Raptor persecutors could be using thermal-imaging technology, suggests RSPB

Gamekeepers may be using night-vision technology to kill raptors, the RSPB has suggested.

Thermal-imaging equipment such as rifle scopes, goggles and binoculars are used by estates to legally manage predators such as Red Fox. But RSPB investigations chief Ian Thomson wonders if the technology is being used to shoot birds of brey as they roost in trees at night.

Satellite tagging data shows at least 71 birds have simply 'disappeared' with their tags destroyed to cover up foul play. The charity was liaising with Police Scotland on a number of 'disappeared bird' cases, Thomson revealed, adding that while poison cases had fallen, raptors were still vanishing in suspicious circumstances.

Satellite tagging data shows at least 71 bird of prey have mysteriously 'disappeared' with their tags destroyed to cover up foul play (Paul Coombes).

Thomson said: "Rather than a bird lying dead on its back because it's eaten a poisoned bait, they are simply disappearing into thin air. We have specific examples of birds that disappeared while at roost sites so our supposition is that these birds are being killed after the hours of darkness and, in order to do that, the perpetrator has to have some night-vision equipment.

"We know most landholdings now have thermal-imaging equipment which they use for fox control, but we also suspect it's being used to kill protected bird species. Some of the tag data does suggest a lot of these birds are disappearing after the hours of darkness.

"There's one case where Golden Eagles disappeared from the same tree – satellite-tagged birds. They were probably roosting at night and got shot out of the tree, then a couple of years later another satellite-tagged bird was probably roosting in the same tree and got shot."