RSPB report highlights bird attacks in Shropshire
Four birds of prey were attacked in Shropshire last year, new figures revealed today.
In total five birds were deliberately hurt in the county, according to the The RSPB's annual Birdcrime report.
However, the RSPB believes its report represents just a fraction of the true number of cases.
The cases included the shooting of a rare Red Kite – one of only 100 of its kind in the county – in March last year.
The bird had to be put down by the RSPCA after it was found peppered with buckshot in Sleap, near Wem.
The bird, a protected species, was cared for at the Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, near Whitchurch, but staff ultimately decided its injuries were too severe to return it to the wild.
Poisoning
The RSPB's Birdcrime 2013 report includes 55 incidents of attacks on wild birds in the Midlands last year – 11 per cent of all the UK's bird crime.
They include the confirmed shooting of two hen harriers, two marsh harriers, five peregrines and 28 buzzards. Confirmed incidents of poisoning include that of 30 buzzards, 20 red kites, a golden eagle and a white-tailed eagle.
Wales recorded 113 acts of bird crime, nearly half of which occurred in Powys.
Among these were 37 incidents involving birds of prey, with the buzzard topping the list of most persecuted birds.
Martin Harper, the RSPB's conservation director, said the illegal persecution was "robbing people of the chance to see these beautiful birds flourish".
In England a total of 213 incidents against birds of prey were reported, including 82 in northern England, while 67 occurred in Scotland, 37 in Wales and 21 in Northern Ireland.
Naturalist and TV presenter Bill Oddie, who is vice-president of the RSPB, called on shooting industry leaders to help stamp out the illegal killing of birds of prey. He said: "We're losing hundreds of our most magnificent birds each year because of the mindless and senseless slaughter by a minority group, and it needs to stop."