The RSPB is offering a £5,000 reward to anyone who can help them to catch the person or persons responsible for a spate of raptor poisonings in Ross-shire.
Thirteen birds of prey – including nine protected red kites and four buzzards – have been found in a small area of land near Conon Bridge.
It is believed to be the worst bird of prey poisoning incident in Scottish history.
RSPB Scotland’s Head of Species and Land Management Duncan Orr-Ewing has confirmed that they will put up the £5,000 reward for anyone who is able to provide information leading to a conviction.
He said: “This appalling incident highlights the very real threat illegal poisoning poses to fantastic species like red kites.
“The vulnerable Black Isle population in particular has been repeatedly hit by deaths due to illegal poison use.
“The Chilterns population in Southern England is nearly ten times bigger, yet both projects started at the same time in 1989 with the same number of birds released into the wild. That is a shocking indictment on the behaviour of some in this part of rural Scotland.
“We are offering a £5,000 reward for information that leads to a successful conviction and we urge anyone with information relating to this incident to contact Police Scotland so the perpetrators can be identified and brought to justice.”
Post-mortem examinations on the birds are being carried out but poison has already been detected in six of them.
Police have not confirmed which toxin was involved but said it had acted quickly – indicating that the birds ingested it close to where they had died. Police said last night inquiries are continuing.
The police are warning anyone who finds a dead bird or animal in the area not to touch it amid fears that the poison could be harmful to humans or pets.
They say the location should be noted and the police informed.
The investigation into the Ross-shire raptors comes as the Scottish Government confirm plans to consult over proposals to hand out greater powers to Scottish SPCA inspectors looking into wildlife crimes.
Under the proposals, inspectors would be able to investigate crimes relating to wild birds, other protected animals, poaching, snaring and non-native species of animals.
Those investigations could involve accessing land, searching for evidence and seizing any evidence found.
Access to buildings would remain by permission only.