Birds of prey continue to be killed in Northern Ireland but many deaths are going unreported, the RSPB believes.
The wildlife charity is to publish its latest report on the persecution of the animals across the UK today, but says just one death was reported in NI in 2021.
The campaign group, however, says they believe the region’s birds of prey species are “under threat, from criminals who illegally target and kill them”.
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The birds, like Red Kites and Peregrines, are being shot and poisoned, the RSPB says, with 30 confirmed incidents of raptor crime in Northern Ireland between 2016 and 2020 involving 26 birds.
RSPB NI says they have an investigations officer who is working with partners “to help detect and catch those carrying out bird of prey-related crimes in Northern Ireland”.
A spokesman added: “RSPB NI is seeking to discover the scale of raptor persecution in Northern Ireland. In an attempt to stamp out the practice of illegally killing birds of prey, RSPB have employed a dedicated investigations officer, to collaborate with police forces and other partners to detect and investigate these crimes. Together, over the last 12 months, they have combed through collections of data, to understand more about raptor persecution in Northern Ireland.
“All wild birds are protected by law in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Sadly, illegal shooting, trapping, poisoning and destruction of nests, continues to threaten some of the country’s most iconic and vulnerable species. These include red kites and peregrines.”
RSPB NI Investigations Officer Dean Jones started working with the charity in 2021 “to work alongside the statutory agencies and other partners, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group”.
The investigator’s work involves recording and following up wildlife crime incidents, as well as being the point of contact for the public. The RSPB says his appointment “marks a significant step towards identifying and tackling raptor persecution in Northern Ireland”.
The RSPB’s Birdcrime report, published today, is expected to reveal just one confirmed incident in Northern Ireland in 2021, though the charity beluieves “many more will have undoubtedly gone undetected and unreported”.
The total number of confirmed incidents for the UK is 108.
The spokesman added: “It is believed the single raptor persecution incident in Northern Ireland during 2021 reflects the low detection rate and highlights the need for increased awareness and reporting of potential crimes.
“RSPB data shows that between 2016 and 2020, there were 30 confirmed incidents in Northern Ireland involving 26 birds. Poisoning continues to be the prevailing method, involving over half these incidents (16), followed by shooting (11 incidents).”
Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations UK, said: “The addition of Dean to our UK team is already helping us understand more about the impact of wildlife crime on some of Northern Ireland’s priority raptor species, such as red kites and peregrines, which everyone should have the pleasure of seeing and enjoying. This additional resource will also enable increased monitoring of hen harriers, a species which has undergone a steady decline in breeding numbers in Northern Ireland over the last few decades.”
Dean Jones, RSPB NI Investigations Officer, said: “You, the conscientious public, have an important role to play in helping keep our birds of prey safe. If you see a dead or dying bird of prey in suspicious circumstances, please report it to the police and myself at the RSPB. Email crime@rspb.org.uk and I will pick up your request and get back to you. If you want to remain anonymous, you can also call the special Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101. Your evidence may be vital in helping us catching wildlife criminals.”
More information about what and how to report a possible raptor crime can be found online: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wild-bird-crime.
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