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20 YEARS OF SHAME AS WAR CONTINUES AGAINST BIRDS OF PREY IN WALES
16 September 2010
Dana Thomas
Communications Officer
E-mail: dana.thomas@rspb.org.uk
2009 was another shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey in Wales with incidents of shooting, trapping and poisoning, according to the RSPB’s 20th annual Birdcrime report.
With 24 reported incidents against birds of prey in Wales in 2009, this accounts for just under 5% of the UK incidents reported in Birdcrime 2009 of which 12 involved shootings, trappings and poisonings.
Twenty years of reporting in Birdcrime, has revealed several police force areas suffer higher levels of bird of prey persecution. Dyfed Powys Police are top of the league with 73 confirmed persecution incidents, followed by North Wales Police with 56 and South Wales Police with 47.
In the report, the RSPB has identified 11 recommendations for government action, so that these appalling crimes can be eradicated.
Sean Christian, RSPB Cymru Head of Conservation, said: “Wildlife crimes are an abhorrent feature of our countryside, for the sake of kites, harriers, buzzards, falcons and ospreys we have to take more action to consign these crimes to history. Over time, the threat of egg collecting has diminished. However, the recent conviction of an international egg-thief for stealing peregrine falcon eggs from the Rhondda shows that there is still an international demand for illegally-taken eggs. The killing of birds of prey is as big a threat today as it was two decades ago.
Earlier this year Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing – was one of more than 11,0000 people to sign a pledge to protect birds of prey in Wales. This is a powerful voice and we will not rest until their cries have been heard by government.
In September 2009, Jane Davidson announced that a Review of Wildlife Crime policing in Wales would take place, this would help to reinforce existing good practice and identify opportunities for further action.
This review is now available by clicking on the following link http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/content/uploads/documents/SG%20Meetings/SG11/wildlife%20crime%20review%20for%20paper%205.pdf and key recommendations include: the minister be invited to respond to an annual statement on wildlife crime from the Association of Chief of Police Officers Cymru (ACPOC), the need for further full-time wildlife crime officers, and that each of the Welsh police forces identifies a biodiversity “champion” of supervisory rank charged with ensuring that wildlife incidents are dealt with in a proportionate, professional and effective manner.
During 2009, there were 384 reported incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK, including: 224 in England; 123 in Scotland; 17 in Wales; and 11 in Northern Ireland. Nine crimes against birds of prey could not be assigned to a country and were recorded at a UK level.
Although there was evidence in the past of persecution of birds of prey for land managed for game birds in Wales, this is no longer the case but unfortunately, this still continues in northern England and Scotland. In these areas, land managed for the shooting of game birds remains the main problem for birds of prey, particularly the upland grouse-shooting estates. The main birds of prey affected are: golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, hen harrier, goshawk, peregrine and red kite.
The RSPB is concerned the shooting industry in other parts of the UK appears unable to self-police and the Society believes new legislation is required to make the managers and employers of those committing these crimes legally accountable.
Options such as vicarious liability – that holds these people accountable for crimes committed by their staff - and removing the shooting rights for individuals and errant estates need to be considered. These would provide a significant deterrent without imposing a burden on legitimate shooting interests.
Although crimes against birds of prey are widespread across Wales and the UK, analysis of the figures by the RSPB over the past two decades shows that some regions in Wales are hotspots for wildlife crime.
Sean Christian adds: “In view of the current spending reviews taking place, we are concerned that resources to tackle wildlife crime will be seen as a soft option, we want to see a strong commitment from the Welsh Government that this will not happen and that tackling wildlife crime needs to stay on the agenda for the future.”
Notes
1) The six current UK wildlife crime priorities for 2009/2010 are: Badger Persecution; Bat Persecution; CITES wildlife trade issues, including, caviar, ivory, ramin timber, tortoises and traditional medicines; freshwater pearl mussels; poaching; and bird of prey persecution (including poisoning, egg theft, chick theft and nest disturbance/destruction . Further details from: http://www.defra.gov.uk/paw/pdf/crime-assessment0910.pdf
2) At least 23 golden eagles and six white-tailed eagles are known to have been poisoned in last 20 years.
3) The hen harrier is on the brink of extinction in England as a breeding species, with just six successful pairs in 2009. This is the species most affected by persecution, despite the fact it there is sufficient habitat to support well over 200 pairs. A report published by Natural England in 2008 showed that nest failures as a result of adults "disappearing" were seven times more common on grouse moors than any other land type.
4) There has been a huge expansion of the UK red kite population in the last 20 years. The exception to this is the north Scotland population. Despite being one of the first projects and in suitable habitat, the population has only just reached 50 pairs (compared to over 800 pairs in the Chilterns, where the same number of kites were released 20 years ago). Modelling work carried out by RSPB and published in Biological Conservation in 2010, showed that increased adult mortality caused by illegal poisoning could explain almost all of the difference in population growth between the north of Scotland and the Chilterns.
5) Goshawks are badly affected in some areas, such as the Dark Peak within the Peak District National Park where numerous goshawk territories have ‘disappeared’ during the last ten years.
6) Golden eagle - A review of all potentially limiting factors, published by the Scottish Government in 2008, found that persecution, associated with land managed for driven grouse shooting was the main factor limiting golden eagle recovery in many areas of Scotland, and probably preventing the species recolonising northern England.
7) The list of government recommendations, includes:
· · Commitment from all UK Governments to maintain legal protection for all birds of prey and to improve its enforcement
· · Conduct a full review of the enforcement of wildlife crime in England and Wales, and fully implement the recommendations of the thematic review in Scotland
· · Secure long-term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit
· · Increase support for the UK Wildlife Crime Priority to tackle raptor persecution and address inadequate law enforcement.
· · Add peregrine to the species covered by the raptor persecution UK Wildlife Crime Priority
· · Increase effectiveness and profile of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW)
· · Introduction of the vicarious liability offence to make managers and employers responsible for the actions of their gamekeepers
· · Improve recording and reporting of wildlife crime and make the killing of birds of prey a recorded crime
· · Update legislative provisions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including controls on possession of pesticides
· · Work with the European Union to strengthen the penalties available under cross compliance so that anyone contravening EU Wildlife Directives faces having their single farm payment withdrawn
· · Modernise the regulation of game shooting