Killings persist despite 60 years of legal protection.

The latest Birdcrime report, published by the RSPB, highlights the continuing problem with illegal persecution of birds of prey in Wales.

Despite 60 years of legal protection for wild birds, there were 12 reports of poisoning of birds of prey in Wales in 2012. These illegal acts account for nine per cent of the total UK birds of prey crime figures.

The report also indicates that Wales was the only part of the UK where the killing of birds of prey was carried out solely through poisoning, including the destruction of peregrines and red kites.

The RSPB’s director of conservation, Martin Harper, commented: “There are few sights in nature as breathtaking as witnessing a peregrine stooping. These are sights we should all be able to enjoy when visiting our uplands. However, these magnificent birds are being removed from parts of our countryside where they should be flourishing”.

According to the RSPB Investigations Unit, 45 bird crime incidents were reported across all species in Wales last year and the UK as a whole recorded 648 incidents. There were also 208 reports of the shooting and destruction of birds of prey across the UK, including the confirmed shooting of 15 buzzards, five sparrowhawks and four peregrine falcons.

The RSPB believes that tougher legislation is required to punish employers whose staff commit wildlife crimes and are calling for a legal responsibility to be placed on them. This has already been introduced in Scotland with figures showing a reduction in the number of confirmed poisoning incidents.

Martin Harper continues: “We want to see the government getting tough on wildlife criminals by making changes that will make a lasting difference to the prospects of threatened species like the hen harrier and peregrine.”