Birds of prey still under attack, claims RSPB report

THE organisation which represents thousands of people involved in moorland management and grouse shooting has condemned the continued persecution of birds of prey.

The Moorland Association says that despite a “substantial drop” in the number of birdcrime incidents in the last five years, those involved should face the full force of the law.

The comments, by the association’s director Amanda Anderson, come in the wake of the RSPB’s latest birdcrime report, which revealed 81 confirmed incidents of illegal raptor persecution in 2016 – without a single person prosecuted.

The RSPB claims illegal killing of birds of prey is associated with land managed for intensive driven grouse shooting, leaving vast areas of uplands without raptors.

Birdcrime 2016 – the only report summarising offences against birds of prey in the UK – highlighted 40 shooting incidents, 22 poisonings, 15 trappings and four other incidents of illegal persecution against raptors.

Among the victims were hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites and buzzards.

However, the RSPB claims evidence suggests these figures are just the tip of the iceberg with many illegal killings going undetected or unreported.

The report revealed that close to two-thirds (53) of the confirmed incidents took place in England.

In the North East confirmed incidents included a hen harrier which was shot and the persecution of a peregrine in Northumberland, and a red kite which was shot in County Durham.

Ms Anderson said: “Thousands of people who are actively involved in grouse shooting fully wish to see the eradication of all forms of wildlife crime.

“These people are working day in, day out delivering a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits – and this includes the conservation of a wide range of bird species.”

She added: “Any incident of bird of prey persecution is unacceptable and the full force of the law should be felt by those breaking it.

“The statistics in the latest report show that the number of such incidents continues to decline significantly and there has been a very substantial drop in incidents over the last five years. This is what we all want to see.

“Of course more can be done, particularly in the restoration of hen harrier population, and the best way to achieve progress is for people across the sector, including RSPB, to continue to work together constructively.”

Martin Harper, RSPB conservation director, said: “There is nothing like seeing a diving peregrine or a skydancing hen harrier. Unfortunately illegal activity is robbing us of this and preventing them from flourishing.

“There are laws in place to protect these birds but they are clearly not being put into action. We need governments across the UK to do more to tackle the illegal killing to protect our raptors for future generations to enjoy.”

The RSPB points to a Natural England report which claims there is “‘compelling evidence” that persecution of hen harriers – associated with driven grouse moors – was the main factor limiting their recovery in England

The RSPB believes the introduction of a licensing system for driven grouse shooting would help tackle the illegal raptor persecution.