Scottish Raptor Study Group

News

Judicial Review upholds SNH's use of General Licence restrictions for raptor persecution
29 March 2017
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has welcomed a senior judge’s decision to uphold a decision by SNH to restrict the use of General Licences on land in the Scottish Borders where evidence of wildlife crimes had been found. SNH press statement here and background details to this case here.

South Scotland Golden Eagle Project secures £1.3 million lottery funding
27 March 2017
A project to boost golden eagle numbers in southern Scotland has had funding of more than £1.3m confirmed. The funds will be used to help translocate young golden eagles from the Highlands to south Scotland, beginning in summer 2018. Futher details on the project website.

Scottish Government publishes 2016 raptor persecution maps
27 March 2017
The Scottish Government, via the PAW Scotland group, has published the latest maps showing recorded incidents of raptor persecution in 2016. The data have been criticised as several confirmed incidents have not been included as they are part of on-going police investigations. The maps have also excluded a number of incidents where satellite-tagged raptors have 'disappeared' in suspicious circumstances.

Cabinet Secretary thanks SRSG members for raptor monitoring and conservation work
1 March 2017
Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, has thanked SRSG members for their "dedicated, high quality fieldwork that is genuinely appreciated by the Scottish Government".

Speaking at the SRSG's annual conference, Roseanna also shared her thoughts on illegal raptor persecution: "The illegal killing of our raptors does remain a national disgrace. I run out of words to describe my contempt for the archaic attitudes still at play in some parts of Scotland. We all have to abide by the law, and we do so, most of us, all throughout our lives. All I’m asking is that everybody does the same. Sporting businesses are NO different, and the people who breach the law deserve all the opprobrium and punishment we can mete out. I have no truck with the argument that raptors damage driven grouse shooting interests. Such damage, frankly, is a business risk you have to live with and manage, but within the law. And that is what must be reiterated again, and again, and again".

Wendy Mattingley wins SRSG's 2017 Donald & Jeff Watson Raptor Award
1 March 2017
SRSG member Wendy Mattingley (Tayside RSG) has been announced as this year's winner of the SRSG's Donald & Jeff Watson Raptor Award. This annual award is given in recognition of a significant long-term amateur contribution to the study of raptors in Scotland. The citation for Wendy's well-deserved win can be read here.

Archive:

2017: January, February, March, April, May, June,July, August, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec ,
2016: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec ,
2015: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept,Oct, Nov, Dec,
2014: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept,Oct, Nov, Dec
2013: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec,
2012: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept,Oct, Nov, Dec.