RSPB sparks war of words on wildlife crime

THE Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) has launched an attack on the RSPB, claiming the charity has used misleading figures over bird of prey killings to pursue an agenda against gamekeepers.

The row has flared up after the RSPB's publication of a report into the level of bird persecution in the UK, in which it claimed crimes committed against birds of prey had soared by 40 per cent last year.

In its annual Birdcrime report, the RSPB revealed it had received 262 reports of illegal shooting, trapping and nest destruction of birds of prey during the course of last year, compared with 185 reports in 2006.

But the SCA has accused the RSPB of painting a misleading picture by basing its findings on reported incidents, rather than those that have been confirmed or led to prosecutions.

The SCA claims confirmed poisonings have in fact decreased to 76 last year from 85 in 2006 and prosecutions involving wild birds almost halved from 62 in 2006 to 33 in 2007.

There were 32 confirmed shootings of birds of prey, compared with 262 reported incidents of illegal shooting, trapping and nest destruction.

Tim Baynes, moorlands director with the SCA, said: "The result is a report which is misleading and unfortunately the RSPB seem more intent on an agenda against gamekeepers than giving a true picture."

He believes the RSPB could be encouraging police resources to be wrongly targeted by putting out "misleading" information.

"The RSPB should put aside what seems to be a persecution of gamekeepers and sporting estates, and join with the people who work in Scotland's countryside to find solutions to wildlife crime and bird persecution," he added.

But a spokesman for RSPB Scotland insisted: "We are absolutely not pursuing an agenda of persecution against gamekeepers." He argued that it was the SCA that was trying to "discredit the bare facts", which are "there for all to see".

"I think we are being quite honest and open about this issue and to try and project that we are not is little bit unfair," the spokesman added.

And he said that in fact it was due to greater support from gamekeepers that the number of reported incidents has risen and that the RSPB was quick to praise the industry when this happened.

"One of the reasons we have seen an increase in the number of crimes reported is that more people, including gamekeepers, are increasingly reporting incidents of criminality against birds of prey," he said.

But Mr Baynes argued including reported incidents in the survey is "unreliable", as they may be based on events that members of the public thought they saw but did not actually happen, or possibly even made up.

He said in the past members of the public have reported finding poison on an estate, only for police to discover it was grouse grit – fine gravel eaten by the birds to help their digestion.

"We are 100 per cent with the RSPB in wanting to stop bird of prey crime," Mr Baynes said, "but we have got to work with cast iron cases rather than hearsay. We have got to work with the facts."

But the RSPB spokesman said just because every reported incident does not end in prosecution does not mean the crimes did not occur.

He added that even reported incidents only show "the tip of the iceberg", with many cases concealed or going unnoticed.

He added: "I think progress has been made and I don't want to get into this tit-for-tat knocking lumps out of each other. That doesn't do anyone any favours."

Warning of danger to children as four poisoned buzzards found

FOUR poisoned buzzards have been discovered in Dumfries and Galloway, the RSPB has revealed.

Animal baits laced with illegal poison were discovered near the dead birds of prey, which were found in the Eaglesfield area, near Gretna.

The incident happened in March, but has only now been made public.

Sergeant Scott McLachlan, the wildlife crime officer investigating the incident, warned yesterday that children are at risk until the poisoning stops.

He said: "Persecuting any form of wildlife is a crime. I particularly dislike the use of poison because it's indiscriminate.

"My biggest concern is what happens if a kid is out playing.

"If they come across this bait and start poking about at it and get it on their fingers, they could become ill."

It is the second confirmed case of poisoning in Dumfries and Galloway in the past eight months. In December a red kite was found poisoned.

Sgt McLachlan fears such incidents are on the increase, after about four years with no cases.

Chris Rollie, RSPB Scotland's local area manager for Dumfries and Galloway said: "Citizens of Dumfriesshire will be sickened and disgusted that their countryside and its reputation is still being tarnished by a few selfish individuals.

"When great efforts are being made to attract visitors to rural areas, the negative message of an illegally poisoned countryside is the last thing we need, whilst the effect on wildlife is appalling."

Anyone caught can be fined or given a prison sentence. The Scottish Government has the power to withhold farm payments from any landowner whose employee commits wildlife crime on their land.