20 red kites, 30 buzzards, 2 goshawks, 8 peregrines, 5 golden eagles, 1 white tailed eagle, 1 sparrow hawk…and a partridge in a pear tree! Perhaps not the partridge but the RSBP bird crime statistics reported that this number of birds were found poisoned in 2010.
Clearly this must stop and it is charities such as the RSPB who are pushing for tighter legislation in this area. There is a law which makes it illegal in England and Wales to possess certain pesticides which are harmful to wildlife unless proven to be used lawfully. However, given the list of banned substances is not published the law does not have sufficient teeth.
A spokesperson for Defra stated that they are considering the laws surrounding the possession of pesticides but in the meantime will continue to work with the Police and conservation bodies to protect birds.
A move in the right direction; let’s hope the same number of protected and beautiful birds are not needlessly killed in the future.