Marsh harrier poisoned on Humberside

Illegal poison used
October 2012. The RSPB has launched an appeal and a £1,000 reward for information about a marsh harrier which was found poisoned in Humberside earlier in the year. Forensic analysis reveals that the bird was poisoned with Aldicarb - an agricultural pesticide that has been banned in the UK.

Martin Harper added: "At least four species of bird of prey have been persecuted to extinction in the UK during the last 150 years, including the marsh harrier. Although these birds are slowly recovering their numbers, they remain vulnerable and acts like this represent a continued threat to these birds: it's time for the law to be upheld and that convicted of bird of prey poisoners should go to jail."

Section 43 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 allows for the inclusion of a list of proscribed poisons and pesticides. The EAC report suggests the list of poisons, including Aldicarb, could be made by Government in a few weeks.

The news of the poisoning of this marsh harrier coiincides with the UK government's Environmental Audit Committee’s  Wildlife Crime report on the protection of birds of prey, which are being killed in large numbers each year in the UK.