Scottish Government
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Birds of prey poisoning maps
New maps published to show all crimes.
The number of reported and confirmed illegal bird of prey poisoning incidents in Scotland has increased to six in 2013 from three in 2012.
The birds involved were a red kite, a golden eagle and 4 buzzards. Despite the increase, this remains a significant reduction from 2009 where the 5 year figures were at their highest level of 30 poisoned birds (across 22 incidents).
For the first time the maps published today, by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland, show not only poisonings but all recorded crimes against birds of prey. These new maps will be built on year on year, like the poisoning maps, to eventually show a 5 year picture.
The new map shows there were 15 recorded crimes involving other methods of persecution such as shooting, trapping or nest destruction. Two further incidents could not be included on the map as their location was not known. This is a clear reflection that birds of prey are continuing to be persecuted in the Scottish countryside, whether by deliberate or accidental means. The birds involved included red kites, hen harriers, buzzards, an osprey, a sea eagle, a peregrine falcon and a tawny owl.
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Chair of PAW Scotland, Paul Wheelhouse, said:
“Whilst I am very disappointed these new figures confirm an increase in poisoning figures they are, thankfully, still well below the numbers we saw in 2009. Though the numbers are relatively small, there is absolutely no room for complacency, and a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes, among the partners in PAW Scotland, to tackle this illegal activity.
“I want to be absolutely clear and unequivocal that any incident of poisoning of raptors is one too many and I have charged my officials with exploring, with PAW Scotland partners, how we can further reduce the presence of poisons across our countryside, with a particular concern to safely eliminate any remaining stocks of carbofuran from Scotland.
“In addressing stakeholders, I made clear a year ago that, while poisoning incidents were down, and this was good news, I would be watching to see if perpetrators of raptor persecution were merely switching methods of operation and I stressed I would take action if needed. I was therefore disturbed to learn of the unfolding number of raptor persecution incidents as the year progressed, and today's publication of the new map confirms a larger number of other reported crimes that is nearly 3 times the level of poisoning.
“This finding fully justifies the actions I announced last July when I set out new measures to tackle this totally unacceptable behaviour. I regret that such action is even necessary, but given the total disregard shown for the desire of both the Scottish Parliament and people of Scotland to protect our birds of prey, by a selfish minority who continue to illegally kill raptors, I believe my decision was the correct one.”
Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Head of Species and Land Management said:
“We welcome the publication of the more complete raptor persecution dataset this year, reflecting both illegal poisoning, and other criminal activity against birds of prey in Scotland in 2013. It is very worrying that the number of detected illegal poisoning incidents has shown an increase on the previous year. The other reported criminal incidents show the deliberate targeting of vulnerable raptor species including hen harriers, red kites, and both golden and sea eagles.
“We acknowledge Scottish Government efforts to tackle these appalling crimes, which have no place in modern Scotland, and agree that the production of these annual raptor crime maps makes a significant contribution to public awareness of this issue”.
Douglas McAdam, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates said:
“We have supported the publication of these poisoning maps since their inception because robust facts and evidence are an essential part of resolving this problem. With good progress having been made on reducing illegal poisoning incidents since the high double figure numbers of a few years ago it is helpful to extend the same approach to show other types of illegal killing.
“Robust evidence is again essential and so these maps are based solely on Police Scotland and SASA data. Scottish Land & Estates will continue to work with partners to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime that blight our countryside."
Notes To Editors
1. We would not want to speculate at this time on the cause of the recent incident in Ross-shire while police investigations are on-going although the discovery of six dead raptors is obviously extremely serious.
2. Anyone who
finds a dead bird of prey, and suspects it may have been poisoned, should
contact the police as per the PAW Scotland guidance.
3. The maps and further information can be accessed online at: www.PAW.Scotland.gov.uk
4. PAW Scotland is the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Scotland. PAW Scotland membership encompasses a wide range of bodies with an interest in tackling wildlife crime including conservation, land management, shooting and law enforcement organisations.
5. Led by the Scottish Government, RSPB Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates, the maps were compiled using data held by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Rural College (SRUC) and Police Scotland. The final poisoning results display the number and frequency of confirmed bird of prey poisoning and other incidents categorised by SASA as 'Deliberate Abuse' over the past five years. The single year data on wider persecution methods has been confirmed (via SRUC) and Police Scotland as recorded crimes. The maps have been compiled with the support of the PAW Scotland Raptor Group.
6. SASA is an Edinburgh-based scientific division of the Scottish Government Agriculture, Food and Rural Communities Directorate. SASA Pesticide and Wildlife Branch provides a variety of analytical chemistry services and expert advice in support of the Scottish Government's participation in UK and EU annual surveillance programs that monitor the impact of pesticide use on food & drink, animals and honeybees. The unit also provides essential support to law enforcement agencies and non-government organisations investigating suspected (illegal) animal poisoning activities.
7. Using latest scientific technology, bird specimens, suspected baits, suspicious chemicals and poisoning paraphernalia are analysed to identify the type of poison, if any, used. The science behind the bird of prey poisoning maps helps to highlight the scale of the problem of deliberate and illegal attempts to poison wildlife and is a significant tool in the fight against wildlife crime.
8. The new additional maps showing wider methods of persecution have been compiled as reported crimes demonstrated that other methods were in play and needed to be taken into account when talking about raptor crime. The species of birds confirmed as crimes and included in the incidents are:
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Buzzard |
9 |
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Red Kite |
2 |
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Hen Harrier |
2 |
|
Osprey |
1 |
|
Peregrine Falcon |
1 |
|
White Tailed Sea Eagle |
1 |
|
Tawny Owl |
1 |
8. The size of ‘spots’ on the map indicates the number of incidents in that area. The larger the spot the greater the number of confirmed incidents.
9. Exact locations of incidents are not shown, in recognition of the fact that birds may travel some distance after either exposure to poison or perhaps having been shot. The map therefore applies an obscurity factor to avoid any inference being drawn for the exact point of discovery of the bird, but still allows an overview of the worst affected areas.
10. The poisoning incidents refer only to confirmed poisoning cases categorised by SASA as 'Deliberate Abuse' and not any other category of confirmed poisonings. The number of incidents does not indicate the number of birds killed. For a breakdown of the number and species of birds killed in the incidents listed go to: www.PAW.Scotland.gov.uk
11. The arrangements for dealing with wildlife crime were the subject of a major review in 2008, by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Inspectorate of Prosecution. The Scottish Government is implementing the recommendations that relate to PAW. These involve a restructuring of the organisation to create a broader base, and a revitalisation of effort with work being taken forward through focused sub-groups. The mapping project is a result of the partnership working.
12. Vicarious Liability was introduced following a full debate on wildlife crime in the Scottish Parliament during the passage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill in 2011. It is a ground-breaking new provision to deal with landowners and managers who turn a blind eye to employees committing offences against wild birds on their land. Vicarious liability came into force on 1 January 2012. It does not have retrospective effect, and so applies only to offences committed after that date.
13. In response to further evidence of raptor crime the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse announced new measures to tackle this area of crime. These can be read in full at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/paw-scotl and/news/2013/raptor-persecution-new-measures
