THE number of birds of prey being poisoned in Scotland has risen by more than a third over the past year, new figures have revealed.
Golden eagles and buzzards were among 27 birds killed in 22 recorded poisoning incidents in 2009, according to new figures from the Scottish Government.
New maps showing hotspots for raptor persecution show many of the deaths are centred around the parts of Scotland popular for shooting estates. The death toll marks a return to levels of 2007 after a drop in 2008 to 16 poisoned birds of prey.
Roseanna Cunningham, environment minister, said: “These figures are a wake-up call to those who thought bird poisonings were on the wane.”
The dead birds included 19 buzzards, four red kites, two golden eagles, one tawny owl and one sea eagle. Tayside Police recorded the highest number of incidents, with nine confirmed poisonings.
There’s the concern “hunters” have about wildlife