Aye especially this part
The SGA is asking for the right to protect our stock and the diversity of wildlife in the countryside and consequently the jobs of gamekeepers across Scotland. The SGA is not calling for raptors to be shot on sight or persecuted in any way.
The short-term solutions have been tried and found to be of little effect or physically or financially impossible.
Many devices have been used in an attempt to scare or deter raptors from predating our stock. These include: mirrors, tin plates, plastic bags and scarecrows hung up within the areas of release pens. None of the above has proved very efficient. Constant patrolling by a person possibly waving a flag is costly in man-hours and considering the distances required to be covered daily is physically demanding. Patrolling on the uplands to protect grouse populations is physically impossible and the setting up of scaring devices is a non-starter considering the areas in question.
The solution to our problem as we see it are changes in the law to allow for the control of raptors to maintain an ecological balance. Some form of quota system or relocation program needs to be seriously investigated if the raptor problem is to be solved to everyone’s satisfaction.
Any birds found to be over the stated quota could be controlled providing they are high number species such as buzzards, peregrines or sparrowhawks. For local populations to be assessed nests would have to be found and counted. One nest within the quota area would be left. All others removed.
For less numerous species such as kites, harriers, goshawks etc. the extra nest could be removed and eggs hatched elsewhere. The adults could be live trapped and relocated to areas where these raptors can be accepted. Another option would be to *expletive removed*/addle the eggs, thereby stopping the increase of chosen raptor species.
It is important to note that many areas of Scotland have no shooting interests and raptors could breed freely in these areas. The numbers would have to be closely monitored to ensure diversity of other species and interests, and local circumstances might dictate leaving pairs where it was sensible to do so.
Between the quota system areas and the free breeding areas raptors would continue to thrive and damage would be down to a minimum. All control measures and licences whether lethal or otherwise could be carried out by MAFF or some other body. Gamekeepers do not need to be physically involved in their removal.
We urge that ravens and cormorants come under a similar scheme.
In areas where raptor populations threatened other birds or pigeon interests a local group could make recommendations to the governing body concerned with this problem.
A copy of the SGA’s evaluation of the raptor working group report, which may illustrate some of our concerns not noted here, is obtainable on request from:The Secretary of the SGA
