The number of birds of prey illegally poisoned doubled to six last year, a report has revealed.
A red kite, a golden eagle and four buzzards were poisoned in 2013, but the number remains well below a peak of 30 in 2009.
Figures from the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (Paw) Scotland reveal there were 15 recorded crimes against birds of prey including shootings, trappings and nest destruction last year.
The RSPB said the figures were “very worrying” and showed that birds continue to be persecuted in the Scottish countryside, whether by deliberate or accidental means.
A map published by Paw Scotland shows the location of all recorded crimes against birds of prey last year.
Two of the poisoning cases were in Perthshire and two were near Stirling, with one in Angus and the other south of Edinburgh.
The report comes as police investigate the deaths of 11 birds of prey – seven red kites and four buzzards – in Ross-shire over the last week. Wildlife officers suspect criminal behaviour but the causes of the deaths are yet to be established.
Reacting to the 2013 poisoning figures, Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “I want to be absolutely clear and unequivocal that any incident of poisoning of raptors is one too many and I have charged my officials with exploring with Paw Scotland partners how we can further reduce the presence of poisons across our countryside, with a particular concern to safely eliminate any remaining stocks of carbofuran (a pesticide) from Scotland.
“In addressing stakeholders, I made clear a year ago that while poisoning incidents were down, and this was good news, I would be watching to see if perpetrators of raptor persecution were merely switching methods of operation and I stressed I would take action if needed.
“I was therefore disturbed to learn of the unfolding number of raptor persecution incidents as the year progressed, and today’s publication of the new map confirms a larger number of other reported crimes that is nearly three times the level of poisoning.”
RSPB head of species and land management Duncan Orr-Ewing said: “It is very worrying that the number of detected illegal poisoning incidents has shown an increase on the previous year.
“The other reported criminal incidents show the deliberate targeting of vulnerable raptor species including hen harriers, red kites and both golden and sea eagles.
“We acknowledge Scottish Government efforts to tackle these appalling crimes, which have no place in modern Scotland, and agree that the production of these annual raptor crime maps makes a significant contribution to public awareness of this issue.”