Poison fear after bodies of rare birds discovered
Monday 10th May 2010, 11:46AM BST.
Two rare falcons have been found dead in “suspicious circumstances” at a south Shropshire quarry. The bodies of the peregrine falcons were found in the Clee Hill area on Saturday.
Shropshire Peregrine Group said it was thought the falcons, a protected species, may have been deliberately poisoned.
Members of the group and police officers from Ludlow recovered the bodies, and a reward is now being offered for information which results in the arrest and conviction of the person, or people, responsible.
John Turner, chairman of the group, said: “Three unhatched eggs were also recovered and an attempt will be made to incubate them, although this is unlikely to be successful given the length of time the eggs had been left exposed.
“It is suspected that both birds had been deliberately poisoned within the last few days, probably since Tuesday when the female peregrine was last seen alive and incubating the clutch.”
A police investigation has been launched and the remains will be tested at a Defra laboratory to establish the exact cause of death.
Mr Turner added: “The Shropshire Peregrine Group has offered a reward of £500 for information which results in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
“This was a barbaric act which shocked everyone at the scene including the police and members of the peregrine group.”
He said the peregrine was still a numerically rare bird and its recovery after being almost wiped out in the 1960s was a “remarkable success story”.
Anybody with any information is asked to call police on 0300 3333000, or the peregrine group on (01743) 821678.
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