Probe after red kite found poisoned

Police are investigating the illegal poisoning of a red kite in the Strathtay area of Highland Perthshire, it was revealed yesterday.

The body of the bird of prey was found in Strathtay, half way between Aberfeldy and Ballinluig, at the end of July. But tests carried out by scientists have only now confirmed the bird had been poisoned.

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: "The bird may have been dead for a few months, and tests carried out by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, Edinburgh, confirmed that the bird had been poisoned.

"Though this is the first red kite to have been found poisoned in Strathtay in 15 years, Tayside Police have recovered 14 buzzards, two tawny owls, two sparrowhawks, two crows, a common gull, a polecat and a domestic cat from the same area, all of which had been poisoned."