Tag: scottish gamekeepers association

Alex Hogg’s Change of Heart?

16th March 2010. The Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA) chairman Alex Hogg, has condemned the “appalling statistics” regarding the poisoning of raptors on the official SGA website. The figures he refers to were collated by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and recently published by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) They report that a total of 27 birds of prey were found poisoned in Scotland in 2009, including 19 buzzards, four red kites one white tailed sea eagle and two golden eagles. Unfortunately the report does not “name and shame” estates, farms, individuals etc involved.

In what would appear to be a complete change of heart, Alex Hogg has stated “There is no place for raptor persecution in modern land management”.

Does this mean that Alex has seen the light and will not be pursuing his application to kill 12 buzzards on the Portmore estate where he is employed as a gamekeeper?

The SGA website also reports that Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has condemned the figures, saying the protection of Scotland’s wildlife has never before occupied such a prominent position politically or in terms of the law, adding “this continued persecution of our precious wildlife is simply incomprehensible.”

With Sheriff Drummond still chairing the PAW Scotland Legislation, Regulation and Guidance Sub-group after his reported admission of the low priority in which he regards raptor persecution and the pathetic, lenient sentences for these crimes it’s hard to think of a reason why these disgraceful figures should improve.

Full story:  http://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/content/poisoning-incidents-condemned

Environment Minister appreciates the efforts of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association

Scottish Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, really showed those pesky gamekeepers that she means business when it comes to stamping out wildlife crime. In her speech at the Scottish Gamekeepers Association’s (SGA) annual general meeting on 5 March 2010, hard-hitting Roseanna gave them what for. Well actually, she didn’t.

Here is an excerpt from her speech:

“Unfortunately, the illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland remains at an unacceptably high level, as shown by the recent high profile cases such as the poisoning of the golden eagle, Alma, which was being radio-tracked by SNH. Raptor persecution is one of the UK Wildlife Crime Priorities and we are committed to tackling this.

In Scotland even one incident of deliberate, illegal poisoning would be one too many. It is shameful that some of our most iconic species continue to face illegal persecution.

We all know that the illegal killing of birds of prey is having a serious impact on the populations of iconic species such as golden eagles and hen harriers. Birds of prey are our national assets, with huge public, cultural and tourism appeal. 

However, I realise that those responsible for these illegal activities are in the minority.

I am most grateful for the efforts of the SGA who are trying to conserve birds of prey and the support that the SGA gives to the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAWS), in helping to defeat this type of crime.

The partnership approach taken in tackling this issue is apparent in the mix of people you see here today. We all have the same goal of defeating wildlife crime. Working together to share knowledge, resources and skills to deal with these issues is the only way to tackle this problem”.

Roseanna, it might be time to change your political advisors because they are clearly not giving you the full picture. What ‘efforts’, exactly, has the SGA made to try and conserve birds of prey? Perhaps you are referring to their long-running campaign (since 2000) to get licences to cull raptors? SGA chairman Alex Hogg even goes as far as saying if they had licences to kill raptors legally then the wildlife crime would stop ‘overnight’. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/birds-of-prey-persecution-a-special-ios-online-report-396066.html Is that an admission that if licences to kill raptors are not forthcoming then gamekeepers will continue the criminal activity of killing protected species? Wonderful! What a great effort they are making to conserve birds of prey!

Gamekeepers unfairly blamed for raptor persecution? Let’s look at the facts…

We regularly hear the bleatings of Alexander Simpson Hogg, 51, (known to many of us as simple Alex Hogg), chair of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, that gamekeepers, those “professional wildlife managers”, are blamed unfairly for raptor persecution events. Really, Alex? Let’s look at the facts, shall we?

Here is a pie chart compiled from RSPB data on raptor persecution incidents in the UK (reproduced from the RSPB publication Birdcrime 2008). From 1996 to 2008, 75% of people convicted of offences relating to bird of prey persecution have been linked with game interests; all 64 of these were gamekeepers, nearly all full-time.

In an article published in the Scotsman newspaper on 26 March 2004, Alex Hogg stated: “We [the SGA] have made it absolutely clear to our members that anyone found guilty of perpetrating these acts of serious wildlife crime will be expelled from our organisation immediately”.

And in an article published in the Independent on 7 October 2007, it was reported that the SGA had released the following statement: “If any of our members are convicted of a wildlife crime offence appropriate measures will be taken. Sanctions include the withdrawal of membership. In particular, conviction for poisoning offences will be treated with the utmost severity”.

So, Alex, here’s your opportunity to demonstrate that the SGA doesn’t merely pay lip service to the task of addressing wildlife crime- can you produce a list of members who have been expelled from the SGA for being convicted of a serious wildlife crime?

As a member of the government-led Partnership for Wildlife Crime (PAW), this should be the least you have to do to demonstrate your organisation’s sincerity.

Gamekeeper guilty of wildlife & welfare offences at Culter Allers, Lanarkshire

David Alexander Whitefield, a 41 year old gamekeeper (and a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association) at Birthwood Farm, Culter Allers nr Biggar, Lanarkshire, has been fined £300 for the illegal use of a crow trap.

On 4 March 2008, a hillwalker discovered a buzzard caught inside a crow trap. No food, water or shelter was available in the trap, and there was no door to allow the release of non-target species (all requirements of the law). Four inches of snow covered the ground, and no footprints or vehicle tracks were in evidence around the trap, indicating that it hadn’t been checked for at least 48 hours (it is a legal requirement that traps are checked every 24 hours).

On 1 October 2008 at Lanark Sheriff Court, Whitefield pleaded guilty to charges of failing to ensure the welfare of the bird and of recklessly taking a buzzard. In addition to his £300 fine, Whitefield was also banned from using his Scottish Open General Licence for 5 years. http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/le57_tcm9-212748.pdf

News story here

According to the RSPB report, “The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2009”, the following were found at Culter Allers during 2009 –

October 2009: 1 x dead buzzard, 1 x rabbit bait containing alpha-chloralose

November 2009: 2 x dead buzzards, 1 x rabbit bait containing alpha-chloralose

Gamekeeper convicted of poisoning offences on North Glenbuchat Estate, Aberdeenshire

 At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 12 July 2006, the head gamekeeper on the North Glenbuchat Estate, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, was found guilty of three offences: killing a wild bird, possession of birds’ eggs, and possession of a proscribed pesticide under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

The 56 year old head keeper, Hector McNeil, of Whitehillock, Glenbuchat, had worked as a gamekeeper on the Estate for 30 years. He was fined £850.

The RSPB claimed this was one of many cases but a spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association had said the case was not typical of the profession.

 

 

Golden eagle found poisoned on Cawdor Estate, Invernesshire

A golden eagle found dead on Cawdor Estate, Invernesshire, on 6 August 2001 had been poisoned by Carbofuran. The dead eagle’s decomposed remains were found by a hillwalker.

Cawdor Estate Factor John Higson and Head Gamekeeper Roddy Forbes denied any wrong-doing and suggested that the dead eagle could have been brought in by someone in their rucksack and planted on the estate to cause trouble. This explanation is commonly used by Alex Hogg, Chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, to account for the numbers of dead raptors that turn up on shooting estates. Our sources suggest that recent DNA evidence has proven these claims unfounded.

Since 1988, there have been six other incidents involving the illegal use of poisons connected to the Cawdor Estate. These include:

1988: A pet labrador dies after consuming the deadly poison, strychnine, while walking on Cawdor estate.

1992: A buzzard, magpie and sheep all laced with strychnine are discovered on the estate.

1993: A buzzard found poisoned by the toxin, alphachloralose, on Forestry Commission land 100 metres from the boundary of Cawdor estate.

1994: Three buzzards and rabbit bait found poisoned by alphachloralose on Cawdor.

1996: Three baits discovered containing poisons: a hare laced with alphachloralose, a goat with aldicarb and a wigeon with strychnine.

1996: A hidden pit containing a suspected birds of prey poisoning kit uncovered by investigators three miles from Cawdor Castle.

1999: A report sent to the procurator fiscal alleging that mountain hares were illegally persecuted in snares.

2000: A second report submitted to the fiscal claiming mistreatment of hares.

2001: A dead eagle found on Cawdor estate confirmed to contain the lethal poison, carbofuran.

No convictions have been made as it has not been possible to identify the individual who laid the bait.

For further information: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20010826/ai_n13961693/?tag=content;col1

3 buzzards found poisoned on Invercauld Estate, Royal Deeside

Three buzzards found dead in woodland next to a grouse moor on Invercauld Estate, Deeside in March 2005 had been poisoned: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4400327.stm

Invercauld Estate, located between Braemar and Crathie and next door to the Balmoral Estate, attracts a large number of paying guests who visit for grouse shooting, deer stalking and salmon fishing. According to their website, “The Estate is managed commercially but with great respect for the natural environment”. The Estate is run under the guidance of Captain Farquharson and other members of his family. Simon Blackett, the Estate Factor, is married to Geva Blackett, the former parliamentary officer for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association.

In the late 1990s,  a gamekeeper on the Estate was convicted of using an illegal spring trap and was fined £120. http://www.antisnaring.org.uk/news/traps/invercauld_estate_gamekeeper_fined?searched=invercauld&advsearch=oneword&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1

RSPB deliver petition to Scottish government

Congratulations to the RSPB for running a successful petition calling for an end to raptor persecution, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

On 2 March 2010, a petition containing almost 22,000 Scottish signatures was handed in to MSPs. Click this link to view the story on the BBC news website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8543983.stm

This follows hot on the heels of a UK-wide RSPB petition containing 210,567 signatures calling for an end to illegal raptor persecution that was handed in to MPs in London on Feb 3 2010. In addition to these personal signatures, 30 organisations also signed in support. Notably, the list did not include the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA).

Let’s hope the Scottish government accepts that this issue is important to thousands of people and keeps its recent pledges to make raptor persecution a priority issue.

Campaigners hold aloft a giant peregrine at the Scottish Parliament as the RSPB petition is handed to ministers.