In this issue of our newsletter, we aim to raise awareness of the problem of persecution of bird of prey species. This is classed as wildlife crime and is a matter to be investigated by the Police.

The tackling of the illegal killing of birds of prey, (known as raptors) is a UK wildlife crime priority.

Raptor persecution can be very challenging for the police to investigate and to prosecute. By its very nature it tends to occur in remote, quiet, sometimes private rural locations with low or no population. Offenders may have intimate knowledge of the landscape and may be well practised in avoiding detection.

The police are therefore reliant on the public reporting suspicious activity in the countryside.

The Police also work with numerous partnership agencies in tackling bird of prey persecution including the Police National Wildlife Crime Unit, The Crown Prosecution Service, Natural England, The RSPB, The Moorlands Association and The National Game Keepers Association, as well as more local partners like Wildlife Trusts, Local National Trust departments and of course National Park Authorities like our own Peak District National Park Authority.

Historically bird of prey persecution has been associated with land managed for game bird shooting, particularly driven grouse shooting but there are other areas where we see persecution associated with pigeon fanciers, with livestock protection, with egg collecting, as well as theft of eggs and young of birds like the Peregrine Falcon from the wild to feed the illegal falconry trade. 

What is bird of prey persecution?

Bird of prey persecution can take a number of forms with methods like shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest destruction, taking eggs and chicks and nest disturbance.

Shooting

Shooting birds of prey is illegal.

Most offences of shooting birds of prey involve the use of shotguns, although rifle shooting using powerful scopes or night vision aids is also used to kill perched birds at considerable distances.

The shotgun remains the weapon of choice for shooting raptors, as the rapid discharge and spread of shot improves the chances of success.

Raptors are often shot at or near nests or roosting sites where there are more opportunities to get within shooting range. A number of methods may be used to bring raptors into shooting range, with a camouflaged gunman typically hidden nearby. These include the use of plastic decoy birds, tethered live birds, electronic calling devices and thermal imaging equipment.

Poisoning

Poisoning Birds of Prey is illegal.

A range of approved pesticides can be legally used in strictly controlled circumstances to control certain animals (e.g. rats, squirrels, rabbits).

However, the placing of poisoned baits in the open countryside is illegal and is a regularly used method to kill raptors and other predatory animals. It also presents a significant health risk to humans and animals.

If you suspect you have found a poison or pesticide, or a poisoned bait, or a bird or other animal that may have been poisoned – DO NOT TOUCH it. Keep children, people and animals away from the area and make an early call to the Police to report it.

Trapping

Various trapping methods may be used to catch/kill birds and mammals.

Spring Traps – A number of metal spring traps are approved to kill mammal such as rodents, weasels and stoats. Spring traps consist of two jaws that are opened against a very powerful spring. A catch engages a pressure plate and holds the jaws open. Only slight force on the pressure plate is needed to release the catch causing the jaws to spring shut with considerable force. These have to be set so risks to non-target animals are minimised and are normally placed under cover with a restricted entrance to allow access by the target species. Spring traps set on post tops may be specifically targeting birds of prey that land and perch on posts. Spring traps set in this way are illegal.

Cage Traps – Certain types of cage traps, like ‘Larsen’ or ‘Crow / Ladder Traps’ may be used lawfully by land managers under a Natural England general licence to control pest bird species such as crows and magpies (Corvid species). These traps vary in size from a couple of feet cubed to structures that are large enough to walk into.  Cage traps can be baited with a decoy bird to entice in target species. In such circumstances strict rules apply to trap management including the welfare of the decoy bird.

Misuse of cage traps – Birds of Prey may accidentally enter cage traps being lawfully used for corvid control and are then opportunistically killed rather than being released. 

Abuse of cage traps - Cage traps are sometimes deliberately used to catch birds of prey. They may be deliberately baited with illegal decoy birds, typically pigeons, game birds, to entice them inside. Captured birds are then generally illegally killed.

If you see cage traps in use in the countryside and are unsure whether they are legal or not – DO NOT TOUCH. Make a call to the Police to seek advice or report the matter. It is illegal to damage or interfere with legally set traps of any kind including snares. Traps not in use generally have their doors tied or propped open and will be empty.

Nest destruction

This involves the active destruction of nesting attempts by destroying nests, eggs/chicks or parent birds. Ground nesting raptors may have eggs or chicks shot or trampled. With tree nesting species the nests may be shot into to destroy eggs/chicks and/or to kill an incubating bird. Spring traps or poison baits may also be placed on or near nests to target parent birds and chicks.

Taking eggs and chicks

There is a ready market in the illegal falconry trade for wild taken birds of prey, either eggs or chicks. Peregrine Falcons are particularly sought after and may be sold abroad for large sums of money.  Significant financial gain for the perpetrators means birds are targeted during the UK breeding season.

Egg collectors typically take eggs at an early stage of incubation when the eggs are easier to ‘blow’. Once prepared eggs are incorporated into collections, these can comprise thousands of eggs taken over many years. This can have a very negative impact on the conservation status of rarer bird species.

We have reported on our prevention activity in relation to Peregrine Falcon nest sites in Derbyshire Quarry sites in the previous issue of this newsletter. For the forthcoming breeding season, we will be working with our partners in an attempt to frustrate criminal activity.

New Rural and Wildlife Crime Online Reporting Tool

Derbyshire Constabulary have recently introduced a new online reporting tool for both Wildlife Crime and Rural Crime.

We are encouraging people to use these reporting tools to report non urgent matters to the Police. Any wildlife or rural crime will be bought to the attention of the Rural Crime Team.

Clearly if what you are reporting requires a more urgent response or it relates to an offence happening at the time you should use either the 101 or 999 service.

The link below will take you to the reporting page on the Force website, then select either ‘report a rural crime’ or ‘report a wildlife crime’.

Report | Derbyshire Constabulary