The number of birds of prey killed illegally in Scotland is "deeply troubling", a conservation charity said today.

Crimes against the birds remain at "worryingly high" levels, according to the latest report from RSPB Scotland.

It comes days after it emerged that a white-tailed eagle was found poisoned near the Glenogil estate in Angus in May.

The charity said such crimes were causing serious damage to raptor populations.

The Birds of Prey Persecution 2007 study showed that crimes against the birds had dropped since the previous year but remained high.

There were 69 allegations or reports of poisoning in 2007, compared with 98 in 2006.

Of these, 37 were confirmed as pesticide or poison abuse killing or threatening raptors, down on 42 the year before.

It was the worst year on record for red kite poisoning, with 12 birds dying.

Carbofuran, an agricultural pesticide that has been banned since December 2001, was used in 30 out of the 37 confirmed cases.

There were also 78 reports of other types of persecution, such as nest destruction, traps and shooting incidents, down on 85 in 2006.

Of these, 17 were confirmed incidents, while 30 were classed as probable cases of persecution. In the remaining 31 cases there was either insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the claim.

The RSPB said that because raptors are long-lived, breed slowly and produce few young, the effects of illegal killing can have a damaging effect on their population levels.

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "These figures are deeply troubling, especially when we know that wildlife crime takes place in remote areas, where it is relatively easy to conceal evidence of wrong-doing.

"These confirmed cases must represent a tip of an iceberg.

"Whilst we know that many land managers behave responsibly, it is important that they stand up and provide information to the police on criminal activity against wildlife that comes to their attention."