Scottish Borders 'too dangerous a region' for golden eagle to live in

FOR the golden eagle, an emblem of Scotland, the blue sky above the Borders is to become a no-fly zone. The wildlife crime officer for Lothian and Borders Police has said a spate of poisoning incidents has made the region too dangerous for the reintroduction of the majestic bird of prey.

Last month, a bird from the only breeding pair of golden eagles was found dead in the region after ingesting the banned substance carbofuran. While no-one has been charged, police suspect gamekeepers anxious to protect the dwindling number of grouse from the talons of eagles and other raptors.

As a consequence, Constable Mark Rafferty, the wildlife crime officer with Lothian and Borders Police, said he would not support any immediate plans to reintroduce golden eagles into the area. He said: "It is disappointing, but due to the levels of poisoning incidents, particularly around sporting estates, the Scottish Borders is not a suitable area for the breeding of golden eagles."

PC Rafferty said persecution was still taking place, despite the huge public outcry following the death of the golden eagle on a grouse moor near Peebles last month. The Scotsman has launched a campaign - Stop Them Now - in conjunction with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to help catch those responsible for poisoning birds of prey, the slaughter of which now stands at its highest level for 20 years.

Tests carried out on the ten-year-old female bird's carcase confirmed the presence of carbofuran. Despite a reward of 7,500 being offered by various groups leading to the arrest of the culprit, no-one has yet been charged with the killing.

But PC Rafferty is following up a number of lines of inquiry. "There has been a positive response from the public and, indeed, members of the gamekeeping community," he said.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has worked to reintroduce rare birds into parts of Scotland. In 1975, it began to reintroduce the white-tailed sea eagle, while red kites have been introduced into areas of Dumfries and Galloway.

Professor Colin Galbraith, the director of policy and advice at SNH, admitted it would have to consider seriously the implications of reintroducing golden eagles to an area such as the Borders. He said: "The poisoning of a golden eagle was an outrage.

"These magnificent birds add much to Scottish life, culturally and economically, and are a key part of our biodiversity."

"Reintroductions of any species are complex projects requiring many factors to be taken into account and the level of persecution would be one factor. We have, however, addressed such issues previously in the reintroduction of red kites to the south of Scotland; a project succeeding with help from landowners."

However, an SNH spokeswoman said the door was not closed to the return of golden eagles to the Borders.

Jackie McCreery, director of policy and public affairs at the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA), said many landowners in the area would welcome plans to bring in eagles.

He said: "Any reintroduction we are sure would be supported by our members in the Borders. It must be reiterated that the golden eagle found poisoned in August had been protected for ten years by the owner of the ground on which it was found.

"SRPBA has strengthened its position regarding members if convicted of illegal poisoning, and we are intent on seeing increased co-operation to bring this illegal activity to an end.

"We have concerns that this recommendation from Lothian and Borders Police, while well-intended, gives the wrong signals at this time."

ON A WING AND A PRAYER

SCOTLAND'S birds of prey are under greater threat than at any other time in the past 20 years. There was a 50 per cent rise in the number of raptors deliberately killed or poisoned in 2006, with 183 incidents compared to 121 in the previous year. Yet investigators at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said these figures were just the tip of the iceberg. Raptors are particularly vulnerable to persecution because they breed slowly and produce only a few young.

Between 2001 and 2006 there were just 12 convictions in connection with persecuting birds of prey, with seven of those in 2006. Nine of those convicted were gamekeepers, with one shoot-manager, a crofter and a pigeon-fancier making up the rest.

OUR CAMPAIGN

THE Scotsman is committed to helping the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals catch those responsible for killing birds of prey and other wildlife.

Information about raptor poisonings and other incidents of wildlife crime can be passed to police via the National Wildlife Crime Unit in North Berwick on 01620 893607.