Peregrines in 2009: shot, poisoned and trapped

This year looks like being one of the worst on record for crimes against Peregrines. The RSPB has been flooded with reports of birds being poisoned, trapped and shot and of their chicks being taken from the nest. Reported incidents already number more than 50 for the year, with more waiting to be processed. There were 79 incidents reported for the whole of 2007. As a result, the RSPB is urging the Government to add peregrines to its list of priority species for wildlife crime enforcement.

Shot Peregrine Falcon found dead in Gloucestershire in June 2009 (Photo: Grahame Madge (rspb-images.com))

Among the incidents reported to the RSPB this year are:

• Shooting: A dead Peregrine was found peppered with shot in the Forest of Dean. An x-ray revealed the bird, a seven-year-old female, had been blasted at close range with a shotgun.
• Poisoning: A female Peregrine and her chick were found dead on their nest near Sunderland next to the body of a pigeon, which police suspect was poisoned bait used to kill the Peregrine family. Samples have been sent for testing.
  
  In Walsall, a racing pigeon was found with a pill capsule taped to its leg. A tip-off that some pigeon fanciers in the area were targeting Peregrines led to the capsule being sent for tests. Results showed it had been filled with the banned pesticide Aldicarb.
  
  Since April, three pigeons have been found tethered to the ground near a Peregrine site in Cumbria. It is suspected the birds had been laced with poison in an attempt to kill the Peregrines. Samples have been sent for testing.
• Trapping: A Peregrine crash landed in a back garden near Lichfield in Staffordshire with its leg caught in a spring trap. It later died of its injuries. A search of nearby quarries by RSPB officers found three more traps on a ledge used by Peregrines.
• Nest robberies: All five chicks were stolen from a Peregrine nest site near Mansfield within a week of them hatching. It is the fourth year in a row the nest has failed.

April 09 RSPB officer recovering three illegal spring traps set to catch peregrines on a cliff ledge near Lichfield, Staffs (Photo: James Leonard (rspb-images.com))

Mark Thomas, RSPB Investigations Officer, said: "It has been a terrible year: one of the worst I can remember. In the last few weeks, barely a day has gone by without a call about Peregrine persecution. We have had multiple reports of attempts to target Peregrines with poisoned baits and lethal traps and now we have this bird confirmed shot. These crimes are cruel, needless and selfish. That they happen at all in the 21st century is a disgrace. Peregrines have taken 30 years to recover from the devastating effects of pesticide poisoning and still we find them targeted by people who hold a grudge against them. This has included rogue elements within the pigeon racing and game shooting communities, who blame them for the loss of their birds. Then there are those crooked individuals intent on taking eggs and chicks for falconry."

"The Government recently made the persecution of birds of prey one of the UK's wildlife crime priorities, with emphasis on five key species. We believe Peregrines should now be added to that list. We urgently need the Government to place Peregrines on the list of priority species for wildlife crime enforcement and make sure captive birds are properly registered. These crimes are committed by a selfish minority and are completely unacceptable. We need the public to support the RSPB's campaign to end the illegal killing of birds of prey."

Last year the RSPB launched a campaign to stamp out the illegal killing of birds of prey. Every year, birds such as Peregrines, Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers, Goshawks, Buzzards and Red Kites, are shot, poisoned and have their nests and eggs destroyed, despite being protected by law. If you would like to support the campaign, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey and sign the pledge.