Four raptors found dead

Police in the Highlands are continuing to encourage the reporting of raptors after four were found dead in the north.

A buzzard and a barn owl were both found in Ross-shire, as another buzzard was discovered in Strathspey and a golden eagle in Barra.

Each carcase was examined by vets to determine the cause of death.

Franz Brulisauer, senior veterinary investigations officer for Scotland’s Rural College said: “Understanding wild bird deaths is helpful in establishing the full picture of the activities of birds of prey as well as monitoring the wild bird population for avian influenza and residues of pesticides which originate from contamination in the environment.”

Following a series of tests, all of the deaths appeared to be related to natural causes.

Both of the buzzards and the owl appear to have starved over the course of the winter.

Inspector Mike Middlehurst said: “I would like to thank the people who reported these incidents.”