I have raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the large number of iconic birds of prey that “disappear” over driven grouse moors in Scotland.
I raised this issue following the suspected death of another bird of prey on a driven grouse moor in Highland Perthshire earlier this year, where a young golden eagle’s satellite tag suddenly stopped working in an area where seven other golden eagles have gone missing in suspicious circumstances in recent years. Scotland is reportedly the only place in the world where satellite tagged birds of prey seem to suffer catastrophic tag “malfunctions” at 25 times the rate of other countries and, overwhelmingly over areas used for driven grouse shooting.
This year so far, at least two satellite-tagged hen harriers and golden eagles have disappeared over grouse moors, as well as a satellite-tagged white-tailed eagle found illegally poisoned in the east of Scotland. This is on top of at least 43 hen harriers that have reportedly gone “missing” in suspicious circumstances or have been confirmed killed across the UK since 2018 alone.
More needs to be done to prosecute those responsible for illegal killings of iconic and endangered wild birds of prey. I have written to the Scottish Government asking them specifically what action is being taken on driven grouse shooting and what reforms they will consider to clamp down on wildlife crime associated with driven grouse shooting.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a substantial movement to ‘build back greener’ – to recognise the importance of nature and our place in it. With regards to persecution of our birds of prey, things appear to be moving in the opposite direction – there has been a surge in reported illegal persecution under lockdown. This is quite simply unacceptable – more actions must be taken to address the health and balance of our moorland ecosystems while protecting the diversity of species and recognising our carbon commitments.
Copy of the motion raised in the Scottish Parliament below:
Motion Number: S5M-22411
Lodged By: Alex Rowley
Date Lodged: 12/08/2020
Title: Disappearances of Birds of Prey Over Driven Grouse Moors
Motion Text: That the Parliament is concerned by reports of the suspected death of another bird of prey on a driven grouse moor in Highland Perthshire; understands that a young golden eagle’s satellite tag suddenly stopped working on the grouse moor in the east of Scotland, an area where seven other golden eagles have gone missing in what it considers suspicious circumstances in recent years; is alarmed that Scotland is reportedly the only place in the world where satellite tagged birds of prey seem to suffer catastrophic tag “malfunctions” at 25 times the rate of other countries and, it understands, overwhelmingly over areas used for driven grouse shooting; understands that, this year alone, at least two satellite-tagged hen harriers and golden eagles have disappeared over grouse moors, as well as a satellite-tagged white-tailed eagle found illegally poisoned in the east of Scotland; recognises that this is on top of at least 43 hen harriers that have reportedly gone “missing” in suspicious circumstances or have been confirmed killed across the UK since 2018 alone; believes that more should be done to prosecute those responsible for illegal killings of iconic and endangered wild birds of prey, and further believes that more actions should be taken to address the health and balance of moorland ecosystems while protecting the diversity of species and recognising carbon commitments.
