In 2009 a white-tailed eagle, two golden eagles, four red kites, and 21 buzzards were confirmed by the Scottish Government as being victims of illegal poisoning. Baits laced with highly toxic and illegal poisons continued to be deliberately laid out in the open in Scotland’s countryside. A red kite was shot and a further four buzzards were confirmed as shot or trapped. Peregrines and hen harriers nesting on driven grouse moors again “disappeared” in circumstances that suggested deliberate human interference.
Continue reading The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2009
We are extremely pleased to report the success of two fledged peregrine chicks at site 2 this week. Both chicks seen in our image highlights what can be done if the landowner is sympathetic to breeding raptors. This is the second year this pair of peregrines have been successful at this site. Last year 4 chicks [...]
Private Estates Nest 3
Visiting any private estate in the Forest of Bowland to examine Peregrine nests usually leads to a very disappointing and sad experience. Nests that had been located earlier in the spring containing complete clutches of eggs are, when revisited, found to contain a single chick, dead embryos or eggs which have failed to hatch at all. In the worst scenario, the nest is completely empty and deserted. Today was a mixture of both.
To my complete surprise this morning, when I examined site 3, three eggs had already hatched successfully and the fourth was on the verge of hatching. What a shock to my system, but I felt sheer euphoria; throughout the 3 decades I have been watching this territory tenanted by a variety of different pairs over the thirty years, never before has anyone recorded a nest on this estate containing 3 chicks, possibly 4 by the end of the day. This site will now be carefully monitored and photographed during the next five weeks up until all chicks – god willing – fledge. Any disappointing news, together with good, will of course be posted on the web site at suitable intervals.
Continue reading Private Estates 3 & 5 – update
In 2009 a white-tailed eagle, two golden eagles, four red kites, and 21 buzzards were confirmed by the Scottish Government as being victims of illegal poisoning. Baits laced with highly toxic and illegal poisons continued to be deliberately laid out in the open in Scotland’s countryside. A red kite was shot and a further four buzzards were confirmed as shot or trapped. Peregrines and hen harriers nesting on driven grouse moors again “disappeared” in circumstances that suggested deliberate human interference.
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