A hardline on bird poisoning and wildlife crime has been promised by Environment Minister Mike Russell. Convictions could result in the removal of firearms licencesor cutting farm aid payments under measures being considered by the Scottish Executive. Mr Russell confirmed the government was looking at such moves after a recent spate of poisonings and in particular he had been absolutely appalled by the killing of a Golden Eagles in Peebles-shire. He went on to say "There should be no doubt that the Scottish Government is determined to stamp out this shameful and barbaric practice which has no place in a modern, civilised and environmentally friendly country". SRSG's are encouraged by this commitment. For full details see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6970283.stm

Dr Jeff Watson, one of the UK's leading ornithologists and conservationists has been awarded the RSPB Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to bird conservation. To many raptor workers Jeff is best known for his work on Golden Eagles and this has become his specialist subject and one for which he is globally recognised. Jeff lives in Inverness and is a long-term member of the Highland Raptor Study Group. Professor Ian Newton, Chairman of the RSPB's Council, presented the medal, the Society's most prestigious award (see image). In congratulating Jeff on his award, the Chief Executive of SNH Ian Jardine said "Scotland's internationally important protected areas and recent nature conservation legislation have benefited directly from Jeff's outstanding work. We are extremely proud of Jeff, who will be characteristically modest on this special occasion." Members of Raptor Groups throughout Scotland are delighted to add add their congratulations.

Following the report of the Red Kite 'strike' at Braes of Doune a communication was received from Don Scott from Northern Ireland. Don is known to many for his work on Hen Harriers and will shortly be publishing a book on Harriers of the World (watch these news pages for details). As in most of Scotland, turbines at windfarms in Northern Ireland do not require to be systematically checked for 'strikes'. On his own initiative Don monitored a windfarm in County Antrim for casualties. Harriers had previously bred on moorland near the windfarm but deserted it in favour of nearby forestry following the erection of the turbines. During visits to the area since 2005 Don has found 8 Hooded Crows and 6 Ravens which had obviously been hit by turbine blades. During an early morning visit on 13.1.07 Don found the dessicated remains of an adult male Hen Harrier below one of the turbines. Its right wing had been completely sheared off and lay approx 4m from the body. Don stated he had heard representatives from several windfarm companies stating that windfarms are completely safe for Harriers. After his horrific find Don would clearly beg to differ and he suggests his find may be just the tip of the iceberg. As far as we can establish this is the first recorded turbine 'strike' of a Hen Harrier and it is again significant that it was an adult bird. A fuller report will appear shortly in 'Irish Birds'. Don can be contacted by e.mail at theowlman46@hotmail.com.

Red Kites continue to hit the headlines for the worse possible reasons. Tayside Police announced early in July that they were investigating the poisoning of two Red Kites and it now transpires that at the end of July a third bird was found poisoned on Glenturret Estate near Crieff. Subsequent examination by SASA showed the bird had eaten bait laced with the banned pesticide carbofuran. In their press release Allan Stewart of Tayside Police highlighted that 2006 saw the highest incidence of poisoning birds of prey in more than a decade and suggested this could be equalled if not overtaken in 2007. Stewart further stated that it would be naive to think that these were the only poisoning incidents, and that most baits and victims are never found by anyone who might report them to to the police. Bob Elliot of the RSPB said that "those convicted of these sickening crimes must be punished accordingly, as the regularity with which we see them committed suggests that there isnt a strong deterrent". We would heartily agree and add that the actions of those who commit these crimes is invariably condoned by those who employ them - and who continue to employ them after any conviction. Anyone with any information who can assist this investigation is asked to contact Allan Stewart at 01738 892650 or any of the Wildlife Crime Officers mentioned on the Persecution pages of this website.

Apologies for the delay in bringing this news but it has now been established that a Red Kite died as a result of a collision with a turbine at the Braes of Doune windfarm in south Perthshire on 2nd July. This is the first incident in Scotland of a schedule 1 protected raptor species killed by a wind turbine 'strike' and it is extremely surprising that the story has generated little publicity, only being carried by the Press & Journal and the Stirling Observer. According to the 'P&J' an RSPB spokesperson stressed that it considered the risk of birds colliding with wind turbines as 'very modest' but the society apparently admitted that it was impossible to monitor every scheme. It is significant that the risk to Red Kites from the development was identified during the environmental impact assessment for the site. As a consequence a planning condition was imposed on the developers 'Airtricity' to monitor this aspect and they have in turn employed Natural Research. It is understood that it was a Natural Research employee who found the dead bird. The Chief Executive of Airtricity is also quoted by the 'P&J' and explained that all the issues had been carefully assessed by their consultants, SNH, the RSPB and the Scottish Executive and that the parties had agreed that while there was some collision risk, the effects were "likely to be small". It is understood the collision risk assessment was a bird every 3-5 years - the windfarm has only been fully operational since May! There is often an assumption that the birds which will be most susceptible to a 'strike' are young and inexperienced. However in the case of Red Kites research work in Germany has confirmed that breeding adults are most at risk. This was a 5 year old breeding female but the position as to whether it had young in a nest remains unclear. It was a also a ringed bird which was a regular visitor to the Argaty Red Kite Centre. In a Scottish context this is a historical case and it is surprising that it has not merited much wider media coverage. Three Red Kites have now been killed by turbine strikes in Wales, supporting increasing data from Europe that this species is extremely vulnerable to windfarms.

Many will already be aware that the BTO in collaboration with SOC has embarked on an ambitious Atlas project for the next four years. The project will cover both the breeding season and the winter and help will be needed in every 10km square. Observers can get involved by either submitting 'roving records' when they are out doing fieldwork, or by signing up to carrying out timed visit in a tetrad within a 10km square of their choice. To find further details and your local organiser visit the website www.birdatlas.net. There is also a Scottish Co-ordinator who is Bob Swann known to many for his work on seabirds and on raptors - Bob is a long term member of Highland Raptor Study Group. Bob can also be contacted by e.mail at scotatlas@bto.org.

The Scottish Borders has lost one of its only pair of Golden Eagles to poisoning. The discovery was made yesterday when Lothian and Borders Police searched land and property and discovered a poisoned bait on a grouse moor. Ironically yesterday was the 'glorious twelfth' historically the start of the grouse shooting season. Probably the term 'inglorious twelfth' is more appropriate as the shameful and criminal acts of many of those involved in grouse shooting continue to bring discredit and disdane on a so called 'sport' which employs a small number of individuals who manage large tracts of our uplands and who proudly boast that they, and not the conservation agencies and organisations, are 'the true guardians of our countryside'. Nothing could be further from the truth and the sooner the perpetrators are brought to justice the better for all involved. The RSPB is offering a reward of £1000 for information. Constable Mark Rafferty a wildlife crime officer with Lothian and Borders Police is seen holding the dead eagle and anyone with any information is requested to get in touch with Mark on 07785 248455. The Scottish Borders will be full of visitors at this time, many of whom visit the area to enjoy its wildlife. Few will realise that beyond many estate walls, crimes of this nature have been perpetrated for over 100 years. The good people of the Borders, and its countryside, are blighted by this kind of act perpetrated by a minority who consider themselves above the law. Surely it is time it was stopped? For further information see http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-167325

The current issue of British Birds (August 2007) Vol. 100 455-516 contains a number of articles of interest to raptor enthusiasts. Mick Marquis and others has an article on the foraging behaviour of Ospreys in southwest Scotland. Derek Yalden has an article on the older history of White-tailed Eagle in Britain and to add to some of the current discussions, there is a paper on the fossil and archaeological record of the Eagle Owl in Britain. Full details are shown on the publications pages.

Further to our previous News updates we are delighted to announce that the Donegal chick has now fledged and left the nest. Wet weather during June and July had been a major concern to the project team for the survival of the young bird. However a nest site under an overhanging rock had provided some protection. The photograph shows the young bird a few days before its first flight. For full details and a press release visit http://goldeneagle.ie or visit the Links page on this website.

The German Committee against Bird Slaughter has organised bird protection camps in the in the hills around Lake Garda in northern Italy during the annual autumn bird migration for the last 20 years. Both local and international volunteers join the camp the purpose of which is to curtail illegal hunting and trapping activity in close co-operation with Italian conservation organisations, the Carabinieri and Forest Police. The camp runs from 6th Oct to 4th Nov and is an opportunity for individuals to make a personal and active contribution to conservation - and it is FREE with most expenses including reasonable transport costs being paid. For further details contact http://www.proact-campaigns.net

This study aims to look at the dispersal of Common Buzzards from a long term study area in the Doune/Callander/Aberfoyle area of West Perthshire. There are two discrete habitat types - commercial forestry and farmland. During the winter of 2006/07 40 adult Buzzards were marked with a white wing tag with black letters/numbers on the right wing. During the summer of 2007 c90 young Buzzards were tagged with a white tag with black numbers on the right wing and a blue tag with white numbers on the left. Reports of marked birds should be sent to