RSPB Reveals Continued Illegal Persecution of Britain’s Birds of Prey

Despite decades of legal safeguards, Britain’s rarest birds of prey continue to be illegally targeted through shooting, trapping, and poisoning, 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 occurring between 2015 and 2024. The RSPB notes that more than half of these incidents took place on or adjacent to estates managed for game shooting.

Mark Thomas, who leads the RSPB’s investigations unit, characterized the motivation behind these killings as financial. He explained that predators are often eliminated to protect young pheasants, partridges, or grouse, thereby increasing the number of birds available for paying customers to shoot. While shooting organizations vehemently deny that persecution is a widespread industry practice, asserting that such acts are committed by a small minority and are universally condemned, the RSPB is urging stricter controls. The charity is calling for a licensing system for gamebird shooting in England and Wales, arguing that estates should face severe repercussions if protected species are killed on their property.

The targeted species include barn owls, goshawks, hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites, and eagles. The RSPB maintains a rigorous standard for its data, classifying cases as "confirmed" only when supported by video, eyewitness, or forensic evidence. Its specialized investigations unit, comprised of former police officers and avian experts, works to identify suspects. This year, evidence gathered by these investigators, including hidden-camera footage, contributed to three convictions. In two instances, birds were beaten to death after being caught in traps—one case involved a buzzard and the other a goshawk. While certain live-capture traps are legal for controlling pests like crows and pigeons, regulations require regular checks and the immediate, unharmed release of non-target species.

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 birds of prey. RSPB footage showed head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall arriving with a shotgun, while hidden audio captured discussions about killing other protected birds and whether to satellite-tag a harrier. 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 criminal prosecutions alone are insufficient to address the long-term issue. 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 groups oppose these proposals, warning that they would unfairly penalize responsible estates and jeopardize conservation efforts. Dr. Marnie Lovejoy of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) told the BBC that the focus should be on strengthening law enforcement to prosecute offenders, stating that such criminals have "no place in the modern shooting community." She argued that licensing would impose redundant regulations on an activity already governed by law. Furthermore, BASC estimates that the sector contributes approximately £500 million annually to nature recovery, supporting the equivalent of 26,000 full-time jobs and 14 million workdays.

The government has not endorsed the RSPB’s specific licensing proposals but has committed to collaborating with the shooting sector and other stakeholders to explore broader measures, including potential licensing options. A Defra spokesperson emphasized to the BBC that while many estates already uphold high environmental standards, the goal is to ensure all estates achieve these same benchmarks.

Professor Davy McCracken of Scotland’s Rural College, who has studied upland management and wildlife for 35 years, suggests that the friction between bird of prey conservation and grouse shooting management is fundamentally economic, noting that this financial dynamic lies at the root of the conflict.

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