could become more common. After all it is always the estate where the dead birds are found that comes under scrutiny at first. If corpses of protected birds are taken 20 miles by car, then dumped in a field or wood, the real offender has little chance of being detected. Perhaps the police should operate a stop and search policy when keepers are seen to be away from their normal patch.
Editor’s Comment, Doug we appreciate your comment but what you say seen unlikely. Surely it would have been far simpler to first remove and destroy the satellite transmitter, then burn the body of the eagle! However, is it also possible that someone released removed the eagle from the trap thinking it was already dead, then possible the bird simply took wing flying off injured before it could be despatched?
Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations, commented: “It is disgraceful that this magnificent bird was subjected to such suffering
It’s disgraceful that any creature should be treated like this.
Seems to me all kinds of wildlife have to suffer for the sake of man’s obsession with guns.
I beg to differ editor, the eagle was transported from where it had been for over 15 hours by someone one trying to divert suspicion away from where it was trapped. Destroying the tag as you suggest, at the point where it was for 15 hours & hiding the bird would only make that location all the more suspicious.
Editor’s Comment, Thanks for this update Dave, and having now reviewed what the BBC News are saying on this subject we completely agree with you. We have now added a link at the bottom of the story we published to the news item published by the BBC which includes detail we had not been aware of. If you here any more detail please do get in touch.
Ed – From experience I would think it virtually impossible for any bird and esp a large one to fly with injuries like this eagle – apart from the way they react to medical shock.
Editor’s Comment, under normal circumstances Minny I would agree with you, however from personal experience it is possible. For example last year we were able to observe a partridge shoot taking place. A partridge was shot by a single blast, we witnessed to bird flying towards us for several hundred yards before landing only 50 yards away. The bird was found very much alive but with both legs shattered by the lead shot. I decided to put the bird out of its misery to save further suffering. Although in the case of the eagle, it now appears clear it was moved by human hands to the location where it was found.
Does anyone know the exact estate and location where the bird was presumed to have been caught in a trap in the first instance. Might be able to ask around and get some important info ???
Editor’s comment. We do not know the exact location but information doing the rounds says it may have been on the Millden Estate?
Millden estate,says it all…. don’t they have form for this kind of thing,an absolute bloody disgrace,has nobody been to scour the hillside overlooking glen esk,where all the last sat readings came from… I’m sure they would find something,if not a trap,bait,fur,eagle feathers???
Editor’s Comment Tony no one is sure it was the Milden estate where static signal originated. Going back to Glen Esk now looking for evidence would be a waste of time, unless it was something the police did in May?????
When ever you hear about criminal persecution it is always months after the event they make appeals and offer rewards. Giving the perpetrators plenty of time to {clean up the scene}so to speak. couldn’t an army of volunteers drawn from raptor groups, bird watching clubs ect {there would be no shortage I expect} be recruited a.s.a.p to the immediate locality and do a mass trespass and search as soon as an Eagles body,or any b.o.p for that matter has been found. It would definitely cause a stir and let them know {WHERE WATCHING YOU}. Considering the amount of publicity the tragic senseless killing a few years ago of Alma got {or the many illegally killed before her} it should have set a watershed but it seems sadly not. A law to prosecute any estate factors/landowners where poisoned golden eagles are found can’t come quick enough in my eyes.