RSPB Scotland has called for greater regulation of grouse moors as a report detailed illegal bird of prey killings.

The UK-wide Birdcrime 2017 study shows five incidents of illegal raptor persecution in Scotland last year.

These include shootings of a hen harrier and short-eared owl on a grouse moor in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, in May 2017, two nests destructions and one other incident.

However, Scottish Land & Estates, which represents landowners including sporting estates, said illegal bird of prey killings are at a record low and grouse moor licensing is “not needed”.

Short-eared owl body
The body of a short-eared owl found on a estate in 2017 (RSPB Scotland/PA)

RSPB Scotland believes illegal raptor persecution is more prevalent than the reported figures due to the disappearance of satellite-tagged birds of prey, including two golden eagles last year.

Bodies were not found in these incidents, so the statistics are not included in the report, but the charity said as the tags continue transmitting after death, the ceasing of transmission and lack of bodies is “highly suspicious”.

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations, said: “Recent population surveys have continued to show the impact that persecution is having on Scotland’s birds of prey is considerable, even though only a small proportion of incidents are being detected.

“As an example of this only a few raptors are satellite-tagged each year but the fact that so many of them ‘disappear’ almost exclusively in areas managed for grouse shooting, never to be found or heard from again, suggests not only have they come to harm, but that a significant number of those birds which aren’t tagged are also being illegally killed.

“It’s clear that those perpetrating these crimes have become more adept at covering their tracks, making it harder to uncover these incidents, and that there needs to be more accountability and regulation of the driven grouse industry if the future of birds of prey in Scotland is to be secure.”

His colleague Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management, called for driven grouse moors to be licensed with sanctions for license removal if illegal activity is discovered.

David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates, said raptor persecution is “totally unacceptable”.

He added: “Reports published recently demonstrate that the confirmed illegal persecution of raptors is declining and is at an all-time low and we expect this trend to continue.

“Further legislation, such as grouse moor licensing, as demanded by RSPB, is not needed. It would be a sledgehammer to crack a nut and would place yet another bureaucratic burden on a sector that delivers widespread social, economic and environmental benefits in rural Scotland.”

He said “some satellite-tagged birds may have been persecuted in the past” but the tags can malfunction.

He called for openness and transparency regarding satellite monitoring of birds including having tags transmitting live on a public website, adding: “We have nothing to hide, so let everyone see it.”