Scottish Gamekeepers Association warns of ’emotive language’ after birds of prey report

Questions have been raised about the contents of a new report released by the RSPB Scotland.

The findings say birds of prey still face the threat of illegal killing and the charity has renewed its call for landowners and their staff to do more to protect them.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) has retaliated, saying incidents of abuse have dropped and warned the public about being ”blinded by emotive language.”

Alex Hogg, chairman of the SGA, said there was still work to be done in tackling illegal killing.

However, he said the public ”deserved” to know that up until the end of June Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture had confirmed only two cases of abuse.

He also said that an increased number of investigations had uncovered more deaths caused by birds colliding with power lines and vehicles.

He added: ”The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has an unequivocal stance against the abuse of birds of prey and will continue to work hard, as it has done, to keep bringing these figures down.”