| Despite the legal protection provided by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for Raptors and all other British wild birds, their nests and eggs, illegal persecution continues on a much larger scale than is generally recognised. Persecution takes the form of killing, poisoning and trapping of full grown birds and the destruction of their nests and eggs. This report gives evidence for these continued illegal activities in recent years and quantifies the scale of the problem in certain areas for Peregrines, Hen Harriers and Golden Eagles in particular. The report also compares the breeding success of Peregrines and Golden Eagles in areas with and without persecution. |
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| Key Findings |
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- 50% of Peregrine breeding sites on grouse moors in south east Scotland suffered persecution, while only 42% of Peregrines on keepered ground in central Scotland reared the expected numbers of young.
- In south Argyll (over a 25 year period), up to 16% of Golden Eagle ranges (3 of 19) suffered persecution in any one year. In the absence of such human interference 7% more successful breeding attempts (equivalent to 19 more eaglets fledged) would have been expected during this time.
- On three moors in south west Scotland, Hen Harrier breeding success and/or numbers increased after persecution ceased. Such increases were at odds with trends on managed grouse moors elsewhere, where harriers were formerly present.
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| Background |
| During the 1950s and 60s, birds of prey (raptors) were scarce in Britain as a result of past persecution and the effects of pesticide pollution. The 1970s and 80s saw raptors increase as a result of the combined effects of special protection and the alleviation of pesticide poisoning. |
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| Despite such legal protection, the killing of raptors continues, including the poisoning, shooting and trapping of full grown birds and the destruction of nests and their contents leading to recent population decline in some areas. |
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| The Study |
| Data was collected from the files of the Scottish Raptor Study Groups to provide examples of the scale and widespread nature of such human interference. Where the data is sufficiently detailed, the levels of impact are quantified by comparing breeding performance and numbers in places where raptors are apparently unmolested with places where human interference has been shown to occur. |
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| Main Findings |
| With regard to Peregrines, the data indicates that in south east Scotland human interference occurred at both lowland and upland Peregrine breeding sites, particularly at those on or adjacent to moorland managed for grouse shooting. In the whole study area, human interference was probably responsible for the loss of about 27% of potential production of young birds in the years 1990-96. In central Scotland, human interference was affecting about one fifth of the Peregrine breeding population. |
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| The study found circumstantial evidence of the effect of poisoning on the distribution of breeding Golden Eagles in Highland council area and in East Sutherland. In Tayside human interference with Golden Eagles is estimated to have reduce average production of young by 43%. |
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| The study shows that by 1996 Hen Harriers had declined rapidly (in places virtually to extinction) in part of the Outer Isles, the Ladder Hills and the Cabrach/Fiddich/Glass area (Grampian) and in Kincardineshire. By contrast, on three moors in south west Scotland Hen Harrier breeding success and/or numbers increased after persecution ceased. |
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| "The Illegal Persecution of Raptors in Scotland", the research report summarised in this Research Findings is available priced £2.50. Cheques should be made payable to The Stationery Office and addressed to: The Stationery Office Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ Telephone: 0131-622 7050, or Fax: 0131-622 7017 This Research Findings may be photocopied, or further copies may be obtained from: The Scottish Office Central Research Unit, 2J, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Telephone: 0131-244 7560 |