Author: RaptorPersecutionUK

Golden eagle & buzzards illegally killed in 1991

According to the Hansard Report April 2004 (Hansard is the edited verbatim report of proceedings in UK parliament), the following illegal raptor persecution incidents were recorded in 1991:

Seafield Estate (Speyside) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Rosehaugh Estate (Black Isle, Ross-shire) – multiple buzzards killed by Mevinphos.

Dougarie Estate (Isle of Arran) – 1 x golden eagle killed by Chloralose.

This report was published in the days when the government publicised the names of the Estates where illegal raptor persecution incidents had been recorded. Shame they don’t do that anymore – you have to wonder why? The Hansard report documenting these and other persecution incidents, can be read here: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1994/apr/28/bird-killing

Hen harriers, golden eagles & buzzards illegally killed in 1990

According to the Hansard Report April 2004 (Hansard is the edited verbatim report of proceedings in UK parliament), the following illegal raptor persecution incidents were recorded in 1990:

Cromlix Estate (nr Dunblane, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard + 1 x hen harrier killed by Chloralose.

Rosehaugh Estate (Black Isle, Ross-shire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Ledmore Estate (Lairg, Sutherland) – 1 x golden eagle + 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Hopetoun Estate (Abington, South Lanarkshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Glenfernate Estate (Blairgowrie, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Grimerston Estate (Isle of Lewis) – 1 x golden eagle killed by Chloralose.

This report was published in the days when the government publicised the names of the Estates where illegal raptor persecution incidents had been recorded. Shame they don’t do that anymore – you have to wonder why? The Hansard report documenting these and other persecution incidents, can be read here: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1994/apr/28/bird-killing

poisoned red kite returned to wild

golden eagles, peregrines & buzzards illegally killed in 1989

According to the Hansard Report April 2004 (Hansard is the edited verbatim report of proceedings in UK parliament), the following illegal raptor persecution incidents were recorded in 1989:

Roxburghe Estate (nr Kelso, Scottish Borders) – 1 x buzzard killed by Mevinphos.

Carbeth Estate (Stirlingshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

Langholm Estate (Dumfries & Galloway) – 1 x peregrine killed by Mevinphos.

Drumochter Estate (Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire) – 1 x golden eagle killed by Chloralose.

Islay Estate (Strathclyde) – 1 x buzzard killed by Mevinphos.

Islay Estate (Strathclyde) – 1 x peregrine shot.

Monzie Estate (Crieff, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.

This report was published in the days when the government publicised the names of the Estates where illegal raptor persecution incidents had been recorded. Shame they don’t do that anymore – you have to wonder why? The Hansard report documenting these and other persecution incidents, can be read here: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1994/apr/28/registers-of-scotland

Guess what? Not much has changed over the last 30 years!

Raptor persecution in the Monadhliath Hills, reported in 1993

It’s interesting to look back over the decades to see how our enforcement agencies have been addressing the issue of raptor persecution in Scotland. A rudimentary search on Google will reveal endless statements of intent from a succession of Ministers determined to “stamp out” wildlife crime. Well guess what? Not much has changed over the last 30 years! Yes, yes, they may have established ‘partnerships’ with the very bodies whose members are behind some of the crimes, and they may have written attractive little soundbites about how disgusted they are every time the body of yet another poisoned eagle/kite/buzzard/harrier/peregrine etc has been found. But what progress has been made on stopping the actual killings? You only have to read the pages of this blog to see that the killing continues.

Here is a map taken from an article that was published in the Scotsman newspaper on March 11 1993. It portrays a series of raptor persecution incidents in the Monadhliath Hills, south of Inverness, as recorded by the RSPB over several years. The article explains that the Monadhliath Hills is prime habitat for golden eagles, hen harriers etc. And now here we are 17 years later, do you think that the area now holds many breeding pairs of eagles and harriers? You can probably guess the answer to that.

So come on Scottish Ministers, it’s time to stop talking about it and take some action!

Gamekeeper sentenced for poisoning buzzard at Frogden Farm, Kelso

14 December 2006.

Dead buzzard

A gamekeeper who laced a carcass with poison which killed a wild buzzard has been given 100 hours community service by Sheriff Kevin Drummond. Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard how the 62-year old keeper set a poisoned bait at Frogden Farm, Kelso, where he looked after a pheasant shoot.

The first-time offender, who reportedly lives in one of the farm cottages, also admitted possession of three dangerous pesticides, which he claimed he had inherited from his predecessor. Sheriff Drummond said the keeper was an experienced gamekeeper who had closed his eyes to environmental issues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6180203.stm

police probe red kite poisoning in Cairngorm National Park

Police are investigating the suspected poisoning of one of the UK’s rarest birds of prey. The red kite, which had been radio tagged by RSPB Scotland, was found near Tomintoul, Moray in May 2007. A post mortem examination found it had died from ingesting the highly toxic and illegal substance Carbofuran. Grampian Police said it strongly suspected that the red kite had eaten bait laced with the chemical and intended to kill birds of prey.

The dead bird, which had originally come from the Black Isle, was found in dense woodland in the Cairngorm National Park in May. It is believed its corpse had been lying dead at the site since April.

Carbofuran had previously been licensed for use as a root crop insecticide in the vegetable growing industry but its use and even it’s possession is now a crime in the UK

Full story. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6755775.stm

poisoned red kite

Sheriff tells wildlife crime investigator to “get a life”

Sheriff Kevin Drummond, who has presided over many wildlife crime cases in the Scottish Borders, has told a wildlife crime investigator to “Get a life”. His outburst came at the 2010 Police Wildlife Crime Conference last month, when a suggestion was made that sentencing for wildlife crime was too lenient.

Before becoming a Sheriff, Drummond worked as a defence QC for, amongst others, the Scottish Gamekeepers Assoc.

Sheriff Drummond is chairman of the Scottish government’s Partnership for Wildlife Crime (PAW) Legislation, Regulation and Guidance sub-group. Last year, the Scottish government claimed that wildlife crime was a priority issue and that it was working closely with PAW to address the problem. It seems Sheriff Drummond didn’t get the memo.

Calls are now being made for him to step down from his position on the PAW Committee, but Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham insists he’s staying put.

For the full story: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/outrage-as-wildlife-sheriff-tells-police-officer-to-get-a-life-1.1011661

Eighth red kite to die in scotland from poisoning in 2001

A red kite released in the summer of 2001 as part of a programme to reintroduce the species to Britain was found poisoned later the same year. The rare bird of prey was found in the Balmagie area, north of Castle Douglas in Dumfries & Galloway, and was the 8th red kite to be poisoned in Scotland during 2001. The bird was one of 33 radio-tagged kites released this summer in Dumfries & Galloway. It is the fifth bird of prey that has been found poisoned in the area after the bodies of two buzzards, a tawny owl and a sparrowhawk were found.

Also in 2001, a red kite was found poisoned in the Borders, and six red kites were found poisoned on or near shotting estates in Perthshire, Stirlingshire and Inverness-shire.

Red kites were persecuted to extinction north and south of the border and were reintroduced into Scotland in the late 1980s. In 2001, there were around 40 breeding pairs.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1360351/Eighth-red-kite-dies-in-Scotland-from-poisoning.html

poisoned buzzard and red kite found, cromdale, strathspey.

Two birds of prey found dead on a shooting estate were killed by poison, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The RSPB says tests on a rare red kite and a buzzard revealed that they were killed illegally by the pesticide carbofuran.

The red kite had been tagged as a chick and was being tracked.

It was found in remote woodland near Cromdale in Strathspey by RSPB staff. They say no charges will be brought.

Carbofuran is a powerful insecticide which was once used to protect crops and is dangerous to any living creature. It is now totally illegal to use or store carbofuran in the UK .