Scoren en geld maken: roofvogels als consumptie-artikel en bron van inkomsten

During the past years, members of the Dutch Raptor Group, Dutch Peregrine Group and Dutch Montagu’s Harrier Foundation have encountered an increasing number of incidents related to illegal trade of raptors and selfish activities of birders and photographers (following a relaxation of the law, facilitating an upsurge in illegal wildlife trafficking). Last year, a group of people was arrested that was involved in bird catching activities, apparently on the basis of ‘whatever you ask for, we supply’. Although details are not yet known (case still in court), it seems that raptors and owls were in particular demand. It shows that data on nest sites should be treated confidentially, and that care should be taken whom to trust. The latter has become particularly imperative because of the practice of birders to provide exact locations of nest sites and rare birds on the internet and other networks, without consulting local raptorphiles or considering its implications. For example, this practice is jeopardising the delicate cooperation between protectionists of Montagu’s Harriers and farmers, a cooperation started in the early 1990s and vital for the survival of this species as a breeding bird in The Netherlands (where the majority of Monties nests in cereals and other crops). The nesting of Montagu’s Harriers in a few localised areas has attracted birders and photographers who care little for the well-being of the Monties, the land or the research that is going on. Similarly, some Peregrines – still a rare breeding bird in The Netherlands – have received unwanted attention from photographers and falconers: in one case in 2003, the evidence suggests that a first clutch and a repeat laying were taken illegally. Some guidelines are provided to minimise the chances of disturbance by raptorphiles, birders and photographers (see also Bijlsma 1997, for extensive information on why, when and how to visit raptor nests). As codes of conduct are insufficient to keep people from selfish behaviour, raptorphiles are cautioned to keep quiet about nest sites, especially in front of strangers, birders and photographers.