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THE PSNI HAS been part of a UK initiative to prevent and stop the harassment and maltreatment of a native falcon, the peregrine – and it seems to be working.
Instances of persecution against the large, powerful bird of prey can include theft of eggs and chicks from nests or the killing of adults and chicks through poisoning, shooting or trapping.
As part of the pilot project, the PSNI has been using drones, fitted with specialist cameras, throughout the nesting season to monitor hot-spot areas across Northern Ireland in order to prevent crime against peregrines.
The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group, which monitors peregrine breeding sites every year across Northern Ireland, said that there has been “a very clear reduction in the number of persecution incidents” this year, when the initiative began.
“The average number of successful nests in Northern Ireland each year is 49 – in 2017 there were 55,” the group said.
Among these was a nest site in Co Armagh at which persecution has been recorded for at least the past 30 years, and for the first time in 15 years a pair of peregrines at this site was successful in producing young.
“In total, 138 peregrine chicks have fledged this year, compared to the average annual production of 109. We still recorded a number of suspected persecution incidents, but overall this was certainly lower than in an average year.”
PSNI Wildlife Liaison Officer, Emma Meredith, said, “We are delighted to have been of assistance in the fight against wildlife crime, and are pleased to be able to continue to work with our partners. As far as we are aware, the Police Service of Northern Ireland is one of the first police services in the UK to use this technology in this way.”
She said that the PSNI take all types of crime seriously and this includes wildlife crime.
“On occasions, baits, such as a rabbit carcass or sausages, have been laid laced with poison in the public domain.
Be under no illusion that some poisons could also be fatal to humans, not only wildlife suffers but also any child, adult or pet could find and ultimately consume poisoned baits.
If you find what appears to be a poisoned bait or suspicious dead bird, the PSNI advises to leave it in situ and call the police on 101.
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For the life of me i will never understand how anybody could kill such a magnificent creature.
@NeilGoochFerriter: Or any creature for that matter really.
@NeilGoochFerriter: You would if you were a pigeon fancier and watch your racers and their offspring bei g ravaged as easy prey for these Raptors.
@Geoff Bateman: and exactly how many racing pigeons do they take a year?
@Nollaig Elliot:
I like steak.
@NeilGoochFerriter: Here’s a hint – it might have something to do with certain people losing expensive racing pigeons.
Prison sentences and very heavy fines including confiscation of farms if necessary should be used.
Innovative
They should leave the nest alone.
But it is also a PR excersise for the PSNI who are not totally accepted in the local community. They probably use drones for spying on the locals as well.
Does the Gardaí have a Wildlife Liason Officer, I somehow doubt it.
These predators are beautiful to watch, but they also kill other beautiful birds, every day.
I wonder if the defenders of these killers have ever watched them at work, cruelly catching prey, stunning & dropping them to offspring to train them how to catch & kill. They, & their sparrow hawk cousins are devastating other bird life, often leaving them mortally injured to feed off whilst still alive. Cruel savagery of the lowest order.
Is that defensible, & why should they be defended, their defenceless prey not be protected from them?
@William Kelly: You are truly a clown of epic proportions if you believe that crap that you just wrote…
@William Kelly: Wow I didn’t know that. Something needs to be done about these cruel evil killers. All these wildlife on wildlife murders should be made illegal throughout Europe and these falcons need to be prosecuted.
@William Kelly: Hope that’s satire ,if its not how stupid are you ?
Meanwhile in France, the airforce are training eagles to attack drones…..
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