A little over 30 years ago I started work with the RSPB, as an assistant investigations officer (see photo to the right). Well actually I was the assistant investigations officer, aiding Peter Robinson who ran ‘Investigations’. It was a UK wide remit – in those days we didn’t have specialist Investigations staff based in Scotland, or indeed anywhere away from the Lodge. So I travelled far and wide, often clocking up 50,000 miles a year in pursuit of egg collectors, falcon thieves, poisoners and rogue gamekeepers.
The persecution of raptors was an abhorrent crime then and remains so today. I well remember discovering huge chest freezers full of dead raptors that had been sold or passed to a taxidermist by gamekeepers and the like. But to be honest if you had told me then that 30 years later this despicable persecution would still be rife, I would have found this impossible to believe – oh the naivety of youth!
The RSPB is steeped in the drive to protect all native bird species. For example we campaigned to offer raptors legal protection. We successfully banned the evil pole trap in 1904, and worked tirelessly throughout our history to see our internationally important birds of prey protected. First through local Acts of Parliament and then latterly by drafting what became the 1954 Protection of Birds Act.
Given this I do find it disappointing that anyone should think I – or the RSPB - would do anything that gives comfort to anyone who persecutes birds of prey. By being steadfast in this subject we have won praise but also made many powerfully connected enemies. Just read some of the letters in Shooting Times or even from journalists of the standing of Magnus Linklater. I know firsthand that some charitable trusts and corporate sponsors who don’t favour applications for support from RSPB – simply because of our unyielding support for birds of prey and our desire to see the law upheld.
Many people share our passion, but it saddens me that some of them use their zeal to target the RSPB as happened recently in the Sunday Herald. I don’t doubt for a minute that these critics are just as concerned as I am about what happens in the uplands of Britain to our hen harriers, golden eagles, peregrines and other birds of prey. But in my view their energies would be more constructively directed at MPs and MSPs to strengthen the legislations to protect birds of prey – and at the courts to raise penalties for those who break the law.
Contrary to their assertions, the Scottish Birdfair held at Hopetoun House on 11-12th May – does not give cover to lawbreakers, nor does it signal any lacking of our commitment to tackle wrongdoing without fear or favour. We are committed to our continuing resolute opposition to the despicable perpetrators of raptor crime. And on my watch that will never change.