Another bird of prey has disappeared in the Monadhliath Mountains, sparking claims that there is a major problem with wildlife crime in the area.
RSPB Scotland yesterday revealed that a young male hen harrier fitted with a satellite transmitter has disappeared on a grouse moor on the mountains south east of Inverness.
It comes just days after the charity announced that eight satellite-tagged golden eagles had also disappeared in the northern Monadhliaths in the past five years, with three of these birds, whose transmitters were also functioning normally, going “off the radar” this spring.
The hen harrier, called Elwood, was the only chick to fledge from a nest in Banffshire, which being was monitored under the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAW Scotland) Heads up for Harriers scheme.
The transmitter’s data indicated that the young bird fledged from its nest in the first week of July. By July 27, it had moved 20 miles to the south west, and had settled in the hills around Tomatin.
The bird remained in this area until suddenly, transmissions ceased abruptly on August 3. The bird’s last recorded position was on an area of managed moorland a few miles from the Slochd summit on the A9.
Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations, said: “This latest disappearance of a satellite-tagged bird is deeply concerning, and joins the long list of protected birds of prey that have been confirmed to have been illegally killed or disappeared suddenly in this area.
“The absence of typical breeding raptor species from areas of suitable habitat, or at traditional nesting sites, in large parts of the Monadhliaths is further supporting evidence of a major problem with wildlife crime in this general area.”
He called for the Scottish Government to introduce a robust system of licensing of game bird hunting.
Tim Baynes, Director of the Scottish Moorland Group, said: “We are as concerned as anyone when a satellite tagged bird goes missing and particularly in this case because the bird was part of a project involving Scottish Land and Estates and our members.
“We are contacting our partners in the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland) to find out more. Estates in the area where the bird went missing are also concerned but have not been approached by RSPB to help in any search. They are unaware of any incident and would be willing to help.”
