From BBC News (5/4/18):
Police investigating the death of a protected bird of prey have said it may have been poisoned.
The body of the red kite was found by a member of the public in the Durham Hill Lane area of Kirkpatrick Durham in Castle Douglas on 20 January.
An investigation has been launched and officers involved in it have appealed for information.
[Red kite photo from Scottish Raptor Study Group website]
PC Alan Steel, a specialist wildlife crime officer, said the illegal use of poison can be deadly for wild birds.
He said: “Due to the inherent scavenging nature of red kites, they are particularly vulnerable to the illegal use of poisonous bait.
Red kites are legally protected and Police Scotland works closely with partner agencies, including the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”
RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations said illegal poison use can also harm pets and people.
“Numbers of detected cases of illegal poisoning of our birds of prey have, thankfully, been very low in recent years, so this case is of serious concern,” Ian Thomson added.
The Galloway Red Kite trail, just a few miles from where this bird was killed, is a popular tourist attraction and of great benefit to the local economy.”
ENDS
It’s a bit of a strange article, presumably based on a police press release, although we couldn’t find anything on the Police Scotland website.
It’s strange in that it says the kite “may” have been poisoned. Surely, if it was picked up on 20 January, two and half months ago, the toxicology tests will have been done and the results known?
And if poisoning was suspected, why has it taken two and a half months for this news to come out?U
UPDATE 6 April 2018: Red kite now confirmed poisoned (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
I live locally and, on this occasion would recommend caution in rushing to conclusions. If I led the investigation, I would be interested in the toxicology report hopefully eliminating a poison emanating from vermin control sources. Recycling centres use such measures and are required to regularly check their vulnerability to secondary effects. I live a short distance from the nearest centre and we have DAILY visits from red kites. I hope I’m wrong in all this, but it COULD explain the prolonged pause in describing the outcomes.
Fishy?
Red Herring maybe??
The Kites make such an important contribution to the local economy, the rural community will be furious.
We keep saying “not again” and what are the government and other authorities doing about it sweet FA. Time for a completely new change to the law and above all enforcement.
driving back home away from Bristol and coming back into countryside I felt so sad to see only crows in the sky. to see a Buzzard is quite rare now. the kestrel I was watching seem s to have gone and the red kite a few months back was only around for a few months. How are we ever going to stop every tom dick and harry with a licence to own a gun shooting our wildlife? HOW? This horrible mentality whether bumkin or toff needs their guns taken away from them. as I mentioned before. woodland being sold off to those with no integrity or respect for wildlife. they put up shooting platform and change people to shoot.