Today (8 August 2019) the RSPB’s Investigations team has launched a new appeal, asking everyone who is concerned about the illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK to become a ‘bird of prey defender’.
For as little as £3 per month, supporters can help fund important work being done to protect birds like hen harriers, red kites and golden eagles, and put more boots on the ground to help catch the people responsible.
Despite legal protection, birds of prey, owls and ravens are being routinely killed – something which has gone on for decades and shows no signs of stopping. Often this is linked to driven grouse moor management, where birds of prey are seen by some as a threat to their stocks of red grouse, which are reared in vast numbers to be shot.
Methods used to catch and kill birds of prey include trapping, poisoning and shooting.
Recently, a rare hen harrier was found fatally injured in an illegally-set spring trap on a grouse moor in Scotland. Another trap had been set on the bird’s nest.
Mark Thomas, Head of Investigations at the RSPB, said: “This is systematic killing aimed at some of our most magnificent and rarest species. Raptor persecution is illegal, immoral and indefensible. My team exists to try and end this, and ensure birds of prey can fly freely, without the risk of being brutally trapped, poisoned or shot out of the sky.
“People are naturally shocked by the stories and pictures they see. They’re also increasingly angry that nothing is changing. There’s a huge body of people out there asking us ‘what can we do?’. We hope that this appeal will give people a tangible means of taking action. Your donation will go directly to the RSPB Investigations team. It’ll help us get boots on the ground so that we can monitor at-risk areas and ultimately catch the people killing these incredible birds.”
The RSPB has also created a moving video, showing the challenges of working on the frontline in the fight against raptor persecution and exposing some shocking statistics.
To find out more about how you can help, visit: www.rspb.org.uk/defend.
