In 2018, persecution in The Netherlands was recorded via autopsies of raptors found dead in the field, and by checking nests for human-caused failures. Poisoning was not recorded (a methodological artifact, related to the low number of dead birds submitted for analysis), but shooting was diagnosed as the cause of death in 1 Goshawk, 2 Sparrowhawks and 3 Buzzards by the Central Veterinary Institute. Perhaps shooting is becoming more popular as a way of disposing of raptors. Deliberately disturbed nests were recorded 38 times. Disturbance occurred most often in the provinces of Friesland and Zeeland. Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Kestrel were the main victims. Based on the sample of 2675 raptor nests, and the relative frequency of species-specific nest destruction, it is calculated that at least 364 nests had been disturbed or destroyed in 2018, often intentionally but increasingly as collateral damage caused by managementmeasures (especially in nature reserves), farming, construction and maintenance. This extrapolated total is a minimum, because the causes of many suspect nest failures could not be unequivocally determined.

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Werkgroep Roofvogels Nederland

R.G. Bijlsma, & P.W. van Tulden. (2019). Vervolging van roofvogels in Nederland in 2018. De Takkeling, 27(1), 46–50.