Mr Thomson told The Herald on Sunday: \u2018I\u2019m not suggesting other factors like climate change and avian influenza are not important but illegal killing is absolutely playing a part.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are talking about an area, particularly on the eastern side, where food supply for birds of prey is abundant. Peregrine falcon will eat grouse. Unfortunately, some land managers see them as a threat to stocks of game birds, and we know species such as golden eagles, hen harriers and peregrines receive pretty short shrift in some areas.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, some land managers see them as a threat to stocks of game birds, and we know species such as golden eagles, hen harriers and peregrines receive pretty short shrift in some areas.<\/p>\n
\u2018We only ever detect a fraction of persecution incidents anywhere. Those killing birds of prey make efforts to cover up the killing.<\/p>\n
\u2018They are not going to leave the body of a dead bird lying about.\u2019 Grant Moir of the Cairngorms National Park Authority said there was evidence that raptor persecution takes place, and highlighted the case of a peregrine found shot just outside the park boundary around 18 months ago. \u2018But it can\u2019t be the only factor,\u2019 he said. \u2018Avian flu has had in impact and prey availability will be a part.\u2019<\/p>\n
Landowners said that while the reported decline in the peregrine population in the Cairngorms was concerning, it reflected a wider trend observed across UK-wide populations.<\/p>\n
Ross Ewing, director of Scottish Land & Estates, said \u2018care should be taken when drawing inferences about raptor persecution related to grouse moor management\u2019. He added: \u2018Scotland\u2019s official wildlife crime report shows that between 2021\/23, there were 19 offences against peregrines recorded in Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u2018However, none of these incidents took place within the Cairngorms National Park, and the vast majority were linked to the illegal laundering of peregrines in the Lothians and Scottish Borders.\u2019<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said its policy \u2018is clear\u2019 and \u2018if one of our members is convicted of a wildlife crime, they are removed from the organisation\u2019.<\/p>\n