Shropshire Star

Spy cameras to combat 'plot' to wipe out rare falcons

Security measures to protect rare birds of prey at their nest site in south Shropshire are being beefed up to combat what is claimed to be a concerted attempt by some locals to wipe the falcons off the map.

Published
Under threat - Shropshire's peregrine falcons

According to Shropshire Peregrine Group, eight peregrine falcons have been deliberately killed by poison in the Clee Hill area since 2010 – a quarter of Shropshire's breeding population.

And it says that information from several sources in response to a reward has pointed the finger of suspicion at "a number of local individuals" suspected of being involved in organising and carrying out the killings.

With peregrines again having been seen in the skies over Clee Hill in recent weeks, the birds are expected to nest in the new year, and now round-the-clock surveillance cameras have been installed to keep an eye on the nest site area.

And the group says extra volunteers will be deployed in the area in the early spring.

John Turner, of Shropshire Peregrine Group, said: “The senseless persecution of peregrine falcons in the Clee Hill area has to my knowledge occurred on a regular basis for at least the past 20 years.

"The killings are well planned and executed, using similar methods on each occasion, even to the extent of using the same lethal poison causing the birds to die a slow, agonising death.

"This year we were fortunate to recover the young falcons from their nest before they too succumbed to the poison used to kill the adult birds. We may not be so fortunate in future.

"The manner in which these killings are carried out points to the involvement of some individuals who are openly campaigning for the 'removal' of peregrine falcons and other birds of prey from some areas of the countryside. 'Removal' in this context presumably implies killing or culling the birds.

"The best hope we have is for law-abiding people to call out those who operate outside the law.

"Peregrine falcons are specially protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and government has identified raptor persecution as a wildlife crime priority.

"I urge those government agencies responsible for preventing such crime to focus on enforcement action against it. In this way the peregrines at Clee Hill and elsewhere will have the opportunity to live and breed undisturbed by human persecution, as is their right."