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Peregrine chick may have been poisoned
Monday, 4 August 2008
Police are hunting for the culprits behind the disappearance of a rare peregrine falcon chick from its Antrim coast nest.
The bird is thought to have been poisoned or shot following the discovery of an illegally tethered pigeon close to one of the oldest known peregrine nests in Northern Ireland.
Bird watchers from the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group said a single chick had fledged shortly before July 20 and was seen chasing and begging for food from the adult falcons. But only the adults were spotted on later visits and the tethered pigeon was found near the nest at Dickeystown Road near Glenarm last week.
DUP MLA Jim Wells, who chairs NIRSG and has been researching peregrines for more than 30 years, said: “The fact that this activity has occurred at one of the longest known peregrine nests is devastating.
“The group has confirmed over 50 incidents of persecution during our peregrine studies and we suspect over a hundred more. There is no place in society for such illegal activity targeting raptors.”
The tethered pigeon has been sent for forensic examination.
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Is there not a organized group of volunteers monitoring these protected nests, like in Toronto, Ontario Canada? Gee, too often there is news of, killng, poisoning and trapping. Every year it seems to continue, but no one sees anything.
I think it's time to step up to the plate and start protecting these precious birds.
Posted by Linda | 05.08.08, 14:34 GMT