Shooting UK

From guns and gundogs to the latest shooting news; the complete online network for the British shooting community.

RSPB accuses falconers of theft

RSPB accuses falconers of theft

Falconers have hit out at the claims.


By Selena Masson, Shooting Times

Monday, 07 July 2008

Falconers have hit out at claims that they are behind the recent disappearance of three peregrine falcon chicks from a nest in Cheshire.

The RSPB has said that the chicks were taken by people trading illegally in birds of prey. The birds vanished from a nest at Beeston Castle, near Tarporley, last month.

The bird charity claims that, with no evidence of the birds being killed, they must have been stolen for use in falconry. Police said six men with ropes and rucksacks were seen on cliffs above the nest site at about the time the chicks vanished. The RSPB has also warned that proposals to remove the need for peregrines to be registered could lead to more being snatched.

Nick Kester, of the Hawk Board, the body that represents all falconers and birds of prey keepers in the UK, told Shooting Times that no responsible falconer would condone theft from the wild. The fact that chicks are no longer in the nest is not sufficient evidence that they were stolen for falconry: “The chicks could have died, been predated on or fallen from the nest and their bodies eaten by scavengers. I do not believe that the DEFRA plans for deregistration of peregrines and this theft are connected.”

He added it would be impossible to sell wild birds on: “An illegally acquired peregrine without a ring or a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Article 10 certificate could never be legally sold or exported, nor could it attend a falconry field meet. Any such falcon would remain below the radar forever.”

What is YOUR opinion?

Join other ST readers in our forums to discuss your views.


CompPrevious
Missing property

DEFRA says no to badger cull

DEFRA has decided against a cull of badgers in Eng...

CompNext
Great Britain's Olympic shooting team announced

Great Britain's Olympic shooting team announced

The hopefuls will soon jet off to Beijing to compe...


Guns

Krico Model 902 rifle review

Krico Model 902 rifle review

Krico Model 902 rifle review: These German Krico rifles have all the q... Read more


More in Guns...


Sporting Answers

How can I stop birds from flying into my conservatory?

Missing property

Our conservatory has caused several bird fatalities, is there a way to... Read more


More in Sporting Answers...


News

CAIP poster informs public of legal trapping

CAIP poster informs public of legal trapping

Keepers are being urged to display a special poster to deter trap tamp... Read more


More in News...



Comments

Shooting Times Magazine

What's in this issue?

Don't miss your chance to enter our FREE prize draw in this week's magazine (on sale 10th March) to win the new Browning B525 Hunter 12-bore worth over £1,400. Get down to your newsagents and buy your copy now!

Subscribe to magazine

Save up to 30% on a subscription to Shooting Times & Country Magazine, subscribe today!


Latest articles

Locals vote no to sea eagles

Locals vote no to sea eagles

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust's AGM attracted more than 100 ... Read more


Dog owners face competency test

Dog owners face competency test

A "competency test" for all dog owners could be impl... Read more


More in Latest articles...


Subscribe to Shooting Times

Shooting Gazette Magazine

Save up to 30% on a subscription to Shooting Times & Country Magazine, subscribe today!