UK’s protective legislation continues to fail birds of prey in Northern Ireland as widespread illegal killing continues

Between 2015 and 2024, 33 confirmed incidents were recorded across Northern Ireland involving many reintroduced and recovering species of conservation concern, such as White-tailed Eagles, and Red Kites. During this ten-year period, Buzzards were the hardest hit, with 17 confirmed incidents recorded in Northern Ireland, followed by Peregrines (16 confirmed incidents) and Red Kites (six confirmed incidents). However, there has not been a single successful prosecution for crimes against birds of prey in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years. 

However, the recorded incidents likely represent only the tip of the iceberg. Bird of prey persecution crimes predominantly take place in remote and inaccessible areas, meaning not all cases are detected, and limited public access in some areas means that witnesses are few and far between. 

Ian Thomson, RSPB’s Investigations Manager said: “It is concerning that illegal poisoning, often involving highly toxic banned chemicals, remains the most common method used against birds of prey in Northern Ireland, accounting for more than half of detected incidents. This not only kills protected wildlife, but also poses risks to pets, livestock and people. We therefore welcome DAERA’s recent steps in establishing a working group to strengthen legislation around the possession of these chemicals.”

Ian continued “That said, any legislation is only as effective as its enforcement, and it is extremely worrying that no prosecutions have followed the confirmed incidents in our report, or indeed previous bird of prey crimes in Northern Ireland. In other parts of the UK, partner organisations are routinely invited to work alongside police to provide expertise that can help identify and gather evidence and support successful outcomes. Making full use of this expert resource, through the likes of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime Northern Ireland (PAWNI) will only strengthen efforts to address raptor persecution in Northern Ireland, ensuring future opportunities to identify and hold perpetrators accountable are not missed.” 

For decades, the RSPB has investigated bird of prey persecution by detecting and reporting incidents and supporting police investigations across the UK. In recent years, a number of successful convictions relating to bird of prey persecution have taken place, with evidence gathered by the RSPB Investigations team proving vital in bringing these individuals to justice. 
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Seen something? Say something!

Many bird of prey persecution cases that lead to a successful conviction are reported  by members of the public. If you witness suspicious activity involving a bird of prey, reporting it quickly can make a huge difference. Notify the police by calling 101 and submit a report to the RSPB.

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