A volunteer with RSPB Scotland has created special artwork to commemorate the mass poisoning of birds of prey earlier this year.
The death toll of 16 red kites and six buzzards in the major poisoning incident on the Black Isle happened during March and April but the culprits have never been caught.
Janice Duke’s artwork includes 20 A3 limited edition archive quality prints which it is hoped will be selling for £85 a copy.
Profits will go towards the RSPB and their investigation and species protection work.
Janice, who volunteers at the RSPB’s Forsinard Flows nature reserve in Sutherland, said: “Red Kites are beautiful and distinctive birds of prey, ones I particularly enjoy watching in action. There’s something about the way they move, so elegant and powerful. It moves me.
“As the death toll rose in Ross-shire earlier this year in what would amount to a particularly disturbing incidence of persecution, I was appalled.
“Each individual killed was, to me, as innocent as a child. A wild little brother or sister lost to us all.
“I will donate all the profits from the sale to the RSPB, whose investigation and species protection work may help prevent future incidents and may help bring any who were involved in this or other wildlife persecution to justice, and whose education work teaches current and future generations to view our wildlife with due respect and care.”
Anyone interest in a copy should contact Janice.duke@hotmail.co.uk or the RSPB on 01463 715000.
The RSPB Scotland has revealed that despite the loss of kites in Ross-shire, the birds have expanded their range into Sutherland.
Red kite officer Brian Etheridge said: “We found our first red kite nests in Sutherland last year and I can confirm that we have had three breeding pairs this year. They are located in the area between Dornoch and Bonar Bridge.
“This is really good news and shows that the birds are capable of doing very well in the north of Scotland if they are not persecuted.
Anyone who has any other records of red kites breeding in Scotland should email brian.etheridge@rspb.org.uk or call 01463 715000.