20 years of shame as war continues against birds of prey
2009 was another shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey according to the RSPB’s 20th annual Birdcrime report.
With 499 reported incidents against birds of prey in the UK, including 384 reports of shooting, trapping and poisoning, 2009 was the second worst year in the last decade. Only 2007, with 389 persecution cases, was worse.
North Yorkshire tops the 2009 UK league of shame jointly with Cumbria, with 27 incidents against birds of prey. In South Yorkshire there were 12 reported incidents, 11 in West Yorkshire and 4 in East Riding.
In the report, the RSPB has identified 11 recommendations for government action, so that these appalling crimes can be eradicated.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “Wildlife crimes are an abhorrent feature of our countryside. And for the sake of eagles, kites, harriers, buzzards, falcons and ospreys we have to take more action to consign these crimes to history. Over time egg collecting has diminished, but the killing of birds of prey is as big threat today as it was two decades ago.
Read Dr Mark Avery's Blog Here
“Earlier this year the former Wildlife Minister – Huw Irranca-Davies – was one of more than 210,000 people to sign a pledge to protect birds of prey. This is a powerful voice and we will not rest until their cries have been heard by government.”
In 2009, the government announced that bird of prey persecution was one of the top wildlife crime priorities. In view of the current spending review, the RSPB is concerned that resources to tackle wildlife crime will be seen as a soft option. The RSPB wants to see: a commitment from the government to tackling these crimes; long-term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit; and a full wildlife crime review in England.
The conflict with land managed for the shooting of game birds remains the main problem for birds of prey, particularly the upland grouse-shooting estates in northern England and Scotland. The main birds of prey affected are: golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, hen harrier, goshawk, peregrine and red kite.
Although crimes against birds of prey are widespread across the UK, analysis of the figures by the RSPB over the past two decades shows that certain constabulary areas are hotspots for wildlife crime.
In England, since 1990, the police forces with the highest levels of reported bird of prey persecution include:
· North Yorkshire with 229 reported bird of prey persecution incidents;
· Northumbria with 132 bird reported bird of prey persecution incidents;
· Cumbria with 123 reported bird of prey persecution incidents;
The RSPB's Investigations Section was instrumental in the creation of the police WCO network. Since then the network has gone from strength to strength.
WCOs are police officers who are designated by their forces to deal with wildlife crime issues.
The majority of forces now have at least one WCO, and many forces having several. Most WCOs undertake their wildlife duties on top of all their other policing work, but a small number of forces now have a full-time WCO.
The RSPB places high emphasis on training and supporting this network and contributes to the national training course for WCOs as well as training individual forces. The RSPB instituted and organised the annual national WCO conference every year since its inception in 1989 until handing it over to the police and Defra in 1997.
Why not check out the news from the wildlife enquiries team?
Hi Tom,
An absolute narrow minded, selfish act of what seems to be greed and money motivated most of the time.
Its just sickening that a bird of prey will take a game bird to survive and also other wild birds, mammals and reptiles, yet a gaming shoot will kill hundreds of birds in a single day! but blame BOP's for the decline.
All we can hope for is that more people are caught and imprisoned for these vile crimes; which will then hopefully deter others. That being also if the resources are there after the planned government cuts.
Regards
Craig
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. - Albert Einstein
Hi Tom
Interesting bit of information going on there
I just feel for the BoP as they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Issues are so serious with them it is hard not to feel a strong sense of emotion about the decline of the species.
It is although they are tarnished with a killer instinct, and they are put on a pedestal instead of people not understanding BoP's as a species. These birds where alive and free long before man, and the two need to integrate along beside one another if that is ever possible.
Most BoP's do hunt, but they are opportunistic too, and that is their downfall on many of the BoP killings. Livestock, Landowners and Farmers all have their own thoughts on the matter.
The thing that angers me is the fact the humans go out of their way to kill BoP's by placing poisonous meat parts out for them just to kill them on purpose. That is one thing I will never understand and makes me so upset as a bird lover.
It is one thing shooting them which less less likely over poisoning them. Poisoning can be done behind closed doors so to speak and is a less obvious way of people being caught in the act
The Gin Trap well what can I say about that method - that is pure torture and about an inhuman as you get for an animal suffering for a long time after.
All of the issues about loss of BoP's are more intended to deliberatly hurt the animal over the birds dying naturally.
....and the debate goes on and on - which is sad indeed
Just want to hear more success stories for BoP's as a whole and the RSPB are trying their best to keep stock of the situation - simple as that!
Kathy and Dave
It makes me so sad that there is so much conflict in this tiny speck of a planet we call home.
Anyone who could deliberately harm a bird of prey ,or any creature, needs the most severe punishment. I have heard arguements from both sides on the part BoPs play in our countryside and have endured, first hand, the cruelty of a hare coursing event (waving an anti blood sports banner I hasten to add) and it is difficult to resolve all the differences.
My personal viewpoint echoes the stand being made by the RSPB. Something must be done at the highest level to end this persecution and wildlife crime - as crime it is!
Please keep us informed or link us to any developments on this topic and let's all hope that the next Birdcrime report does not make such shocking reading
With sadness
Pipit
And I thought that the Northern Peak District was bad......!
No doubt this "greenest ever Government" with biodiversity at the top of its environmental agenda will act swiftly to stamp out this clear and present danger to the ecology of our uplands.
Yeah right.....
Grouse farming requires the systematic slaughter of foxes, corvids, mustelids, raptors and even, believe it or not, Mountain Hares. How is that good for the natural environment?
[This post has been edited down - The first version wouldn't have received a "U" certificate]
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Unknown said: And I thought that the Northern Peak District was bad......! No doubt this "greenest ever Government" with biodiversity at the top of its environmental agenda will act swiftly to stamp out this clear and present danger to the ecology of our uplands. Yeah right..... Grouse farming requires the systematic slaughter of foxes, corvids, mustelids, raptors and even, believe it or not, Mountain Hares. How is that good for the natural environment? [This post has been edited down - The first version wouldn't have received a "U" certificate]
Hi, I have been reading various threads the last few weeks and sometimes there appears to be a lack of thought from the rural point of view as it were. Thought about time to make my own comment.
Why does the RSPB always just put the focus on BoP bird crime and then link it with shooting estates? It is very unfair to tarnish everyone with the same brush.
The largest increase in bird crime has been to non-BoP species over the last few years. Surely this is very worrying yet no mention is made of it.
If heather moorland wasn't used for shooting it would largely be lost. The habitat type is already rarer than rainforest. The private moor owners have regenerated 57,000ha of moorland in the last ten years, greatly exceeding Government targets. Over 60% of upland SSSI in England are actually managed as grouse moors, with many also SAC and SPA due to their rare flora and fauna.
People also seem appalled that a gaming shoot will kill birds. However, at the end of the day they are cooked and eaten. How is this different from the farming practice of any other animal species? It could be argued that the game shoot is better for bird welfare than the typical agricultural system for other bird species. As we all RSPB members isn’t this important to us?
I’d be interested to see more details about the systematic slaughter of all those species that grouse farming requires.
Hi,
Its like anything in life, you have good and bad. Most game keepers are good and that is why they have SSSI sites that are managed properly with the interest of conservation but there are also some bad that go along with this.
This is by no means a witch hunt on the rural community or anyone who enjoys this way of life but wether we agree or not there is enough concrete evidence to identify that BOP are poisoned by game keeping land owners.
The least we could do is to admit to the facts and then educate those who do not understand biodiversity and prosecute those involved in these callous crimes.
Here is a a report on the evidence of BOP persecution (if this were untrue then papers reporting would be liable)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/23/scotland-bird-of-prey-poisoning-rspb
Just another September day....
It's very sad, whatever your viewpoint :(
Hi John
The example you have shown is just depressing, but sadly very true.
Also, John, as we know the big Bird Forum has shown lots of news stories like this and the list just seems to go on and on. I feel the need answer the information added to support the cause....as we all do on there.
The day the law is strengthened to the point that perpetrators who are caught, the repercussions are taken just as that - that will be the biggest blessing going for the BoP's in question.
Evidence is the name of the game here and that is the whole issue. If the BoP is found poisoned on someone's land the landowner should be the ones that would be the first suspects. Of course things have to go further than that to put a case together, and there has to be the proof attached too. The thing is that proof is the bone of contention all of the time and any illegal killings should be taken as seriously as any killings.
With all the technology around it makes things so much easier to track down little areas of intricacies that show who is behind the crime.
Slightly off topic: A couple of years ago, I remember the story of the 30 Swans, and a BoP, which where shot in Bedford, and a bullet was found as evidence. The evidence was then mislaid so the case fell apart. What if the bullet had been used as evidence where would the issue gone, and would anyone been arrested. That is something that we will never know. Would they been fined or imprisoned or what? Just a thought!
Unknown said: Just another September day....
Unknown said: It's very sad, whatever your viewpoint :( Pipit
Yip i agree Pip :0(((
An optimist sees the beauty of the complete rose.A pessimist sees only the thorn .