Around a hundred protesters gathered on Inverness High Street this afternoon following the deaths of nineteen birds of prey around the Black Isle over recent weeks. Tests already carried out have confirmed that 12 of the birds were victims of illegal poisoning. Many of the dead birds had been tagged as chicks as part of a conservation project.
Nineteen white cut-outs of red kites and buzzards were displayed as the protest – which was called by RSPB North Scotland – was led by a lament on the bagpipes from Davie Mitchell. Those attending then heard speeches from the renowned naturalist and local wildlife tourism entrepreneur Sir John Lister-Kaye, as well as representatives of the RSPB, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and Highland Council.
There is now a reward fund of over £24,000 for information leading to a conviction over the deaths, with the reward being boosted by the RSPB, a group of local landowners and farmers, together with members of the public.
On Friday, SNH chairman Ian Ross described the deaths as “shocking, grim and distressing”, adding that the killings threatened Scotland’s appeal as a wildlife tourism destination. Nature-based tourism is said to be worth £1.4bn a year to the Scottish economy.
Sir John Lister-Kaye addresses the protesters