UK laws are failing birds of prey as widespread killing continues - RSPB

New RSPB report backs tougher regulation through licensing for all gamebird shooting in the UK.

Almost one thousand protected birds of prey were confirmed as illegally killed in the UK between 2015 and 2024, a new RSPB report reveals.

Although all birds of prey have been protected under UK laws for over 60 years, the report, Patterns of Persecution, found that these protected species continue to be illegally targeted and killed.

Between 2015 and 2024, 921 confirmed incidents were recorded across the UK. Of these, 48% were shooting related.

Tip of the iceberg

In this ten-year period, 18 protected bird of prey species, including many reintroduced and recovering species of conservation concern, fell victim to these crimes. Buzzards were the hardest hit with 319 confirmed incidents recorded, followed by Red Kites (157 confirmed incidents) and Peregrines (97 confirmed incidents).

Concerningly, as these crimes take place predominantly in remote and often inaccessible areas of the countryside, not all are detected. These figures therefore represent only the tip of the iceberg.

Links to gamebird shooting

Evidence, including police investigations, intelligence reports, eye-witness accounts and covert footage have shown that bird of prey persecution is significantly linked to the gamebird shooting industry.

A total of 55% of confirmed incidents (2015-2024) were linked to land managed for gamebird shooting (21% grouse shooting, 28% pheasant and/or partridge shooting, and 6% mixed gamebird shooting).