Britain’s Protected Birds of Prey Continue to Face Illegal Persecution, RSPB Warns

Despite decades of statutory protection, some of the UK’s most vulnerable birds of prey are still being illegally killed, according to a new report from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The charity’s findings, set to be released on Wednesday, document 921 verified attacks between 2015 and 2024. The RSPB notes that more than half of these incidents occurred on or adjacent to estates managed specifically for game shooting.

Mark Thomas, who leads the RSPB’s investigations unit, described the motive behind these killings as financial. He explained that predators are targeted to prevent them from preying on young pheasants, partridges, or grouse, thereby ensuring a higher number of birds remain available for paying customers. While shooting organizations firmly deny that persecution is a widespread issue within the industry, acknowledging that it is the work of a small minority and condemning such acts outright, the RSPB is urging for stricter regulations. The charity is calling for a licensing system for gamebird shooting in England and Wales, arguing that landowners should face more severe repercussions when protected species are harmed on their property.

The species most frequently targeted include eagles, red kites, peregrine falcons, hen harriers, goshawks, and barn owls. To classify a case as "confirmed," the RSPB requires robust evidence, such as forensic analysis, eyewitness testimony, or video recordings. Its specialized investigations team, comprised of former police officers and ornithology experts, focuses on identifying those responsible for these crimes.

Evidence collected by these investigators, which includes covert camera footage, has contributed to three convictions this year. Two of these cases involved birds that were beaten to death after being caught in traps—one a buzzard and the other a goshawk. While certain live-capture traps are legally permitted for pest control of species like crows and pigeons, regulations mandate that they be checked regularly and that non-target animals be released unharmed.

The third conviction stemmed from covert surveillance at a hen harrier roost in the Yorkshire Dales. Investigators documented a planned attempt to kill one of the UK’s rarest raptors. RSPB recordings showed head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall arriving with a shotgun, while hidden audio captured discussions about killing other protected birds and whether a harrier should be satellite-tagged. Dingwall subsequently admitted to offenses related to the attempted killing of a protected hen harrier and was fined £1,520.

Although the RSPB acknowledges a recent decline in recorded incidents, it argues that the long-term trend indicates that criminal prosecutions alone are insufficient. The charity advocates for a licensing framework similar to that currently in place for red grouse shooting in Scotland. Under such a system, licenses could be suspended or revoked based on the civil standard of proof, even in cases where criminal prosecution is challenging.

Shooting organizations strongly oppose these proposals. Dr. Marnie Lovejoy of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) told the BBC that the focus should remain on strengthening law enforcement to prosecute individuals committing these crimes, stating, "They have no place in the modern shooting community." She argued that licensing would impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on an already regulated sector and penalize responsible estates, potentially jeopardizing conservation efforts. BASC estimates that the shooting sector contributes significantly to nature recovery, spending approximately £500 million annually on conservation. This investment is equivalent to supporting 26,000 full-time jobs and 14 million workdays.

The government has not endorsed the RSPB’s specific licensing proposals but has stated it will collaborate with the shooting sector and other stakeholders to explore broader measures, including the potential for licensing. A spokesperson for Defra remarked, "Many estates already meet high environmental standards, and we want all estates to achieve these same high standards."

Professor Davy McCracken from Scotland's Rural College, who has spent 35 years researching upland management and wildlife, suggests that the underlying tension between protecting birds of prey and managing land for grouse shooting is fundamentally economic. He notes that this financial dynamic is where the root of the conflict lies.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-25 23:35:26 UTC