The Aberdeen Press and Journal and the Guardian carry an article to-day highlighting that half the Red Kites bred in Scotland over the last ten years have been killed illegally according to the RSPB. RSPB Scotland scientists suggest that 47% of the Kites fledged between 1993 and 2003 were either shot or poisoned by agricultural pesticides illegally left out as bait. RSPB accuses gamekeepers of threatening the fragile population with the indiscriminate and illegal abuse of agricultural pesticides and said tough jail sentences were needed to underline the seriousness of the crime. Members of SRSGs fully endorse the RSPB position which is outlined in detail in Appendix D of the Review of Bird of Prey Persecution in Scotland 2005, available as a pdf in the Persecution and Wildlife Crime pages of this site. To read the Guardian article visit http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,,1979732,00.html. See also RSPB press release http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/scotkites_tcm5-125002.pdf

This much awaited guide, written by people who watch, survey or monitor raptors, was launched to-day and there has been a significant amount of related publicity. Professor Des Thompson, Chair of the SRMS and co-author of the guide said "Raptors are one of the best indicators of the health of the environment and it is fantastic that we now have a detailed guide to survey methods for these birds. We owe a great debt to several hundred volunteers who have devoted much of their spare time to surveying and monitoring raptors. Their efforts have provided us with some of the best indicators of how our environment is changing. As the demands for information increase, we need more people in the field to begin to fill in gaps in knowledge and to ensure that we continue to gather this important information." See the Publications pages for full details of the guide. Details of the SNH press release is available at http://www.snh.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=1611

The Board of SNH has approved measures to protect the high numbers of Hen Harriers which breed on the moorlands of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, near Glasgow. The designation of the Renfrewshire Heights Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) will protect the birds habitats under UK law. The proposal to designate the site has gone through a protracted process following a number of objections to the designation. The site has also been put forward as a European Special Protection Area (SPA) by the Scottish Executive as part of a Europe-wide drive to protect Hen Harriers. Full details are available at http://www.snh.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=1599

Further to the News item on 26th October, giving notice that the above Conference will be hosted in Scotland, there is now a temporary web page available at http://www.rrfconferencescotland2009.org/

Birdlife the Netherlands, Global Owl Project and the World Owl Trust are hosting the World Owl Conference - Owls, Ambassadors for the Protection of Nature In their Changing Landscape - at Groningen, Netherlands, between 31st October and 4th November, 2007. The conference includes a workshop, three days of science, a day birding, as well as lots of opportunities for socialising. Full details are available at http://www.worldowlconference.com/

The 2007 Conference will be held on 24th February and is being organised by Central Scotland Raptor Study Group. A feature of the Conference is the Derek Ratcliffe Memorial Lecture which will be given by Professor Erkki Korpimaki of Turku University, Finland, on Lessons from long term studies of Owls and Kestrels. It should be noted that Conference attendance is restricted to SRSG members and guests.

The Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme report for 2004 has just been published. The report is available in pdf format in the SRMS pages on this site. Members of SOC will also receive a hard copy of the report with the next issue of Scottish Bird News. This includes a number of superb colour photographs by David Whitaker, a member of Highland RSG. One of the main findings of the report is the urgent need for information on Short-eared Owls. There is an SNH press release available at http://www.snh.org.uk/scripts-snh/nw-displ.asp?ID=1572