Update - 23rd May 2014:

We are extremely grateful for the huge public support and demonstration of outrage following the illegal killing of a large number of red kites and buzzards in Ross-shire just over two months ago. Your support via this Just Giving appeal has been incredible, and we have taken on all of your comments left on this page. The collective reward for information leading to a conviction over this atrocity has now grown to £27,000 (including pledges from Scottish Land and Estates and others) - demonstrating how strong the public feeling is for tackling wildlife crime in Scotland. In our appeal, we stated that if this money was not claimed as part of the Ross-shire reward fund, it would be channelled to RSPB Scotland Investigations team to help with their work supporting the police to tackle raptor crime in Scotland. Further to a number of enquiries from supporters over progress with this case, we will now be speaking to Police Scotland to seek their advice over use of your donations to this reward fund. If agreed by the police, we will use this money shortly to fund satellite tags for hen harriers and golden eagles, to be fitted by experienced and qualified RSPB Scotland staff, as well as other high technology equipment for RSPB Scotland Investigations. Thank you for all your support in helping combat crimes against birds of prey in Scotland, from all of us at RSPB.     
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At the beginning of this month, Police Scotland confirmed that 16 birds of prey – 12 red kites and four buzzards - were found dead in Ross-shire. This number has now increased to 19 (14 red kites and five buzzards), with at least some of the birds of prey illegally poisoned.

RSPB Scotland has urged anyone with information to contact Police Scotland and the conservation charity is offering a £5,000 reward for information that leads to a successful conviction. An anonymous donor has come forward to pledge a further £5,000, taking the total current reward on offer to £10,000.

Since this announcement, RSPB Scotland has received an unprecedented number of enquiries from the public. Many people have expressed a desire to make a financial contribution to the reward.

This JustGiving web page has been set up as a response to the overwhelming level of support from the public, and to allow those who want to make a financial contribution to the reward to do so. Any contributions will be added to the money pledged for information that leads to a successful conviction.

In the event that the reward is not needed, your donations will contribute to RSPB Scotland’s wildlife crime investigations work to reduce wildlife crime and safeguard birds of prey at home in Scotland. Find out more about RSPB Scotland’s wildlife crime investigations and nature conservation work here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/

RSPB Scotland press releases on the recent incidents can be viewed here:

Staff and volunteers devastated at loss of much-loved birds of prey:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/367114-staff-and-volunteers-devastated-at-loss-of-muchloved-birds-of-prey

Reward for information about poisonings doubled to £10,000:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/367145-reward-for-information-about-poisonings-doubled-to-10000