Need to be vigilant?
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11183057.Clandestine_campaign_being_waged_on_large_bird_of_prey/
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Hi richard. Yet again in this months r s p b mag a game keeper from the swinton estate in north yorkshire , caught setting pole traps for rapters .the hen harrier boland betty was found shot on this estate the game keepers name is Ryan Waite .he works for the cunliffe, listers lord masham.leading tories for generations he is above the law .thay entertain the rich and famous from all over the world for shooting .listed as one of the top shoots in Britain rapters are NOT tolerated on this estate name and shame them the keeper was just given a fine .it will only improve, when the owners are brought to book.not much chance, when you are the politicians.
Thanks Tim below are a few incidents of Raptor persecution for this year alone, rather worrying it seems almost out of control with few convictions and trivial punishment.
Jan 2014: Shot buzzard, Norfolk.
Jan 2014: Dead bird (species unknown) & poisoned bait, South Lanarkshire.
Feb 2014: Shot buzzard, North Yorkshire.
Feb 2014: Shot buzzard, Norfolk.
Feb 2014: Shot sparrowhawk, Norfolk.
Feb 2014: Spring-trapped buzzard, West Yorkshire.
Feb 2014: Poisoned peregrine, South Lanarkshire.
Mar 2014: Shot peregrine, Dorset.
Mar-April 2014: Poisoned red kites (x 16) & buzzards (x 6), Ross-shire.
April 2014: Man arrested for alleged attempted raptor trapping, Aberdeenshire.
April 2014: Shot buzzard, North Yorkshire.
April 2014: Shot red kite, Northamptonshire.
April 2014: White-tailed eagle 'disappears' in suspicious circumstances, Aberdeenshire.
April 2014: Peregrine 'illegally killed', Stirlingshire.
May 2014: Shot peregrine, Devon.