Animal Watch
Birds of prey ‘at risk from gamekeepers’
HUGE numbers of birds of prey
are being illegally killed in the region,
the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds (RSPB) reveals
today.
The charity says birds such as
golden eagles, hen harriers, buzzards
and peregrine
falcons
are at risk in
the Yorkshire
Dales and
the North
Y o r k
Moors, as well as on country estates.
The charity is today launching
a campaign to boost the number
of birds in these areas.
Dr Mark Avery, the charity's
conservation director, said: "It is
outrageous that birds of prey are
still being killed illegally and
that these fantastic birds are destroyed
before they can cast their
shadows on some of our most
beautiful wild places.
"The skies are owned by
no one, but a callous few
want to deprive the nation
of some of our
most charismatic
wildlife."
The RSPB has
not revealed the
exact number
of birds being
killed, but
its blames
gamekeepers
and people who shoot for
sport for "systematically wiping
out" the species.
It says the killing will stop
golden eagles from recolonising
in southern Scotland and northern
England, and is putting the
hen harrier at risk.
Only 14 pairs of hen harriers
bred successfully in the UK last
year, and the charity wants this
to rise to at least 40 by 2010. It is
estimated Britain has suitable
habitat for more than 200 pairs.
Mr Avery said: "Visitors to the
Yorkshire Dales and the North
York Moors national parks would
rightly expect to see a diversity of
birds of prey, but our initial evidence
shows these birds are
being targeted before the birds
can establish themselves.
"We are calling on shooting estates
to allow birds of prey to
nest successfully."
Those most at risk are eagles,
peregrine falcons and hen harriers,
which nest in upland areas
that are prime sites for grouse
shooting.
In February, two gamekeepers
working on the Snilesworth Estate,
near Northallerton, North
Yorkshire, were fined and a third
given a conditional discharge
after they admitted a range of
charges relating to the use of
traps to take birds of prey.
Earlier this month, a hotline
was set up for people to report
sightings in the region of hen
harriers. Reports should include
the date, location and, where possible,
a six-figure grid reference.
Call 0845-460-0121 or email hen
harriers@rspb.org.uk
8:18am Tuesday 22nd April 2008
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