Another red kite has now been confirmed poisoned in Scotland, this time in Strathtay, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire. Although the bird was found dead towards the letter end of July, toxicology results undertaken by SASA have only recently confirmed poisoning to have been the cause. Tayside police are now appealing for any information to bring those responsible to justice.
Continue reading Raptor Poisoning – too much talk and not enough action by UK Governments!
Before reading this article Raptor Politics consider it appropriate to issue the following important statement: The inappropriate use of rodenticides (containing anticoagulants) are the greatest potential threat to raptor species in the UK at the present time. A Species at particular risk, as highlighted below by recent events in Scotland, is the Red Kite because of the kite’s dependency to feed on carrion. Other raptors at risk are Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and of course Hen Harrier. It is more appropriate we feel to make a separate reference to two of Britain’s most important vermin control species, the Barn Owl and Polecat, which would undoubtedly be placed at a higher risk by the indiscriminate and irresponsible use of rodenticides within the farming community.
In the wrong hands these highly toxic and dangerous substances, which can be purchased over the counter and retained in large quantities without a licence by the public, could theoretically be used to wipe out total raptor populations in our country. This year so far 10 Red Kite chicks have been recovered dead from a minimum of 4 nests on Scotland’s Black Isle, all displaying typical symptoms of rodenticides poisoning. These figures are of particular concern to Scottish conservationists like Brian Etheridge as they represent 10% of the 39 successful nests found this year and the 88 young that reached tagging age of 5 weeks on the Black Isle this year. Of course the losses could be higher if any adult kites from the four nests have also been poisoned.
Continue reading Ten Scottish Red kite chicks fall victim to 2nd generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides!
It’s the big attraction for birders, but the eagle Owl could be made officially unwelcome in the UK.
The latest update regarding the possible fate of Eagle Owls resident in the UK has been published in the September edition of BBC Wildlife Magazine. We enclose a summary to allow each of our readers to judge for themselves the consequences of what may or may not happen following the publication of the ongoing Defra review, the results of which are due later this year.
Continue reading Defra – Will a cull of UK Eagle Owls be approved?
In 2009 a white-tailed eagle, two golden eagles, four red kites, and 21 buzzards were confirmed by the Scottish Government as being victims of illegal poisoning. Baits laced with highly toxic and illegal poisons continued to be deliberately laid out in the open in Scotland’s countryside. A red kite was shot and a further four buzzards were confirmed as shot or trapped. Peregrines and hen harriers nesting on driven grouse moors again “disappeared” in circumstances that suggested deliberate human interference.
Continue reading The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2009
Both countries are experiencing dramatic increases in reported cases of birds of prey being poisoned. The Scottish and Irish governments have now agreed to a partnership to work together to tackle the illegal poisoning of golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and other birds of prey. Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has written to her Irish counterpart, asking for talks on the “unacceptable problem”. Ms Cunningham wants to look at possible joint initiatives.
Continue reading Raptor Poisoning – Irish partnership to help Scotland’s birds of prey
No – don’t be silly – not the Lancashire Police. This piece of breaking news comes from a pheasant shoot outside of Hereford, which, our sources say, local police have been watching for around twelve months. They swooped on the tenant renting the shoot and charged him with poisoning raptors and, as an added bonus, growing [...]
Like John Armitage I am an ex RSPB staff member. More to the point I was directly involved with Hen Harriers 20 years ago at Geltsdale, Cumbria when my birds were massacred. Twenty years on there are no breeding Hen Harriers at Geltsdale due to the ‘management’ of Hen Harriers on neighbouring estates. The government could solve the problem in 2 easy steps.
Continue reading Failure to deliver – Natural England’s Hen Harrier Project
This year looks like being one of the worst on record for crimes against peregrines.
The RSPB has been flooded with reports of birds being poisoned, trapped and shot and or their chicks being taken from the nest.
Reported incidents already number more than 50 for the year, with more waiting to be processed. There were 79 incidents reported for the whole of 2007.
As a result, the RSPB is urging the Government to add peregrines to its list of priority species for wildlife crime enforcement.
Among the incidents reported to the RSPB this year are:
Shooting: A dead peregrine was found peppered with shot in the Forest of Dean. An x-ray revealed the bird, a seven-year-old female, had been blasted at close range with a shotgun.
Continue reading RSPB Press Release 1 July: Peregrines in 2009 – Shot, Poisoned and Trapped
It is very distressing once again to report that a family of Peregrine falcons have been found dead in their quarry nesting site. The police have now launched a full investiagtion and suspect that the adult peregrine falcon and her three young chicks were poisoned at their nesting site in Houghton Quarry, near Sunderland on or [...]
Two more pigeons have been found staked out at the same location as detailed in our article of May 13th 09. The first pigeon was found by a passer-by and released. Then two days later, another pigeon was found, again at the same location, staked out. Now it’s got full police attention, and this time they are investigating the matter in a forceful manner.
You can read the press release at the BBC. Continue reading Attempt to Poison a Nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons – update 06.06.09
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