Category: Persecution Incidents in Irish Republic

Further incitement to persecute the hen harrier in Ireland

Following on from the controversy in July when an Irish council leader in Limerick called for ‘open season’ on hen harriers (see here), another group in Ireland, this time in Galway, is now encouraging illegal activity against this protected species.

The following piece was published yesterday on the Barroughter & Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group’s Facebook page:

BAG HH FB

This particular group of Irish peat cutters is very familiar with controversy – see here.

It’s unclear why this group detests the hen harrier – it’s not as though there is the usual perceived conflict between the hen harrier and game-shooting interests – although perhaps their last sentence reveals the root cause of their issue, not dissimilar to Councillor Sheahan’s arguments back in July.

UPDATE 11pm: The peat cutters’ Facebook page (where the above article was posted) has been virtually under seige today by many many people posting comments in condemnation of hen harrier persecution. The volume and strength of feeling has resulted in the peat cutters removing their original post. Great to see so many people respond – there is hope!

Also today, The National Trust for Ireland issued a strong statement condemning the peat cutters’ position on hen harriers  (see here).

Cllr John Sheahan in radio interview

Limerick Council leader John Sheahan was interviewed on the radio last Friday (2nd August) about his comments calling for ‘open season’ on the hen harrier (see here, here and here for background).

The interview took place on RTE Radio’s ‘Mooney Goes Wild’ programme. The first half of the programme is devoted to an interview with Dr Allan Mee of the Golden Eagle Trust, discussing the recent successful fledging of the Mountshannon white-tailed eagle chicks. Sheahan is interviewed in the second half of the programme, along with Allan Mee, who challenges Sheahan’s comments.

You can listen to the podcast here (in the section dated Friday 2nd August).

3 peregrines shot: 2 dead, 1 severely injured

Three peregrines have been found shot in South Tipperary, Ireland over the last few weeks.

The first, a breeding female, was found shot dead under her church ruin nest site in mid-June.

The second, an adult male, was found injured a few days later near to another nest site close by. This bird is being treated at a rehabilitation centre but it is feared it will not recover well enough to be released.

The third, a breeding male, was found shot dead in July at the nest site where the adult female had been shot dead.

Full details on the BirdWatch Ireland website here.

The photograph shows the adult female found shot dead in June. Photo by Kevin Collins.

Dead_female_Peregrine_Falcon_(Kevin_Collins)_500

Ireland publishes its first persecution report, with interesting results

94f6f996ec3a866ce6d587d28bd5b809_LThe Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has published its first national raptor persecution report, relating to reported incidents in 2011.

The NPWS issued the following press release:

“33 poisoning or persecution incidents affecting birds of prey were recorded in Ireland in 2011, according to a report published today by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 

15 birds of prey were confirmed poisoned, and four more suspected cases were recorded. 8 birds of prey were shot.

Some of the deaths were accidental, but many were deliberate. The most frequent casualty was the red kite, a native species that was recently re-introduced to Ireland. It is believed that seven of the ten kites found dead were poisoned by eating rats that had themselves been poisoned. As well as red kite, other raptor species that were deliberately targeted included peregrine falcon, buzzard, sparrowhawk, and kestrel.

The report is the result of cooperation between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine’s Regional Veterinary Laboratories and the State Laboratory, and also involves An Garda Síochána, the Golden Eagle Trust and BirdWatch Ireland. 

The report notes that the use of tracking devices on birds has enabled dead birds to be found, but this also means that the true levels of mortality are likely to be significantly higher.

The use of poison has been greatly restricted under EU law in recent years. It is illegal to poison any animal or birds other than rats, mice or rabbits in Ireland and only then using certain registered products. The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use has recently been set up with funding from industry. This campaign aims to promote best practice so that rat poison in particular should not get into the wildlife food chain where it harms owls, kites and other birds of prey.

The poisoning of golden and white-tailed sea eagles has been a particular problem in recent years, but fortunately in 2011, no poisonings were recorded. Records of poisoning and persecution in 2012 are currently being analysed and the second annual report is due for release shortly.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., welcomed the report. ”This gives us at least a partial view of the scale of the problem in Ireland”, he said. ”It is simply not acceptable for majestic birds of prey and other wildlife to be persecuted or poisoned. First it is illegal, but just as important it harms our reputation as a clean, green country. I would urge anyone to report such incidents to the National Parks and Wildlife Service in my Department. There are alternatives to poison which can be successfully used when control is essential ” he said.”

Here is a copy of the report: Persecution Report Ireland 2011

The publication of this report, and the anticipated future annual reports, demonstrates a basic but very important step forward, allowing the authorities and NGOs to monitor and record raptor persecution incidents in a coordinated effort, to help tackle the issue as well as to improve public awareness and education.

The report includes the usual list of victims and the substances that were used to kill them (Alphachloralose, Carbofuran etc) although we did notice one particular substance that was less familiar – Nitroxynil (also called Nitroxinil). As far as we understand, Nitroxynil is an active ingredient in the veterinary treatment of cattle and sheep, for example in sheep dips. According to this report, Nitroxynil  was detected in the carcases of three poisoned white-tailed eagles and one golden eagle, as well as in several recovered baits, including an egg and two lagomorphs (rabbit or hare).

It would appear, given that it was detected in different baits, that Nitroxynil has been used deliberately in Ireland to target any animal that might scavenge from a bait. It’s also possible that some of the deaths were from accidental poisoning, although fallen stock should not be left out on the hill.

We’re not certain, but we don’t recall seeing Nitroxynil listed in any recent toxicology reports published in Scotland by SASA. We don’t know if SASA tests for this substance when they’re presented with a potentially poisoned animal – it would be fair to say that SASA can’t test for every known poison due to resource constraints, and it’s reasonable for them just to test for the more commonly-used poisons. However, we have noticed in recent SASA reports that there are quite a number of birds for which SASA have been unable to establish the cause of death (i.e. the poisons they regularly screen for have not been detected) even though the circumstances of the bird’s death may have been suspicious. If SASA are not already testing for Nitroxynil, we hope that they pay attention to the frequency of detection in Irish cases and consider including it in the list of poisons for which they routinely screen.

Well done to the Irish NPWS and their project partners for getting this report published.

In Scotland we’re still waiting for the promised 2012 wildlife crime report from the Scottish Government. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse told the Police Wildlife Crime Conference in March 2013 that his staff were working on the report. Earlier this month, we asked him if he could tell us when we might expect to see it published (see here). According to our calendar (he has to respond within 20 working days), Mr Wheelhouse is due to provide a response to that question, and the other questions we posed, by this coming Wednesday…..

UPDATE 29th July: SASA are on the ball – they’ve recently started to test for Nitroxynil – see here.

Cllr Sheahan unrepentant according to Sunday Times article

Continuing the story about Limerick Council leader John Sheahan’s call for an ‘open season’ on hen harriers (see here, here and here), the following article has appeared in today’s Sunday Times (thank you to the contributor who sent us the copy). 

Open Season Sunday Times 28072013[1]a

Here is a transcript:

Conservation groups in Ireland and Britain have called for a councillor’s resignation after he asked for open season to be declared on hen harriers, a rare bird of prey.

John Sheahan, the newly elected cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, made the remark in an interview with the Limerick Leader newspaper where he was commenting on the restrictions placed on landowners in Special Protection Areas (SPA).

He said the October budget should be the deadline for the government to address this issue “and if nothing happens by then ‘open season’ should be declared on the hen harrier”.

Following the remarks, Jimmy Deenihan, the minister for arts and heritage, wrote a letter to the councillor, which he received on Friday. Deenihan said Sheahan’s “comments in the media recently were extremely unfortunate as they may be construed as an incitement for people to break the law and harm these birds”.

The hen harrier is one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey. The letter declares that anyone who harms these birds or deliberately destroys their breeding or nesting habitats will be liable to prosecution. The minister continued that it would be “useful” if Sheahan could publicly clarify that he did not condone any such activity.

The councillor told The Sunday Times that he owns SPA land near Glin in Co Limerick. He said that this issue was a personal concern to him but that he was speaking as a public representative.

Sheahan said that the bulk of responses he had received following his remarks came from overseas. He said he understands the reaction of conservation groups but “they need to understand that it’s a two-way street and that we all have to live together”.

The Raptor Persecution Scotland blog published the article with Sheahan’s comments on its website and called for his resignation. The bloggers said they were astonished by the councillor’s remarks.

Sheahan sent a statement to everyone who contacted him saying he did not intend to imply that the bird of prey be hunted down. He said his comment was meant to be seen in the context of his political battle with the Irish government about landowners living in protected areas.

His response did not impress the Scottish group. “Somebody with such a disgraceful attitude to wildlife and to the law that protects that wildlife should not be in a position of power and influence”, it responded.

An online petition calling for the councillor’s resignation has received more than 1,100 signatures to date. People from countries as far away as Brazil and South Africa have added their names to the appeal.

Sheahan, however, does not regard the issue as a resigning matter. “I possibly upset a lot of people in relation to the hen harrier. It was a remark made in frustration rather than anything else”.

He said people in west Limerick were “at their wits’ end” dealing with marginal land that is difficult to farm at the best of times. “What they are looking for is a certain plan to be put in place to shore up the losses they are incurring from being designated as a particular area for the hen harrier”.

Sheahan is also a member of the Irish delegation on an environmental commission in the EU which represents local and regional government in the EU’s policy formation and decision-making processes. He denied his remarks were inappropriate given this role. He said: “I represent Ireland on the committee of regions and I think I do a good job there”.

Conn Flynn, development officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust, said that he was appalled at the comments. “It is disturbing that individuals with that mind-set are representing Ireland on a European level”.

The Trust which has also called for Sheahan’s resignation, is concerned about the impact of his statement. “When you say ‘open season’ when representing the public, it is completely and utterly irresponsible”, added Flynn.

John Lusby, raptor conservation officer at BirdWatch Ireland, said that predators such as the hen harriers were vital for a well-functioning ecosystem. “Without them, the ecosystem wouldn’t be in balance. They play an essential role in our countryside”, he said.

The government designated six upland areas as special protection areas following a 2007 finding by the EU Court of Justice. It said that Ireland failed to protect certain birds of prey, including the hen harrier, in line with obligations under the Birds Directive.

If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing the petition calling for Sheahan’s resignation: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358/804/673/

Cllr Sheahan’s response

Further to our earlier posts about Limerick Council leader John Sheahan calling for an ‘open season’ on hen harriers (see here, here and here), this is his response:

Reply to “OPEN SEASON “remark

Dear Sirs,

I wish to thank you for writing to me to express your views in relation to an article that appeared recently in the Limerick Leader newspaper.

In the article in question I made reference to “OPEN SEASON” on the hen harrier if certain changes were not made.  This remark infers that I advocate that this bird of prey be hunted similar to wild game that is hunted at certain times of the year. This inference was entirely unintended and I apologise for any upset my comment may have caused. I wish to clarify that my comment was meant in the context of my political battle with the Irish Government to seek a proper plan whereby the landowners and particularly, the farmers are not out of pocket by a designation that hamstrings them from earning their livelihood. This, unfortunately, is the case at present.  

I refer in my article to a situation whereby I believe all can co-exist. I ask would you seek to be compensated if your Government or local council made changes that devalued your property or adversely affected your ability to make a livelihood.  The records show that the overwhelming majority of landowners do not receive any compensation. When the SPA designation was introduced it was done in tandem with a compensation package to accommodate landowners. However, the scheme was axed in the very early stages leaving farmers out of pocket and their livelihoods threatened.

I hope I have provided you with some idea of the level of frustration experienced by landowners in the affected areas. I would ask you, in the best interests of the Hen Harrier, to support me and lobby the Government and the powers that be in Europe for a properly managed and adequately funded plan of conservation so we, all as creatures of this world, can live in harmony.

Yours faithfully,

John  Sheahan

Care about hen harriers? Then please sign this….

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358/804/673/

‘Open season’ on hen harriers: how to complain about the councillor

Limerick Leaderlow resYesterday we reported on an article in the Limerick Leader that quoted Limerick Council Chair John Sheahan calling for an ‘open season’ on the specially protected hen harrier (see here).

That blog post has attracted a great deal of attention and understandably, people are both astonished and outraged that someone in a position of such influence and responsibility should be inciting people to commit wildlife crime and encouraging the illegal killing of hen harriers.

Incredibly, it emerged later in the day that Cllr Sheahan is not only the Chair of Limerick Council, but that he also represents Ireland at the EU Committee of the Regions, helping to form EU policies on environment and biodiversity issues!!! (See here).

Yesterday was quite frustrating in that we had great difficulty trying to find out how to make a formal complaint about Cllr Sheahan’s remarks. We know through our site stats that many of you (over 100) emailed Cllr Sheahan directly and we also know that the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, also received an avalanche of emails (he is the Minister that Cllr Sheahan intends to lobby about the hen harrier), so thank you to everyone who sent emails.

Since then, we have received more advice on who to complain to (thank you to blog reader Ryan Meade for the information). We would encourage as many of you as possible to send emails to the following two people, to formally complain about Cllr Sheahan’s comments. Obviously, these people should respond to just a single complaint but they are much more likely to take this issue seriously if they are inundated with complaints.

For those of you who don’t live in Ireland, please don’t think that Cllr Sheahan’s comments don’t affect hen harriers in the UK. Movements of hen harriers between Ireland and the UK have been well documented (see here for example), so what happens to hen harriers in Ireland will also have an effect on what happens to hen harriers in the UK, and vice versa.

Here’s some background info on the hen harrier for those who want to include it to back up your complaint:

The hen harrier is a species of high conservation concern in Ireland and the UK and is protected regionally under The Wildlife Act 1976 & Amendment Act 2000 and in Northern Ireland under The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Hen harriers are listed on Annex 1 of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EEC) and are currently considered an All-Ireland Species of Conservation Concern and a UK priority species.

The EU Birds Directive provides a legislative framework of measures required for assessing and ensuring the conservation of the hen harrier which includes monitoring, research and the designation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Six sites have been designated as SPAs for hen harriers in Ireland:

The Slieve Bloom Mountains SPA (Counties Laois & Offaly; Site Code 4160);

The Stacks to Mullaghareirk Mountains SPA, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle SPA (Counties Cork, Kerry & Limerick; Site Code: 4161);

The Mullaghanish to Musheramore Mountains SPA (CountyCork; Site Code: 4162);

The Slievefelim to Silvermines Mountains SPA (Counties Limerick & Tipperary; Site Code: 4165);

Slieve Beagh SPA (CountyMonaghan; Site Code 4167);

The Slieve Aughty Mountains SPA (Counties Clare & Galway; Site Code 4168).

The first person to formally complain to is Conn Murray, who is the Limerick County Council Senior Manager (see here). His email address: conn.murray@limerick.ie. Conn Murray should be called to investigate Cllr Sheahan’s comments and to assess whether he is suitable to continue holding office as the Chair of Limerick Council.

The second person to formally complain to is Jimmy Deenihan, who is the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht. His remit includes the protection of wildlife (see here) and he should be very interested in Cllr Sheahan’s views on hen harriers and how those views might affect his role representing Ireland at the EU on biodiversity and environmental issues. His email address: jimmy.deenihan@oir.ie

We also think that Cllr Sheahan should be the subject of a police investigation for inciting wildlife crime. However, it appears that reporting an allegation to the Garda (police) is restricted to those who can call or visit the relevant local station (see here). We hope that some locals will pursue this.

Thanks, everyone.

UPDATE: A petition has been started calling for the resignation of Cllr Sheahan: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358/804/673/

Council leader calls for ‘open season’ on hen harriers

A council leader has called for ‘open season’ on hen harriers, according to an article in the Limerick Leader on Saturday.

In an astonishingly ignorant and irresponsible statement, Councillor John Sheahan, Chair of Limerick County Council, has said that if restrictions in Special Protection Areas designated for Hen Harriers are not lifted, then “open season on the hen harrier should be declared”.

Here is a cutting from the newspaper (many thanks to the contributor who sent this in).

Limerick Leaderlow res

The text is probably difficult to read so here’s a transcript of part of it:

The new cathaoirleach [chair] of Limerick County Council, Cllr John Sheahan, has called for “open season” on the Hen Harrier unless there are changes to special protection areas (SPA).

Cllr Sheahan and Michael Sweeney, managing director of Select Forest Ltd, are due to meet with the Minister and Junior Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney and Tom Hayes ahead of the Budget.

Following the conclusion of the CAP deal, Cllr Sheahan called for a review of Natura 2000 sites, their designation and compensation for landowners adversely affected.

“Farming in the marginal lands of County Limerick is being decimated by the kosh of SPA. No proper plan is in place to assist farmers badly affected, total control is now with the National Parks and Wildlife Service – a cloak which our ministers and officials are happy to hide behind”, said Cllr Sheahan.

Large swathes of land in West Limerick and in some cases entire farms are designated to protect a predatory bird known as the Hen Harrier, he said.

“To some of us this name was an addition to our vocabulary, in days gone by it was a hawk. This protected bird has the power to stop a landowner reclaiming land, planting forestry, or constructing a windfarm.

“Following the bad weather of the last few years farmers are facing choices of how best they can manage their lands, and I stress their lands, to maximise its use and try and remain viable as part of the farming community. This is next to nigh possible with current restrictions.

“I believe now is the time to reassess all this. I believe the current CAP deal has scope within it to do so, there is no reason in my mind why this bird cannot coexist with some forestry and windfarms”, said Cllr Sheahan.

Since time began the world and all its components have evolved said the cathaoirleach.

“Charles Darwin proved this, the Hen Harrier will also evolve with changes we make. Landowners should be given the discretion they require to introduce a proper mix of activity and those who are adversely affected adequately compensated.

“Budget 2014 is coming earlier this year to suit the new fiscal treaty for Europe. I have written to the relevant ministers seeking a meeting to address this on behalf of the affected landowners of County Limerick”, said Cllr Sheahan.

“Budget 2014 should be the deadline for this and if nothing happens by then ‘open season’ should be declared on the Hen Harrier”, concluded Cllr Sheahan.

 The rest of the article refers to comments made by Michael Sweeney of Select Forest Ltd who discusses the earning capacity of the land.

The hen harrier is a species of high conservation concern in Ireland (just as it is in the UK), and is protected under regional, national and international legislation. For an excellent overview on the conservation status of hen harriers in Ireland, both past and present, this report is well worth reading.

If you think Cllr Sheahan’s threat of a declared ‘open season’ on this species is, frankly, nothing short of outrageous, then please email the Irish Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, and let him know what you think: simon.coveney@oir.ie

If you want to tell Councillor John Sheahan what you think, here are his contact details.

We’re trying to work out who to contact to make a formal complaint and call for Sheahan’s resignation. If anyone has any insight then please contact us. We’ll post details here when we know more.

UPDATE 9pm: Incredibly, Counciller Sheahan represents Ireland at the EU on Environment!! http://www.iro.ie/delegation.html#delegation Many thanks to @BBurke88 for the info.

We STILL haven’t found out how to make a formal complaint about Cllr Shehan’s remarks. We’ve tweeted Limerick Council Council to ask how we can make a formal complaint but had no response. We had hoped that one of the Irish conservation orgs would take a lead on this but haven’t heard anything, yet.

UPDATE 24th July: How to complain about Cllr Sheahan – see here

UPDATE 24th July: A petition has been started calling for the resignation of Cllr Sheahan: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358/804/673/

UPDATE 25th July: Cllr Sheahan responds to the criticism – see here.

UPDATE 28th July: Cllr Sheahan remains unrepentant in an article published by the Sunday Times – see here.

UPDATE 4th August: Cllr Sheahan in radio debate about his comments – see here.

 

Red kite poisoned, 20 months after its mother suffered the same fate

Poisoned kite photo Marc RuddockA young red kite has been poisoned in County Wicklow in the Republic of Ireland, 20 months after its mother was killed the same way.

The young bird was found in January and tests have confirmed it had been poisoned with both Carbofuran and Alphacloralose – the first time both chemicals have been found in an Irish kite. It’s mother was poisoned with Alphachloralose in December 2011.

The Golden Eagle Trust (the group behind the reintroduction of golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and red kites in the Irish Republic) described the poisoning of two generations of a red kite family as “totally devastating”.

The latest bird (Blue White 21) is the first of 21 Irish-born kites to be poisoned. It was found by a member of the public close to the golf club in the town. The bird was still alive but died shortly afterwards.

News article from Golden Eagle Trust here

News article in the Irish Independent here