This is the unplanned second part of Avian Ground Zero. This post features on an ongoing massacre that is occurring up in Scotland. Raptor persecution is probably one of the biggest threats a variety of raptor species worldwide. Persecution against these birds is something that should not be happening in this day and age. It is an archaic thought process, one that belongs in history, not in a modern society. Unfortunately in the UK, Scotland is a country which seems to be targeted frequently to devastating effect. The issue that will be discussed here is particularly devastating due to the numbers it has affected. I have keeping my eyes on the Raptor Persecution Scotland blog and have now decided to write my own piece on this massacre.
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| Red Kite (Sparrowhawk Photography, 2013) |
News began to break from the Black Isle, north of Iverness between the 18th and 24th March. One of the UK's most valuable bird of prey colonies appears to have been targeted after 16 raptors were found dead from poisoning in a small two-square-mile area. This is thought, by ornithologists to be one the largest mass poisoning of birds recorded and it has already exceeded the largest number of red kites killed in a single cluster in the UK in modern times, something that comes after decades of systematic persecution by farmers and gamekeepers throughout Scotland.
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| One of the dead red kites from Ross-Shire (Raptor Persecution Scotland) |
Timeline
18th - 24th March - When the news first broke, 5 red kites and a buzzard had been found dead, under suspicious circumstances.
27th March - the news got a lot worse, the death toll had risen to 11 birds dead, with at least 8 thought to be red kite. The negative news continued to arrive as it was becoming increasingly clear that a mass poisoning had taken place.
28th March - The toll rose to 13 birds, 9 thought to be red kite. It was also revealed on the 28th that the first 6 birds found had indeed been poisoned.
29th March - The death toll rose to 14 with the discovery of more bodies. This toll now included 10 red kite and 4 buzzards. RSPB Scotland offer a £5000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.
1st April - Death toll rises to 16. This includes 12 red kite and four buzzards.
3rd April - Reward doubled to £10'000
The Impact
This diabolical act has affected both adult and juvenile birds. The
attacks on these birds of prey have occurred in a very small area, and
have appeared to have been carried out deliberately on a core breeding area for
the birds. Black Isle is one of the 2 main reintroduction sites for red
kite, the other being the Chilterns west of London, for the last 25
years. This butchery has proven to be a major setback to an otherwise
successful campaign by the Scottish Government to combat bird of prey
persecution & comes after the numbers of poisonings fell to 3 in
2012 and 6 in 2013.
The Black isle population has always
remained vulnerable as it is repeatedly hit by illegal poisoning. this
is clearly reflected in numbers as the partner site in the Chilterns
currently sustains a population of red kites 10X larger than Black Isle
despite both projects being started in 1989. 25 years after the first release and there is only thought to be
25 breeding pairs in Black Isles, whereas over 1000 breeding pairs are
estimated to have repopulated England. Although, further reintroductions
have taken place in Scotland raising the total to an estimated 214
breeding pairs across the country.
It has been determined by experts and
groups such as the RSPB that the vulnerability of the Black Isle site
is a direct result of deliberate persecution by grouse shooting estates,
or as a result of attacks by gamekeepers on birds of prey generally. A
recent study revealed that between 1999 and 2006 an estimated 166 red
kites from the Black Isle were poisoned.
All we can hope is that the Scottish police continue their fast-paced and active involvement in the case to bring the culprit to justice. I am prepared for more bodies to be found due to the volatile and fast acting nature of the poison used. There is a long way to go in ending the nonsensical persecution of birds of prey in the UK and cases like this unfortunately reflect badly on areas of the Scottish rural population and could even effect those that have no problem with raptors.
BBC Articles:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26729937
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26774679
Update: Days merge into Months
3 days ago Rpator Persecution Scotland posted an update on the case. Chekc the link below for the post, but the general concensus is that very little has/is being done in regards to the case. No one has been charged and police investigations are quieting down. It is very much looking like this case is just going to be assigned to yet another unresolved case with no definitive answers onto what caused such a devestating loss. This is a sad thing to be reporting but is often the outcome when it comes to animal related cases.
Birdman.
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