Countryside Alliance responds to RSPB "Birdcrime 2014" report

The RSPB has published its annual "Birdcrime" report for incidents in 2014.

The report claims that 367 incidents were reported to the RSPB in 2014 across the United Kingdom. Whilst this is seven more incidents than in 2013 (360), it is a figure well below the average for the past five reports of 531.

Of the 367 incidents reported in 2014, fewer than half were allegations of shooting and destruction of birds of prey, the others included incidents of poisoning, photography, taxidermy and egg sales, and only 84 incidents specifically against birds of prey have been confirmed. This represents a 33% reduction since 2013 when the number of confirmed incidents was 125.

There were 19 individual prosecutions involving wild birds in 2014, a reduction of 40% since 2013 when there were 32 wild bird related prosecutions. Of those 19 individuals, only two were gamekeepers found guilty of offences against birds of prey.

The Countryside Alliance does not condone any form of wildlife crime and any incident of illegal persecution is one too many. However, it is extremely disappointing that, yet again, the RSPB has chosen to use their Report to advance an anti-shooting agenda, with a focus on grouse shooting that is wholly disproportionate to the evidence.

Countryside Alliance Director of Shooting, Adrian Blackmore, commented "It is clear from its 2014 Birdcrime Report that the RSPB's focus remains firmly on driven grouse shooting, and the illegal persecution of birds of prey in our uplands; specifically the hen harrier and peregrine falcon. This is despite the fact that confirmed incidents of wildlife offences against birds of prey in upland areas or connected to gamekeepers and grouse moor managers represent a tiny fraction of all incidents. The result is a report which is misleading and distorts the real picture in favour of attacking shooting."

A full analysis of the RSPB report is available here - RSPB BIRDCRIME REPORT 2014 ANALYSIS.