Bird persecution's just 'phoney war' RSPB IS EXAGGERATING THREAT - GAMEKEEPERS.

Byline: OWEN HUGHES

GAMEKEEPERS have accused the RSPB of creating a "phoney war" by exaggerating the threat to birds of prey. Last week the bird charity said 2009 had been a shocking year for the persecution of birds of prey like buzzards and kites, who had been targeted in "shootings, trappings and poisonings".

They described it as a war against the birds in Wales.

The figures in the RSPB Birdcrime report showed there were 24 reported incidents against birds of prey in Wales in 2009 and 56 incidents in North Wales and 70 in Powys over 20 years.

But now the National Gamekeepers' Organisation(NGO) have challenged the claims and say the RSPB's own statistics don't justify the strong language used.

They added that the RSPB stats may also be inflated because they use reported and not confirmed figures. But the RSPB says it will continue to highlight the threat to bird species and call for more protection.

David Pooler, the chairman of the North Wales NGO group, and a headkeeper near Corwen, said: "The RSPB says a "war" is being waged against birds of prey in Wales. Given the huge increase in bird of prey numbers in recent years, it is a phoney sort of war in my book with the RSPB Birdcrime report painting a very confusing picture.

"It claims persecution is rife. Yet RSPB figures published elsewhere clearly show numbers (birds of prey) to be buoyant."

He added: "Why do gamekeepers want to blow away this fog of confusion? "Because as professional wildlife managers who live and work in the country, we feel that while the RSPB keeps on banging this drum attention is diverted away from the real wildlife conservation issues that face the countryside and its fauna; not least because a host of other, less photogenic bird species really are in serious trouble.

"Equally, in this age of austerity, when resources for conservation work are increasingly rationed, we want to use our influence to best ensure they go where most good can be done.

"It seems odd that birds of prey have become such a totemic issue for the RSPB as populations are burgeoning. We say please don't squander resources that could be better used elsewhere."

The NGO were pleased though that the RSPB had exonerated Welsh gamekeepers from involvement in persecution. Dr Sean Christian, RSPB Cymru Head of Conservation, said the report does state that birds of prey numbers had improved markedly.

He added: "However, it is just as true that persecution is still unacceptably common and shows little signs of declining in many upland areas. Things have not improved for species such as the hen harrier and golden eagle, which are still severely limited by illegal killing, particularly in northern England, and Scotland, less so in Wales.

"It is disappointing Mr Pooler chooses to incorrectly suggest the report somehow 'exaggerates' the problem, rather than using the opportunity to condemn those who break the law, particularly as the NGO signed the RSPB's bird of prey campaign pledge asking for more to be done to tackle illegal killing.

"As a wildlife and conservation charity, RSPB Cymru will continue to raise awareness of the issues facing birds of prey in Wales. Yes, the future for some birds of prey has improved but we need to continue to speak up for wildlife where we can by painting a realistic picture, and this picture is that more can and needs to be done to protect these magnificent birds."

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