Raven cull halted after huge protest
Estate aimed to protect waders
A Perthshire estate has been told to halt a controversial raven cull.
Strathbraan Estate near Murthly was granted a licence by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) earlier this year to cull ravens.
The move was an attempt to reduce the birds’ impact on nesting waders such as curlews and lapwings, whose numbers are in serious decline across the country.
However, following concerns raised over the controversial cull, SNH’s scientific advisory committee reviewed the licence and found it to be “inadequate to provide robust scientific conclusion”.
As a result of the committee’s findings the estate has voluntarily agreed to suspend the raven cull.
Thousands had signed a petition against the raven cull, including a number of celebrities such as naturalist Chris Packham.
Professor Des Thompson, principal scientific advisor on science and biodiversity at SNH said: “The committee notes that more needs to be done to understand the effects of predation by ravens and other factors in driving down wader numbers.
“We need to learn from this trial, and the experience and knowledge gained, and move on to develop advice and support for action on the ground to benefit waders.
“SNH welcomes the decision by the Strathbraan community group Two curlew chicks hatched at Strathbraan Kenneth Stephen to suspend the cull for the rest of this year.”
Following yesterday’s decision a specific scientific advisory group will be created to deal with declining species on the estate.
The group will include members from SNH, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
They will monitor factors affecting wader bird numbers, install cameras on nests and make sure the work they are doing is linked to a wider conservation programme called Working for Waders.
RSPB Scotland said: “We welcome the decision by SNH to suspend the research licence for the contentious Strathbraan raven and wading bird project, following recent input and advice from its scientific advisory committee.
“We also appreciate the promise to involve a wider stakeholder group in developing next steps, including a properly constructed research trial, which considers the full range of factors that may be having positive or negative impacts on wading bird populations in the Strathbraan area.”
The spokesperson continued: “Improving the conservation prospects for our declining and internationally important wading bird populations is a high priority for the work of RSPB Scotland.
“However, in our view this challenge needs to be met on the basis of sound science, which is then tested on the ground to identify and improve practical and lawful land management techniques.”
A spokesperson for Strathbraan’s community collaboration for waders said: “Local farmers and gamekeepers have been united in trying to prevent further loss or rare birds such as the curlew, which would be tragic, especially as action on the ground clearly makes a difference.
“Thanks to the licence and hens being in good breeding condition, we are delighted to say it has been an excellent breeding year in Strathbraan.
“Folk at the sharp end have even seen nests of four fledged curlew chicks for the first time, greatly helped by being better able to protect the chicks and eggs from the raven flocks that have been so damaging in recent years.
“In terms of wader conservation, therefore, it has been a much better season.
“The licence has been temporarily suspended so those on the science side can make adjustments.
“However, the community remains committed to wading bird conservation, spurred on by what has been achieved so far.”