Peregrine falcon persecution on the increase

June 2011: Peregrine egg and chick snatching is on the increase - prompting fears that peregrines are set to once again be one of Britain's most persecuted birds.

SPECTACULAR: Even when very young peregrine falcons are impressive-looking birds

Martin Davison, Forestry Commission ornithologist, has been monitoring nests in the Northumberland and says that last year three were raided - two for their eggs, another for their chicks.

Suspicious activity has also been seen around one nest site this year. This mirrors a national upturn in illegal activity targetting peregrines. This worrying trend brings back haunting memories of one of the major reasons for the bird's decline.

Selfish and callous crimes
Martin said: ‘Back in the 1980s half of all peregrine nests in the county were raided by criminals searching for eggs or young birds. We are certainly not back to those desperate levels and the bird's revival has been encouraging, but we can't be complacent, as last year's thefts show.'

Chris Collett of the RSPB said: ‘The theft of peregrine eggs and chicks are selfish and callous crimes that rob us of the chance to see these amazing birds in their natural habitat. In the UK wild peregrines are protected by law and any theft from a nest is punishable by heavy fine or even a custodial sentence.'

However forest chiefs are working to ensure that rare peregrine falcons continue to grace northern skies and has begun a ringing programme.

Greater protection from predators
This year, 11 nests are being monitored in 62,000 hectare Kielder Forest, Northumberland, most built on rocky ledges, which offers greater protection from potential predators.

RINGING THE CHANGES: A ring is attached to a peregrine falcon chick before it is returned to its nest

Back in the 1990s the bird had become so rare that when a pair nested in Kielder a 24-hour security operation was mounted to protect the site. Since then the bird's revival has been a success story for the Forestry Commission and other conservationists in the region. But many threats remain.

Early reports suggest that the stormy weather which struck the region in mid-May has taken its toll. Gales and lashing rain made it almost impossible for adults to hunt for food and some famished new born peregrine chicks perished.

Bad weather couldn't have come at a worse time
Martin commented: ‘The bad weather couldn't have come at a worse time.

'Young chicks have no body fat reserves and so need feeding soon after birth. One of the peregrine nests I'm monitoring has been reduced from three chicks to just one. And that little one only pulled through because mum fed it with the two dead chicks.'