LOST BIRD OF PREY....

A Gyr x Lanner Falcon has been lost from a bird of prey display near Exmouth this morning. It is a male bird and is wearing jesses and rings. If sighted please call Sharron Beech on 07843098727.

Buzzards found at Chittlehampton were poisoned

Forensic results have revealed that the two buzzards found dead near Chittlehampton, Devon were poisoned. WCO Sgt Dave Knight told the North Devon Journal:

“The persecution of birds of prey is one of the national wildlife crime priorities. Sadly, the persecution of these birds still occurs and the manner of their poisoning is indiscriminate with potential lethal consequences for companion animals.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference CS/13/215.

Good Year for Peregrines in Cornwall

We are glad to report on an excellent breeding season for Peregrines in Cornwall so far this year with no reported incidents of persecution!! This rather charming individual above was ringed at a nest site in west Cornwall earlier this season by one of our Wildlife Crimes Officers. Keep an eye out for 'HH' in the skies near you as he/she has now fledged succesfully!!

Cumbria - Gamekeeper Convicted for Killing Buzzards

The RSPB have released a video from their covert cameras on you tube showing the Gamekeeper killing the birds. Please be warned, the video is graphic and some people may find it disturbing.

 

VIDEO HERE

 

Colin Burne, of Winters Park, Penrith, pleaded guilty to the intentional killing of buzzards on land managed by a private shooting syndicate in Whinfell Forest, near Penrith, Cumbria.

The 64-year old gamekeeper attended Carlisle Magistrates Court today where he pleaded guilty to three charges. These related to the killing of two buzzards on the 11 February 2013, killing five buzzards prior to this date and possession of a wooden stick as an item capable of being used to kill the birds.

He received a 70-day jail sentence, concurrent on each charge, suspended for 12 months.  In sentencing, the Judge stated that had it not been for his ill health he would have considered jailing him.”

 

Source : RSPB

Buzzard Poisoning

Common Buzzard (Photo:P.Freestone)

Whilst we wait on the results of our suspected Buzzard poisoning case from Sidmouth, a gamekeeper from southern Scotland has been fined £4000 for doing the same as well as keeping illegal pesticides. Lets hope this sends a message out to those in our force area insistent on using poisons to persecute wildlife! Full Story HERE

Man who Stole Endangered Birds Sentenced

Last week we reported on a male, Keith Beavan, who had stolen Owls and birds of prey from Zoos across Europe, including our own Paignton Zoo. Well, Beavan, 68, from the Forest of Dean has been given a 40 week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, a 12 week curfew and fines totalling over £16,000!! Read the whole story HERE.

Another Buzzard Update.........

The two Buzzards suspected of being poisoned recently near Sidmouth have now gone off to Natural England experts for post-mortem and we are awaiting the results. The birds were found in a water trough in a field near Sidmouth by walkers, who reported them to the police. The photos below show the birds in and out of the water. Anyone with information can contact the police on the non-emergency number, 101, quoting reference KS/13/256.

 

 

http://www.edp24.co.uk/mobile/news/crime/buzzards_poisoned_in_sidmouth_1_2227617

PAIGNTON ZOO OWLS STOLEN

The former owner of the National Birds of Prey Centre near Newent in Gloucestershire has been convicted of stealing rare owls from zoos. Keith Beaven, 68, of Staunton near Gloucester, was found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court of theft, fraud, and illegally selling birds.

Beaven tricked various zoos in Europe into thinking he was still running the centre despite having sold it in 2008.  He pretended he wanted to borrow the birds as part of a breeding programme.

The court heard that Beaven deceived Paignton Zoo in Devon and zoos in Germany and the Czech Republic. He sold the birds after getting into financial trouble.

Black Kite (Photo:G.Willetts/Cornwall Birding)

Beaven was convicted of three charges of theft of owls, two of fraud and one of prohibited sale of Black kites, after he claimed he did not have the correct paperwork because they had been bred in captivity

At an earlier hearing he admitted stealing two northern hawk owls from a zoo in the Czech Republic, claiming he owned them and had authority to sell them.

He was found not guilty of two charges relating to fraud and theft of owls from Dudley Zoo.

He is due to be sentenced on 18 June.


Source: BBC NEWS

RED KITE INFLUX

Every year in Cornwall we have a small influx of Red Kites into the county. Today seems to be the start with ten birds reported across the county (see HERE for details). Ornithologists are unsure as to where the birds suddenly appear from but there are two trains of thought. Firstly, that they are first-year birds that have been displaced from the every growing breeding grounds in middle England or Wales or secondly that they are actually continental birds that leave northern France en-mass when the wind conditions are favourable and end up in the far west of the county, sometimes in large flocks! Fortunatley they are well recieved by humans and we have yet to have any reports of persecution during this phenomenon.

RED KITE over Bartinney Downs, St Just (photo courtesy of S.Sargeant per Cornwall Birding website)

NWCU - Bird of the Month - HEN HARRIER

 

Nice article on link below about Hen Harrier persecution on the new NCWU website:

http://www.nwcu.police.uk/educationmedia/bird-of-the-month/

A Timely Reminder............

The 2013 breeding season has been very slow coming, but we do finally have some young birds on the wing. This is a particulary vulnerable time for young birds of prey as they are susceptable to being stolen. We currently have a case in Devon that the Wildlife Crime Group are investigating, where four Peregrine chicks are alleged to have been stolen! If you see any suspicious activity at possible or known nest sites then phone us immediately on 999. We would not encourage you to challenge possible offenders, but if you do carry a camera, take photos and make a note of any vehicle registrations that may be in the vacinity.

 

Peregrine (photo:courtesy of Cornwall Birding website)

Hen, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers

Harriers are protected because in the past they were heavily persecuted, they were killed by humans with a vested interest in game shooting and almost all harriers on mainland Britain were eliminated. Nowadays because they are protected and attitudes have changed this is much less of a problem but the numbers of harriers are still below historical figures and due to habitat loss the population is struggling to increase. Protection of the birds and their moorland habitat is giving them the best chance to recover.

Read more »

Dead Buzzards - **UPDATE**

**UPDATE** The birds have been retrieved by officers and do show signs of possible poisoning. They have both been sent away for post-mortem and we will await results of that PM before progressing this further.

Breaking News!........Dead Buzzards Found in Devon

We have today recieved a report of two Buzzards found dead together near Sidmouth in Devon! Officers have been tasked to investigate on behalf of the Wildlife Crimes Group. It is often the case that there is only one Wildlife Crimes Officer on duty covering the whole of Devon and Cornwall! So it is wholly impractical to send a WCO from West Cornwall (as was the case today) all the way to Sidmouth. Advice was given over the phone and via e-mail to the response officer attending the two birds and the investigation will then be taken on by a WCO. Keep an eye on the blog for updates!