Category: News

‘Barry’ the Langholm harrier is “missing”

Here’s the latest blog entry from the Langholm Moorland blogspot (link here):

Heartbreaking

The sun is shining here in Langholm, which is an incredibly rare and usually heart warming occurance, but today my heart is heavy. Sadly and all too predictably Barry (the young male hen harrier fledged from Langholm this year) has has gone the way of so many others.
Barry’s last fix was transmitted on the 2nd of October, although he was seen on the morning of 4th of October, when he was observed coming out of a roost by a raptor worker. His tag was due to transmit on the evening of the 4th, and his previous transmissions were always regular. There was no transmission then or subsequently. At this stage, we have to presume that he is dead, and it is very unlikely that there has been any transmitter failure. Most of his previous movements were associated with grouse moors. The police have been kept informed and the search for the carcass is underway and ongoing. 
We are still awaiting toxicology reports from the female Harrier Blae.
But don’t you go worrying your pretty little heads about this latest incident. There’s “no hard evidence” to suggest his ‘disappearance’ is a result of criminal activity, and anyway, the PAW Scotland partnership will have a chat about it over soft biscuits and coffee.
Fucking outrageous.
Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse’s email address: ministerforenvironment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
First Minister Alex Salmond’s email address: FirstMinister@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Previous blog entries about Blae & Barry here, here, here, here, here

Environment Minister’s response to dead eagle found in Grampian

Un-fucking-believable. Yes, it’s a swear word but that’s the least of our concerns. Read what follows and you’ll be swearing in anger too…

The Environment Minister has responded to a letter sent to him by one of our readers (Dave Adam) concerning the appalling death of that golden eagle back in May (see here for details of that bird’s demise). This is the eagle whose satellite transmitter showed the bird went down on a grouse moor in Glen Esk, Angus for 15 hours (an area where another golden eagle had previously been found poisoned in 2009, oh, and a buzzard was also found poisoned there in 2008 although that wasn’t publicised at the time) and then this eagle miraculously moved to a layby in Aberdeen, in the middle of the night, where it was found dead several days later with two broken legs – injuries consistent with being caught in a leg-hold trap. Yes, THAT eagle. According to the Minister, this scenario may not have been the result of criminal activity.

Dave Adam has posted the Minister’s response letter in the comments section of the original post (thank you) but it’s far too important for it to remain there, hence the decision to publish it here.

Here it is in full:

Thank you for your letter of the 25 September 2012 to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mr Paul Wheelhouse. I have been asked to respond.

I agree that the media reports were a terrible story of the suffering of a young golden eagle. The reports may suggest that the circumstances of this incident were suggestive of an offence however there is no hard evidence and it remains possible that there is an alternative explanation. It is therefore inappropriate for me to comment.

The unlawful killing of any raptors has no place in today’s Scotland and we will continue to work hard to eradicate this criminal activity. We believe that the partnership approach with the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland, is bringing the reduction in bird of prey poisoning that can be seen in the statistics in recent years. However we are not complacent and if there is evidence of a switch to other methods of persecution we will take action to bear down on those methods.

The Scottish Government recognises that game shooting generates significant income and employment in our rural economy, often in areas where there are few alternative opportunities. However it is important that these businesses operate within the law, and the Scottish Government recognises that most such businesses do so. However where there appear to be conflicts for example between raptors and highly-intensive grouse moor management, we believe that an approach of seeking to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement while working with partner organisations to isolate those persisting with illegal practices is the best way forward.

Scottish police have a clear focus on tackling wildlife crime cases. Law enforcement’s role in tackling wildlife crime was reviewed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland in 2008, and there was a follow-up review in 2009. As a result there are officers with wildlife crime duties in every police force area and a consistent and professional approach from senior officers.

It is frustrating that it is difficult to detect, prosecute and convict those responsible for wildlife crimes. However while it easy to make suppositions about circumstances of an apparent offence as reported in the media, wildlife crime must be subject to the same standard of proof as any other crime. Police and prosecutors also apply the same stringent procedure for dealing with wildlife crime as for any other sort of crime.

You say that the golden eagle population is threatened by illegal persecution. The Golden Eagle Conservation Framework published by SNH in 2008 did identify persecution in eastern Scotland and food shortages in the west as threats to the birds’ conservation status. It is difficult to estimate the amount of illegal persecution, but we recognise that in the longer term the best measure of success in dealing with raptor persecution will be when vacant golden eagle territories, as identified in the Framework document, are re-occupied.

K. Hunter, Policy Officer, Scottish Government.

Like we said at the top, un-fucking-believable. Especially coming a day after we learn that another golden eagle was the target of criminal activity on a grouse moor, this time being found shot and critically injured and left to die.

What did we say yesterday about needing a strong response from government, and not the usual platitudes about ‘partnership working’?

The question is, what are we going to do about it? And by ‘we’, that means all of us. Angry? You’d better believe it.

If you want to tell him how angry you are, and why (because it obviously needs spelling out) here’s his email address again: ministerforenvironment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

When you’ve done that, send a copy to Alex Salmond: FirstMinister@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

These politicians HAVE to understand that we’re not tolerating this any longer.

Golden eagle found shot & critically injured on Scottish grouse moor

A golden eagle has been found shot and critically injured on a Scottish grouse moor in Dumfries & Galloway. The bird suffered shotgun injuries and was discovered on the ground on Saturday (6th October). The eagle has been rescued and is receiving expert veterinary care at the SSPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Press releases from SSPCA here and RSPB here.

Information from local sources indicate that the bird was discovered on the Buccleuch Estate, very close to the boundary with Leadhills Estate, just to the north of Wanlockhead (see map below – our thanks to Andy Wightman [http://www.andywightman.com/] for his help defining the estate boundaries: Buccleuch pink, Leadhills grey). It is not known where the actual shooting took place. How far can an eagle fly with an injured wing and injured tail muscles? When it was found it reportedly had extensive feather damage, suggesting it had been stumbling around on the ground for some time. The SSPCA has said if it hadn’t been picked up on Saturday it’s quite likely it would have starved to death.

The area where the eagle was found is managed as a driven grouse moor, as is the land immediately on the other side of the estate’s border. It’s been reported that Leadhills Sporting Ltd leases land on Buccleuch Estate (see here) although the precise area leased is not known.

Whoever did it, whether they be a gamekeeper, a member of a grouse shooting party or someone from the Wanlockhead silk embroidery club, they will escape justice. That’s a certainty. Along with all the other people who have poisoned, trapped or shot the 26 other dead or ‘missing’ eagles over the last six years (see here) and these are just the ones we know about. Every time, there is outrage. Every time, there are denials from the gamebird shooting community. Every time, there are calls for government action. Every time, we’re fobbed off with platitudes about ‘partnership working’.

Every. Single. Time.

Is this bird going to be the one that finally galvinises a strong response from the Scottish Government? It’s been 20 years since the RSPB first started drawing attention to the criminal and unsustainable activities taking place on driven grouse moors. What’s changed in those 20 years? NOTHING. (Except we’re now much better informed about the extent of the issue….all those claims of “it’s just a rogue keeper” just don’t wash anymore; we know better now).

It’s encouraging to see that Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP has already made a statement (see SSPCA press release above). Now we need more from him and his government. The game-shooting community continues to show utter contempt for the wildlife laws, despite all the chances they’ve been given. Enough is enough. Estate licensing should now be on the cards. No more excuses, just get on with it. Those who don’t persecute raptors have nothing to fear. Please email Paul Wheelhouse and urge him to make a strong response: ministerforenvironment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

You might also want to mention to him how impressive the SSPCA response has been to this crime. Eagle found on Saturday, press release out on Tuesday. Mr Wheelhouse should soon be commissioning a consultation on increasing the SSPCA’s powers to investigate wildlife crime; let him know how effective the SSPCA are.

Langholm harrier update

On 25th September 2012, the blog (see here) showing us the satellite-tracked movements of this year’s Langholm hen harriers had this statement:

“As you will have noticed, it has been a week or so since I have posted any data from Blae, the young female from Langholm. Sadly Blae’s signal indicated that she had died south of Edinburgh about two weeks ago, her carcass was recovered and is undergoing a postmortem“.

So, when that statement was written, “about two weeks ago” would place this harrier’s death ‘about’ 11th September. Today is 8th October, so we’re coming up to ‘about’ a month since she died.

Today there’s a new statement on the Langholm harrier blog:

“No news yet on Blae’s postmortem results“.

How long does it take to do a simple postmortem on a single harrier carcass?! Even if it took, say, a week for the bird’s dead body to be recovered, the lab has had almost three weeks to conduct a procedure that shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours at most.

An article published in the Southern Reporter on Sunday (see here) includes a quote from Langholm Project Manager Graeme Dalby, who says:

“The timescale for results being released can vary from a couple of weeks to much longer depending on the lab’s workload“.

So either this lab is inundated with the carcasses of dead animals or not enough urgency is being afforded to this case. Or perhaps we are being unfair on the lab – perhaps they have already done the PM and released the results but the Langholm Project folk are not sharing them? We know there are quite a few things that the Langholm team are keeping quiet about…more on those in a later blog.

Meanwhile, Blae’s sibling, Barry, appears to be still alive, for now (see here).

Previous blogs on Blae here, here, here.

Court case updates

The ridiculously lengthy legal proceedings against Keith Liddell continue. First reported on this blog in July 2011 (here) and subsequently in February 2012 (here), May 2012 (here) and June 2012 (here), Liddell’s case will have another intermediary diet at Inverness Sheriff Court tomorrow (9th October). Liddell is accused of various offences including the alleged trading of raptor eggs.

Another lengthy case has also been continued at Inverness Sheriff Court. The so-called ‘hare-snare’ case, which began back in 2009 (!!) was heard at Inverness last Thursday and Friday. It is now set to continue on 16th November. Two gamekeepers from the Lochindorb Estate originally faced trial but now the charges are only being heard against one of them, David Taylor. Previous posts on this case here, here, here, here, here, here.

And the 3rd specialist wildlife fiscal is….

Remember a year ago we were blogging about the newly-appointed specialist wildlife fiscals at COPFS, brought in to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wildlife crime prosecutions in Scotland (see here)? We noted at the time that only two of the promised three positions had been filled, even though we’d heard there were several well-qualified fiscals who’d applied for the final slot.

Word has it that the third position has now been filled. Guess who? Former COPFS lead on wildlife crime, Tom Dysart. Mr Dysart supposedly ‘retired’ earlier this spring, but now, if the rumours are true, he’s back.

Whether you think this latest appointment (if reports are accurate) is a good thing depends very much on how you viewed Dysart’s previous performance at COPFS. Although it’s worth noting that there is now a new head of the COPFS Wildlife & Environment Unit – a Mr Craig Harris, who presumably Mr Dysart will be reporting to. We’ll be watching with interest.

RSPB 2011 Birdcrime Report published

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

Photo: a poisoned golden eagle on a Scottish grouse moor

Thanks to the contributor who sent in these images. This dead eagle was found on a Scottish grouse moor in 2010. Tests showed it had been poisoned with a banned pesticide. Nobody has been charged.

It seems that unless the poisoner is actually seen placing the bait AND unless the eagle is actually seen eating from that bait (how unlikely is that?!) a prosecution will not be forthcoming. We know from experience that even with filmed evidence of illegal activities a prosecution is not guaranteed. This ludicrous situation sends a clear message to the poisoners: carry on, you are immune from prosecution.

Where’s the promised gov consultation on increasing SSPCA powers?

In light of recent events, showing continued evidence that some Scottish police forces are incapable of taking wildlife crime seriously, even though raptor persecution has been identified as a ‘national wildlife crime priority’, the time is right to once again call for additional investigative powers to be given to the SSPCA.

You may remember we’ve blogged about this before (see here and here for detailed background information), after the former Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP promised a consultation “in the first half of 2012” to consider this option and ask for the views of the various stakeholder groups. Although we already know that the SGA doesn’t support it (see here). It’s now the second half of 2012, so where is this consultation?

Perhaps we should give the new Environment Minister a nudge in the right direction, or at least ask him when we can expect this consultation to open. Email Paul Wheelhouse MSP directly at: ministerforenvironment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Photo: a Scottish gamekeeper’s illegal gin trap

Thanks to the contributor who sent in this photo and the following information:

“Given the appalling news story about a golden eagle found with injuries from a leg-hold trap…here’s my photo of a freshly used gin trap and stake seized by the police and RSPB from a keeper in 2003. One of a bagful.

To my certain knowledge these traps, outlawed finally in Scotland in 1974 (20 years after England…seems it was ok to torture foxes legally up to that point), have been used (and are probably still being used) under a bait to trap golden eagles, wild cats and foxes..

The most likely trap to have been involved in the recent golden eagle case. Eagles are strong enough to rip one of these up and fly or hobble away…if stake isn’t well tied down. They can snap bailer twine (the usual attachment for Fenn/Springer pole traps) like it was thread”.