Vervolging van roofvogels in Nederland in 2019

In 2019, 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 seven times (1x Marsh Harrier, 1x Goshawk, 5x Buzzard). Shooting was diagnosed as the cause of death in 3 Goshawks and 3 Buzzards by the Central Veterinary Institute. Shooting seems to become more popular as a way of disposing of raptors. Deliberately disturbed nests were recorded 50 times. Disturbance was most often recorded in the provinces of Friesland and Zeeland. Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Goshawk were the main victims. Based on the sample of 3118 raptor nests, and the relative frequency of species-specific nest destruction, it is calculated that at least 414 nests had been disturbed or destroyed in 2019, often intentionally but increasingly as collateral damage caused by management measures (especially in nature reserves), farming, construction and maintenance. This extrapolated total is a minimum. The causes of many suspect nest failures could not be unequivocally determined, and the instances of poisoning and shooting suggest extra mortality outside the breeding season.