Press launch from RSPB (24 November 2023):
Birdcrime report reveals hen harriers and white-tailed eagles amongst victims of continuous unlawful persecution
*61 confirmed chicken of prey persecution incidents nationally
·*At least 64% of all incidents are linked to land used for gamebird taking pictures
The RSPB’s annual Birdcrime report printed in the present day particulars the unlawful taking pictures, trapping and poisoning of protected birds of prey. Amongst the victims are Buzzards, Red Kites, Goshawks, Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons and White-tailed Eagles. All these species are protected by legal guidelines designed to assist our rarest and threatened species. There is clearly no place for such crimes in opposition to a few of our greatest cherished species.
The report paperwork that Hen Harriers, a purple listed species, are being relentlessly focused, significantly in areas dominated by pushed grouse moors. Since January 2022, RSPB and Natural England knowledge reveals that 39 Hen Harriers have been confirmed killed or have ‘suspiciously disappeared’ throughout the UK, with eight satellite-tagged birds being persecuted or disappearing in suspicious circumstances in the identical space close to Birkdale in North Yorkshire alone.
Two of probably the most stunning incidents recorded in opposition to Hen Harriers embrace a Natural England satellite-tagged chicken known as Free which had its head pulled off whereas nonetheless alive, and 4 Hen Harrier chicks that have been trampled to demise in a nest being monitored by Natural England. The report reveals that one RSPB tagged Hen Harrier named Dagda was discovered shot lifeless in May 2023 on a moor at Knarsdale, subsequent door to the RSPB nature reserve at Geltsdale on which it was breeding. It is unknown who shot the chicken, however the supporting tag knowledge is obvious in documenting the place and when this incident took place. A recent peer-reviewed research by the RSPB discovered that survival of tagged Hen Harriers within the UK was very low, with birds dwelling on common for less than 4 months. As a lot as 75% of annual mortality of tagged birds was on account of unlawful killing related to grouse moor administration. If this relentless killing continues, the way forward for these uncommon and threatened birds stays at critical danger within the UK.
The report additionally highlights the numerous case of a young White-tailed Eagle from the UK Government licenced re-introduction scheme on the Isle of Wight, which was confirmed poisoned on a taking pictures property in West Sussex. This was the primary case of this species being illegally killed in England since their extinction on account of persecution within the 18th Century. On the identical property, three days after the eagle died from ingesting a banned poison, a Labrador canine suffered the identical destiny after ingesting the identical pesticide – Bendiocarb. Frustratingly the police investigation failed to carry anybody to account for these crimes.
There have been two profitable convictions for raptor persecution crimes in 2022, with each people being gamekeepers. Disappointingly, in a single case, the place a number of birds of prey have been shot or poisoned – the gamekeeper acquired a 200-hour neighborhood order and was ordered to pay simply £1,200 in fines, prices and compensation. As this case highlights, current wildlife safety legal guidelines are failing to guard birds of prey, performing neither as a deterrent nor as an applicable punishment for the crimes dedicated.
This latest report, alongside peer-reviewed papers, intelligence and knowledge from wildlife crime incidents continues to affirm that raptor persecution is regularly linked to land managed for gamebird taking pictures. Evidence exhibits on some taking pictures estates birds of prey are intentionally focused to cut back potential predation on gamebird shares and generally additionally to cut back disturbance to those quarry species on shoot days. The RSPB continues to name for the licensing of grouse taking pictures in England, and following such measures now being launched by the Scottish Government, to supply a significant deterrent to the unlawful killing of birds of prey.
RSPB Chief Operating Officer, James Robinson stated “Sadly, once again, the report documents the shameful illegal killing of rare and vulnerable birds of prey, an important part of our natural heritage. Given the correlation in location between birds of prey persecution and land under game management, the RSPB is calling for greater regulation of shooting, in particular intensive forms of grouse shooting. A Bill to introduce licensing of grouse moors in Scotland to stop raptor persecution is now moving ahead and we need a similar response in England”.
If you discover a lifeless or injured chicken of prey in suspicious circumstances, name the police on 101 and fill within the RSPB’s on-line reporting type:
If you’ve got details about anybody killing birds of prey which you want to report anonymously, name the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.
ENDS
Birdcrime 2022 could be downloaded/learn right here:
The Birdcrime 2022 appendices could be downloaded/learn right here:
