Two men
with air rifles were seen near a nesting site in Cannock Chase on Monday (May
6). Now police say CCTV has been installed at nesting sites used by the birds.
A
Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Peregrine falcon nests have
been targeted by criminal gangs on Cannock Chase. On Monday 6th May, two males
were seen with air rifles near to a peregrine nest site. CCTV has now been
installed on nest sites. "
There are
estimated to be around 1,500 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the UK,
according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). On their
website, the RSPB state: "Peregrines were at a low point in the
1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides in the food chain.
Improved legislation and protection has helped the birds to recover and they
have now expanded into many urban areas. "However, they are still
persecuted - birds are illegally killed to prevent predation on game birds and
racing pigeons. They also have eggs and chicks taken for collections and
falconry."
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