Northern Constabulary have launched an investigation after an osprey has died from what the police are calling ‘deliberately-inflicted injuries’. The osprey was rescued from close to the River Dunbeath in Caithness on Monday. It received veterinary attention but died from its injuries.
BBC news story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11310240
Northern Constabulary appeal for information: http://www.northern.police.uk/News-and-Media/news-item.htm?item_id=PR2614_2010
UPDATE 18 Sept: It has now been confirmed this osprey had been shot: https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/osprey-that-died-in-caithness-had-been-shot/
Raptor Persecution UK 
A personal response, having followed all the Osprey programmes as usual this summer – Loch of the Lowes, Dunkeld, Loch Garten and the Borders as well as those in England at Rutland and Bassenthwaite.
This is shocking and disgraceful. The days, nights, weeks, and months of dedicated work invested by Staff and Volunteers in supporting these majestic and wonderful Birds show how much we want and need them in our landscape and enriching our lives. For someone to harm such a creature to the point of death beggars belief.
It’s time however, that the investigative teams take a determined stance and stamp out such behaviour. The public can also do a great deal by keeping watch- the more folk who care about and watch out for these beautiful birds, the safer they can be.
The amount of deliberate killing and poisoning of birds of prey on Scottish shooting estates is at an all time high and is increasing. The Scottish Natural Heritage, the RSPB and the police seem loathe or unwilling to use the full weight of the law to bring the landowners of these so-called sporting estates to trial, I wonder why, but then again I don’t really!!! Even when an employee of these estates, (usually a gamekeeper fall guy) is caught and put before the sheriff it is more than likely he will get off with a caution or a paltry fine, whilst his employer who is the real criminal gets off scot free.
A large part of Scotlands economy depends on the tourist industry, a large majority of the tourists who come to Scotland do so to see the varied and unique wildlife. The birds of prey are main attractions for many of these tourists, the Scottish film stars if you like, unfortunately the estate owners don’t see it like that, they only see what’s in it for them, how many more guns can they attract to their shoots. They think they can only do this if the have more Grouse, Pheasants, Partridges etc, they see the birds of prey as enemies preventing them from increasing the amount of game birds for the guns. So, because they think they are above the law, they tell their keepers to eradicate the birds of prey by any means necessary, this usually means poisoning with illegal substances, trapping, shooting. They don’t care that these birds are extremely rare and are legally protected species with Schedule One protection status, they know that the chances of them being caught at their criminal acts are extremely remote, and does it matter if they are caught anyway, they will either be let off or given a derisory fine, which in all probability will be paid by their employer.
Something needs to be done about this shamefull state of affairs that is ruining Scotlands natural heritage, but how will this happen if the laws that are there to prevent these things happening are not upheld by the people we put in power to make sure they are. The Police and Sheriffs need to start doing what they are paid to do and that is uphold our laws, just because the majority of the estates are owned by peers of the realm and others of so-called high status doesn’t mean they are above the law, in fact they should be setting an example to the rest of society by making sure our protected species are protected and our wildlife laws upheld.
nirofo.
nirofo is to completely right except in one instance under wildlife legislation in both Scotland and England an employer is not responsible for any criminal act carried out by an employee. Thus it is not RSPB, SNH etc that are to blame for the non-prosecution of landowners it is a serious flaw in the legislation, I cannot understand why conservation bodies and all concerned citizens are not presssing their appropriate representatives and parliaments to quickly rectify. A member of the aristocracy or rich landowner found guilty of such an offence will send shock waves through their peers and may just be the tonic we need to help end these scandalous acts of vandalism.