RSPB Reports Continued Illegal Killings of Britain’s Protected Birds of Prey

Despite decades of legal safeguards, Britain’s most vulnerable birds of prey continue to fall victim to illegal 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 incidents of attacks between 2015 and 2024. Notably, the RSPB states that over half of these incidents occurred on or adjacent to estates managed specifically 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 targeted to prevent them from preying on young pheasants, partridges, or grouse, thereby increasing the number of birds available for paying shooters. While shooting organizations firmly reject allegations of widespread persecution within the industry—asserting that such acts are committed by a tiny minority and are universally condemned—the RSPB is urging the government to implement a licensing system for gamebird shooting in England and Wales. The charity argues that estates responsible for the deaths of protected species should face stricter penalties.

The species currently under threat include barn owls, goshawks, hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites, and eagles. To ensure accuracy, the RSPB designates cases as "confirmed" only when supported by video footage, eyewitness accounts, or forensic evidence. Its specialized investigations team, composed of former police officers and ornithologists, works to identify those responsible. This year, evidence gathered by these investigators, including hidden camera recordings, contributed to three convictions. Two of these cases involved birds, specifically a buzzard and a goshawk, that were beaten to death after being caught in traps. Although live-capture traps are legal for controlling pests like crows and pigeons, regulations mandate regular checks and the immediate release of non-target animals.

The third conviction stemmed from covert surveillance at a hen harrier roosting site in the Yorkshire Dales. Investigators obtained evidence of a plot to kill one of the UK’s rarest raptors. RSPB recordings captured head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall arriving with a shotgun, while hidden audio picked up conversations regarding the killing of other protected birds and the potential satellite-tagging of a harrier. Dingwall subsequently admitted to offenses related to attempting to kill a protected hen harrier and was fined £1,520.

Although the RSPB acknowledges a recent decline in recorded incidents, it contends that long-term trends indicate that criminal prosecutions alone are insufficient. The charity advocates for a licensing regime similar to that currently in place for red grouse shooting in Scotland. Under this proposed system, licenses could be suspended or revoked based on the civil standard of proof, even in instances where criminal prosecution is unfeasible.

Shooting groups strongly oppose these measures. 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 offenders, stating that such criminals have no place in the modern shooting community. She warned that licensing would impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on an already regulated sector and penalize responsible landowners. Furthermore, BASC highlighted the sector’s economic impact, noting that it contributes approximately £500 million annually to conservation efforts—equivalent to 26,000 full-time jobs and 14 million workdays.

The government has not endorsed the RSPB’s licensing proposal but has committed to collaborating with the shooting sector and other stakeholders to investigate broader measures, including licensing options. 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 of Scotland’s Rural College, who has dedicated 35 years to studying upland management and wildlife, suggests that the friction between conserving birds of prey and managing land for grouse shooting is fundamentally economic. He identifies this financial tension as the root cause of the ongoing conflict.

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