Protecting Wales’ birds of prey from persecution

ILLEGAL persecution of wild birds continues to be a problem in Wales, with Powys having the second-highest number of incidents involving birds of prey in the UK according to a new report.

The latest Birdcrime report from the RSPB revealed 41 confirmed incidents of persecution in Wales last year.

No case in Wales or the UK resulted in a single person being prosecuted.

RSPB Cymru is calling for more focus to be given to protecting Welsh wildlife in keeping with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which commits to leaving a better-quality environment for future generations. Without urgent action some of Wales’ wild birds face a bleak future, the charity said.

Out of the 41 incidents, there were 13 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecutions – which include shootings, trappings and poisonings – involving buzzards, peregrine falcons and red kites.

RSPB Cymru biodiversity manager Stephen Bladwell said: “Despite wild bird crime incidents in Wales remaining lower compared to the rest of the UK, we must emphasise that one death is too many.

“The fact that wild bird crime remains an issue in Wales is a worrying fact. Bird persecution in Wales doesn’t seem to be going away.”

Despite there being 41 reported incidents of wild bird crime, none led to any convictions. With many incidents going undetected, unreported and therefore unpunished, the figure may be much higher in reality.

Wales ranked second-highest across the UK, behind England alone, for raptor persecution. Of the total 81 confirmed raptor persecution incidents in 2016, 53 occurred in England (65%), 13 in Wales (16%), nine in Scotland (11%) and six in Northern Ireland (7%). This shows a marked increase on Wales’ total share of 1% as shown in Birdcrime 2015.

The report also revealed Powys was joint second-highest UK county for raptor persecution in 2012-16. Over the five-year period the county recorded 22 confirmed incidents against raptors, with 12 wild bird crime incidents during 2016 alone. Across the UK, the report revealed 40 shootings, 22 poisonings, 15 trappings and four other incidents of illegal persecution of raptors.

Mr Bladwell addded: “That Wales now ranks second-highest in the UK for raptor persecution, and Powys joint second-highest county throughout the UK over a five-year period, is a worrying development. The figures are disheartening and show that wild bird crime remains a real issue in the country.”