Scottish Raptor Study Group

News

Petitions Committee takes further evidence on gamebird licensing
8 December 2016
The Public Petitions Committee today heard further evidence on the SRSG's petition for state regulated licensing of all gamebird hunting in Scotland. Evidence was taken from BASC and the Scottish Moorland Group, both of whom suggested licensing is unneccessary. Full transcript here. Following this evidence session, the Petitions Committee agreed to pass on this petition to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee for further scrutiny and consideration.

Alleged pole trapping offences in Angus Glens: gamekeeper's trial delayed
7 December 2016
A trial that was due to take place on 5th December 2016 has been delayed. Gamekeeper Craig Graham is accused of setting and re-setting an illegal pole trap on the Brewlands Estate in July 2015. He has denied the charges. The trial date was dropped and another court hearing has now been scheduled for 15 March 2017. Further details here

Grouse shooting industry makes ludicrous claim that 'raptors are thriving on grouse moors' - RSPB Scotland responds
5 December 2016
RSPB Scotland has dismissed a press release issued today by the Gift of Grouse campaign that attempts to draw a veil over the continued persecution of birds of prey on areas of land managed intensively for driven grouse shooting. The reports on which these assertions are based are not in the public domain, and therefore have not been subject to the usual levels of public scrutiny.

However, recent peer-reviewed scientific reports published in the last 12 months link sharp declines in nesting peregrines and hen harriers in NE Scotland to illegal killing; a recently-published SNH report shows that there has been no decline in the levels of persecution of red kites in north Scotland over 25 years; and, results of the 2015 golden eagle survey show that levels of home range occupancy by golden eagles is significantly below the national average in the eastern highlands, where grouse moor management is a dominant land use. In this part of eastern Scotland, prey availability is high, and golden eagles should be more numerous and more productive than almost anywhere else in the country.

There are also ongoing concerns about the regular “disappearance” of satellite-tagged birds of prey in grouse moor areas, to the extent that a review of these incidents has been commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP.

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations said: “The content of today’s statement from the Gift of Grouse campaign is pure, unadulterated propaganda from an industry that, quite rightly, is under increasing public scrutiny by the Scottish Parliament. Their claims have no supporting evidence, their methodology is not explained, and to suggest that incidental observations of raptors which may merely have been flying over an estate indicate a population that is “thriving” is clearly ludicrous.

“It is astonishing that the Angus Glens area is being held up as an example of good practice, given the long absence of successfully-breeding raptors over much of this region, as well as its appalling recent history of illegal killing of protected species. Walkers in the area this spring were greeted by a plethora of gas guns, inflatable decoys and strings of fireworks scattered across the hills, all designed to scare off, rather than welcome, birds of prey!”

Alleged shooting of hen harrier on Moray grouse moor: gamekeeper's trial delayed
2 December 2016
A trial that was due to take place on 19th December 2016 has been delayed. Stanley Gordon is accused of the alleged shooting of a hen harrier in June 2013 when he worked as a gamekeeper on Cabrach Estate, Moray. He has denied the charge. The trial date was dropped today and a further hearing has now been scheduled for 10th February 2017. Further details here

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