Conservationists are preparing to launch a hard-hitting campaign aimed at protecting under-threat hen harriers.
The campaign, which will lobby the Scottish Government for tougher hunting laws, will be launched at RSPB Scotland’s Loch Leven nature reserve, near Kinross this weekend.
Tayside and Central Scotland Raptor Study Groups have organised the Hen Harrier Weekend to raise awareness of the birds’ continued persecution in Scotland.
Members hope to drum up support for a new petition, demanding urgent action to introduce a state regulated system of licensing of gamebird hunting.
Among the speakers at the event will include Stuart Housden OBE, director of RSPB Scotland.
Last year, around 70 people gathered to show their support for hen harriers at Glen Turret Reservoir near Crieff.
Lobby groups believe some of the birds are being killed on grouse moors because they feed on wild red grouse and their chicks.
A spokesman for the team behind the Kinross campaign said: “Historically, the hen harrier was a widespread bird of prey across Scotland.”
He said changes to agricultural land had resulted in the loss of many lowland breeding sites.
“This was followed by a period of ruthless human persecution during the 1800s, as the Victorian passion for the Scottish sporting estate developed,” he said. “The result of this was that by the turn of the 20th century our Hen Harrier population was limited to Orkney.”
There has been some population recovery since, but in recent years their numbers have declined sharply in some parts of Scotland.
“Whilst hen harriers have the highest level of legal protection available across the UK and EU, illegal human persecution on land managed for driven grouse shooting is identified as the most significant cause of hen harrier’s demise in these areas.
“Hen harriers take some grouse as part of a wide diet of small mammals and birds, which often brings them into direct conflict with these sporting interests.”
A recent survey showed that the breeding population of hen harriers fell by 20% between 2004 and 2010, with the largest declines in the eastern and central Highlands and southern uplands.
The Loch Leven event runs until 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7.
