Today should mark a turning point in the history of our birds of prey: it is the day that we are all reminded that the illegal killing of birds of prey must stop.
At a ceremony in London, over 200,000 pledges of support, gathered by the RSPB, were handed to Huw Irranca-Davies, the UK Government’s biodiversity minister (left), by the RSPB's Dr Mark Avery (right) to say that in their name no more kites or eagles will die at the hands of merciless and cowardly poisoners and no more sparrowhawks, buzzards or harriers will be blasted, trampled or trapped.
For centuries, entrenched attitudes towards raptors have led to the disappearance of these iconic species from much of Britain and Ireland. Indeed, one third of our 15 nesting species were at one time or another extinct in our isles.
The recovery has begun. White-tailed eagles are returning to Scotland, the osprey is continuing its spread through northern Britain and the marsh harrier is once more a familiar sight over East Anglian wetlands. However, today’s challenge establishes that the recovery must continue to soar without stalling.
The recovery of our red kite population has been a world-leading conservation success. But it’s not complete, and illegal persecution is still hampering this bird’s efforts to recolonise areas where it once cast its shadow.
200,000 is a powerful number: it represents 1,000 pledges of support for every hen harrier nest we should have in England - last year there were fewer than 10 - and it’s 1000 condemnations for every bird of prey persecuted every year in the UK.
We want everyone lacing a poisoned bait, setting a trap, or lying in wait with a shotgun to be aware that many people now believe it’s time for the killing of birds of prey to stop – it begins today.
We thank everyone, including the many organisations, pledging their support for bringing an end to the killing of raptors and we hope and trust that this nesting season birds of prey will have an easier time, whoever is in power.