Estate licences restricted for three years after kite deaths

Scotland’s nature agency has restricted the use of general licences on an estate on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park for three years. 

NatureScot took the decision on Lochindorb Estate near Grantown-on- Spey based on evidence from Police Scotland. This included a red kite found poisoned by an insecticide in 2021 on land managed by the estate, and another shot on the estate last year. 

General licences allow landowners to carry out control of species of wild birds, such as crows and magpies, without the need to apply for an individual licence. Donald Fraser, NatureScot’s head of wildlife management, said rescinding the general licences for Lochindorb was “proportional” given the level of “persecution” of birds of prey. 

A spokesman for the estate said it was “extremely disappointed by the decision”, adding: “The estate emphatically denies involvement in any way with — or would condone — the killing of protected bird species.” 

A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said: “The SGA has a no tolerance policy of wildlife crime.” 

The SGA noted it has removed 11 members over the past decade in relation to such issues.