After a quick glance through the pages of this blog, readers may be forgiven for thinking that raptor persecution is rife on every single shooting estate in Scotland. Yes, it’s true that illegal raptor persecution in Scotland is widespread, as our ‘Named Estates’ page will testify; currently 57 shooting estates are named, and more are still to be named. However, as we mentioned on the introduction page, it is unfair to tarnish every estate and gamekeeper as wildlife criminals as some are actively involved in raptor conservation initiatives. For example, a joint initiative between Scottish Natural Heritage, Tayside Raptor Study Group, Tayside police, RSPB and eight shooting estates has been underway in Perthshire for several years. The Operation Countrywatch Partnership launched in 2004 (formerly known as Operation Countrywatch that launched in 2000) and provides a framework for supporting healthy populations of three key species in a 70,000 ha area: golden eagle, hen harrier and peregrine. Currently, eight shooting estates are partners in this innovative scheme and we applaud their contribution: Ardtalnaig Estate Atholl Estate Drummond Estate Fordie Estates Glenbeich Estate Glenturret Estate Invergeldie Estate Remony Estate
Author: RaptorPersecutionUK
2 sea eagles poisoned in ireland
BBC News 21st Feb. 2008 An attempt to reintroduce one of the world’s largest birds of prey into Ireland has suffered a setback. 
Fifteen white-tailed eagles were brought from Norway to the Killarney National Park in Kerry last June.
Two were found dead on Monday. Toxicology tests for poison are being carried out on them. (see footnote)
One bird was found beside a dead sheep, which is also being analysed. The National Parks and Wildlife Service in Kerry is investigating the matter.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7256420.stm
A few days later the two white-tailed sea eagles were confirmed as having been poisoned.
Inquiry after red kite shot
August 2007. One of the 30 red kite chicks sent to Ireland in a project to reintroduce the species there has been found shot dead.
The kite was among a batch taken from Powys to the mountains of County Wicklow six weeks ago.
Police in Ireland are investigating after it was found with seven shotgun pellets .Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust in Rhayader, who worked on the scheme, said the shooting was a setback but did not “invalidate” the plan.
Full story. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/6972121.stm
osprey, golden eagle & buzzards illegally killed in 1993
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 1993:
Lothian Estate (nr Jedburgh, Scottish Borders) – 1 x osprey shot.
Aberarder Estate (Strathnairn, Inverness-shire) – 1 x golden eagle killed by Carbofuran.
Gledfield Estate (nr Ardgay, Sutherland) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
South Balkeith Farm (Tain, Ross-shire) – multiple buzzards killed by Carbofuran.
Glenberg Estate (Speyside) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Ralia Estate (by Newtonmore, Inverness-shire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Woodall Estate (Airdrie, North Lanarkshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Carruth Estate (Strathclyde) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Farleyer Estate (Aberfeldy, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Carbofuran.
Loansfold & Blindswell Farms (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/bird-killing
sea eagle shot on lough neagh
Oct 2009. A white-tailed sea eagle which was found dead in Lough Neagh, County Antrim, is suspected to have been shot.
The bird, a protected species, was released into Killarney National Park in Co Kerry as part of a reintroduction programme which began two years ago.
Dr Allan Mee, who is in charge of the project, said there were two pellet holes in the animal’s transmitter.
The transmitter was retrieved from the eagle by two canoeists, who were in the Lady’s Bay area, on 17 October.
Dr Marc Ruddock of the NIRSG, who coordinated searches for the bird, said: “The resources, time and enthusiasm that go into the re-introduction program is phenomenal, the loss of even one of the white-tailed eagles is devastating.”
Full story. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8368178.stm
hen harrier & buzzards illegally killed in 1992
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 1992:
Dalswinton Estate (Dumfries, Dumfriesshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Invercauld Estate (nr Braemar, Aberdeenshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Dochfour Estate (Inverness-shire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Cawdor Estate (Nairn, Inverness-shire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Strychnine.
Balival Estate (nr Kingussie, Inverness-shire) – 1 x hen harrier killed by Strychnine.
Careston Estate (Brechin, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Over Cardney Estate (Dunkeld, Perthshire) – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Glenbeich &Ardveich Farms (Lochearnhead, Perthshire – 1 x buzzard killed by Chloralose.
Straloch Farm (Blairgowrie, 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/bird-killing
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
18/06/2009 A red kite found partially poisoned in Angus has been returned to the wild after being nursed back to health. The young female kite was dazed and exhausted when discovered at Tannadice earlier this month. She was taken to the Scottish SPCA’s Middlebank Wildlife Rescue Centre near Dunfermline where staff feared she had been poisoned.
Tests carried out by the Scottish Government’s Science and Advice for Scotland Agriculture Laboratory confirmed the year-old bird had consumed the banned pesticide alphachloralose.
A tag on the bird’s wing showed she had hatched in Inverness-shire in 2008 and spent the autumn on the Black Isle in Ross-shire before moving to Perthshire for the winter. She has now been fitted with a radio transmitter so her future movements can be followed.
The bird was set free by rangers from the Argaty red kite feeding station, near Doune, in Stirlingshire.
RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations Bob Elliot said she had only survived due to recent good weather. He said: “Alphachloralose tends to bring on hypothermia in its victims. This bird is very lucky that it was found during the warmest week of the year so far, otherwise it would have died.“It’s despicable that yet again some of our most magnificent wildlife continues to be indiscriminately poisoned by criminals who have no regard for our natural heritage or the law.”
No arrests have been made for the poisoning offence.
Read more: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1267151#ixzz0hd4Mqou6
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
