BASC Scotland has welcomed a 26 per cent fall in recorded bird of prey crimes in 2016.
Maps produced by the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland) show 14 confirmed bird of prey crimes compared to 19 the previous year.
BASC Scotland is a partner of PAW Scotland which also includes the police, land managers, conservationists and government agencies, working together to fight wildlife crime.
Dr Colin Shedden, director of BASC Scotland, said: “BASC condemns any form of raptor persecution and is pleased to be part of the PAW Partnership which is working to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime.
“We welcome the significant reduction in the number of offences involving birds of prey in Scotland.
“The 2016 figure of 14 offences is the lowest since the data was first published in 2013.
“Recorded offences are dropping and many raptor populations are increasing, including a recent 15 per cent increase in golden eagle numbers.”
ENDS