Peregrine falcon attacks: West Midlands
(DY6 - Saturday, 31 May, 2008)

A £1,000 reward was offered today to catch people who have been setting traps for peregrine falcons and smashing eggs.

The RSPB said nests belonging to the protected bird of prey had been targeted in two quarries in the Midlands in the last two weeks.

RSPB officers found three spring-traps set around a peregrine's nest at a quarry near Kingswinford, West Midlands, and two eggs had been smashed.

A male bird was found caught in a trap at a second nest near Cannock in Staffordshire and later had to be put down, the conservation charity said.

Volunteers who found that nest rescued two chicks close to starvation and Raptor Rescue, an organisation which cares for injured birds of prey, is now looking after them. The RSPB said there was no sign of their mother, who it is feared has also died.

Peregrines have special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which means it is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them when nesting. It is also against the law to set spring-traps out in the open where they can catch protected wild birds.

The peregrine is the fastest creature on the planet, reaching speeds of more than 100mph as they dive on their prey - mostly birds.

Numbers dropped to a low 360 pairs in Britain by 1963, largely as a result of poisoning by pesticides such as DDT.

The RSPB said individuals involved with pigeon fancying were believed to be responsible for some of the problems - although the conservation charity said birds of prey were responsible for a small proportion of racing pigeon losses compared to straying, exhaustion and collisions.

The charity is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information that leads to the conviction of people who have been setting the traps.

The RSPB and police in the West Midlands and Staffordshire urged people with information to come forward.

Anyone with information about the incident near Kingswinford can call West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000, or with information on the incident near Cannock they can call Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit on 08453 302010.

Alternatively people can call Crimestoppers anonymously about either incident on 0800 555 111.

Reward offered over peregrine falcon attacks

A £1,000 reward was offered today to catch people who have been setting traps for peregrine falcons and smashing eggs.

The RSPB said nests belonging to the protected bird of prey had been targeted in two quarries in the Midlands in the last two weeks.

RSPB officers found three spring-traps set around a peregrine's nest at a quarry near Kingswinford, West Midlands, and two eggs had been smashed.

A male bird was found caught in a trap at a second nest near Cannock in Staffordshire and later had to be put down, the conservation charity said.

Volunteers who found that nest rescued two chicks close to starvation and Raptor Rescue, an organisation which cares for injured birds of prey, is now looking after them. The RSPB said there was no sign of their mother, who it is feared has also died.

Peregrines have special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Anyone with information about the incident near Kingswinford can call West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000, or with information on the incident near Cannock they can call Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit on 08453 302010. Alternatively people can call Crimestoppers anonymously about either incident on 0800 555 111.

Unspecified location
Kingswinford
West Midlands
DY6