Last week, a report published by RSPB Scotland revealed a "welcome" decrease in the numbers of birds of prey reported as being poisoned in the country.

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Although the number of reported cases has tended to fall over recent years, poisoning of iconic and often threatened birds of prey remains a major wildlife problem throughout the UK.

Last month, RSPB and two police forces in the East of England appealed for information on three birds found dead near Nene Wash Nature Reserve. The birds found poisoned earlier this year included a breeding pair of marsh harriers; the recovery of the species from near extinction has been hailed as one of the UK's greatest conservation successes.

The coalition government has come under fire for failing to act to protect raptors and other wildlife species threatened by widespread persecution. In 2011, former environment minister Richard Benyon dismissed out of hand proposals for a law that would have made landowners liable for the illegal persecution of wildlife on their lands.

The RSPB report suggested that killings last year had fallen on previous years, but the charity stressed that the illegal killing of birds of prey is still continuing at "wholly unacceptable levels" in some parts of Scotland. The Illegal Killing of Birds of Prey in Scotland in 2012 showed some of Scotland's rarest species, including golden eagles, goshawks, short-eared owls and hen harriers, had been targeted.

There were seven confirmed incidents of illegal poisoning, killing or targeting birds of prey in 2012, compared to 17 in 2011, as well as a further thirteen confirmed incidents of other forms of killing or attempted killing. Whilst the figures show a decline in confirmed cases of poisoning, evidence suggests that other forms of illegal killing such as shooting, trapping and nest destruction continue to exact a heavy toll on vulnerable bird species, according to RSPB.

Golden eagles were particularly hard-hit by persecution in 2012; the iconic eagles were targeted in three of the 20 cases recorded in the report. RSPB has also sought to draw attention to suspected cases of illegal killing of birds of prey including the destruction of nests or eggs and the disappearance of a number of raptors fitted with satellite transmitters, part of scientific research to look at their movements and survival.

As in recent years, the majority of reported incidents or suspected incidents of illegal killing took place in areas managed for driven grouse shooting, particularly in the eastern and central Highlands and the southern Uplands of Scotland.

Stuart Housden, RSPB Scotland Director commented, "We applaud the continued focus on tackling raptor persecution by the Scottish Government, but much remains to be done. We also welcome the decline in illegal poisoning; however  if those who wish harm to our country's birds of prey simply turn to other forms of persecution, such as shooting or trapping, then there is little to celebrate. These crimes have no place in 21st century Scotland, and responsible land managers must make that clear to all partners."