Golden Eagle poisoned

[Mike Jackson]

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Tayside and Central | Golden eagle found dead on estate

[Dogghound]

Its getting more common , we've seen the recent decline in peregrines but its always a massive kick in the teeth when its a Golden eagle.

[Wild-Woman]

It seems pointless to get angry. These people must just be very, very sick indeed.
It just beggars the question why?

[Jim Ford]

SCENE: Outside gamekeeper's tied cottage on large highland estate. Laird (who is also the local magistrate) is mounted on horseback, with the gamekeeper humbly standing by, head bowed and hat in hand.

Laird (glowering): My guest, the Chief Constable was very dissapointed he didn't get his usual bag of grouse yesterday!

Gamekeeper (anxiously screwing his hat in his hands): I'm sorry Sir, but an eagle has moved into yon crags.

Laird (looking at anxious wife with baby standing in doorway): Hmm, I see you're comfortably settled with your wife and new baby into my cottage.

Gamekeeper (biting bottom lip): Aye Sir, we're grateful to you for the roof over our heads.

Laird (fixing gamekeeper with meaningful look): Well, see to the matter man - see to the matter! We don't want to dissapoint the Chief Constable again, do we?

Gamekeeper (beads of sweat appearing on top lip): No Sir, I'll see to it immediately!

END OF SCENE (and eagle!)

Jim

[stigofthedump]

Again I find my head lying in my hands and asking WHY.

So, so sad. Just wish people could stop being so mindless, sigh.


Vince

[FUDGEY]

Well put Jim and maybe not a million miles away from how it happened. I know several keepers though who do not do it through pressure, they just get a kick from this sick act. I don't think many would purposely go out to poision an eagle, but there's always exceptions. It poses the question how many get killed that we never find out about?

[larachmor]

The only positive thing arising out of this latest incident is that this eagle (Alma) was satellite tagged, and as such, a very high-profile bird. She was tagged by Roy Dennis of the Highland Foundation for Wildlife, and for those of us who have been following her movements over the last year or so she has provided a tremendous insight into the mysteries of the wanderings of a juvenile eagle once they leave their home range.
Sadly, previous similar cases have shown that punishments handed down to offenders rarely (if ever) fit the severity of the crime, and the “offenders” are always the grouse moor managers and the keepers whose job it is to ensure a healthy bag for their bosses’ wealthy clients. They are just the expendable agents of the people that need to be brought to account - the land-owners. The way to punish them is to hit them where it hurts - in their pockets. The Scottish Government should legislate accordingly – and the way to do that is to ban all commercial shooting on offending estates. Until they are punished accordingly, the next illegal poisoning will never be far away.
In the meantime, you can follow the movements of eagles Tom, and Angus (Alma’s brother) on Roy’s website and keep our fingers crossed that they are able to avoid the dreaded grouse moors where these indiscriminate poison baits lie in wait.
You can also see Alma as she was when she was released, and read of how Roy Dennis was looking forward to tracking her into her third year. How incredibly sad.

Roy Dennis, Highland Foundation for Wildlife,

[FUDGEY]

That makes it even more of a tragedy to me know. What a fantastic idea re if guilty the estate incurs a ban, that would make them think twice about murdering our finest birds.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by larachmor

The Scottish Government should legislate accordingly – and the way to do that is to ban all commercial shooting on offending estates.

Yeah right - that's going to happen real quick now, isn't it?

Jim

[captaincarot]

is it possible that the bird could have eaten a poisoned bait some where else then flown off and died later?