The RSPB has published its annual report ‘Birdcrime’, detailing offences against wild bird legislation throughout the UK in 2011.
We’ll comment on the report once we’ve had time to read and digest.
The report can be downloaded here
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Raptor Persecution UK 
in summary… the tip of an iceberg big enough to sink any boat, maybe the RSPB should drop the “Royal” then they may be able to grow some balls and stand up to the shooting estates.
Makes for grim reading, proves just how much low life operates on these estates. That ring of known wildlife crime south of Inverness and the ring round the eastern Cairngorms is very telling!
I am a member of the RSPB, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Wildlife Trust; the main land conservation for wildlife charities, and they all do a splendid job within the parameters of their respective remits. In addition, I am also a member of the Badger Trusts (Scotland and England), Buglife, Bat Conservation, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, WWF, and various smaller groups. This all adds up to a powerful complex of concern for the survival of our natural environment and the life forms found thereon.
One thing is missing, and that is a Forum with clout, that would monitor the effectiveness of what laws we have to protect endangered species, and to seek out those in the Scottish political scene, the civil service, councils and anywhere else that has the possibility of persons being placed in strategic positions to ensure that animal welfare and conservation of species, is given a low profile. I would have thought that with all the “nationalism” and “independence” fervour from certain quarters, that there would have emerged a vibrant policy for making sure that Scotland would become a model for small countries wishing to restore their natural environments. What we have got, is a block on progress in really sorting out the matter of individuals or syndicates be able to buy land or lease it, and do what they please upon it. It is obvious that a movement has to arise to correct this anomaly and anachronism existing in our countryside. In short, owning land would be conditional on the behaviour of those who own or lease it. Failure to obey the law with regard to raptors and other species, would lead to the loss of that ownership and the State take it over.
I remember visiting Aviemore many years ago, and I went into a museum nearby and saw a photograph of Victorian shooters with every species of raptor and mammal then existing in Scotland in reasonable numbers. A similar mob still can do as it pleases, knowing that they have a good chance of getting away with wildlife crime. We either take on those in politics and the law and confront them for their lack of effectiveness, or just abandon the scene and let them wipe out every single species that is causing their paranoia about the threat to their grouse shooting. The scene is one of frustration and anger by the conservationists, and the jubilance of the shooters that their “connections” will make sure they get off lightly. In short, protection of species should become symbolic of changing the whole way Scotland’s land has been managed, and a more democratic ownership along with a better us of the land, installed. Too many areas of backwardness exist.