Saddleworth branded a "death zone" for rare birds

Saddleworth has been branded a “death zone” for birds of prey in a damning report by the national bird conservation organisation.

The area, including parts of the Peak District, has been highlighted by Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations UK.

He says: “In September last year, a climber heard gunshots and saw a red kite fall from the sky near Saddleworth Moor.

“A short-eared owl was also found shot in September last year near Wessenden Head. It was alive but had to be euthanised because of its injuries.

“A month later a tawny owl was discovered close to where the short-eared owl was found. It too had been shot.

“We also know, from a recent scientific paper, illegal killing is largely why we’re seeing next to no peregrines and goshawks nesting in the Dark Peak.”

And he added: “These are despicable acts which are robbing people of the chance to see these incredible birds in the wild.

“And it’s why the RSPB has launched an appeal, asking everyone who is as outraged as we are about these crimes, to get behind our work and help us make raptor persecution a thing of the past.

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Police investigating after once-rare bird of prey shot out of sky above Saddleworth Moor

The incident has appalled conservationists

Neal Keeling

06:00, 21 SEP 2018

Police have launched an investigation after a once-rare bird of prey was shot out of the sky above Saddleworth Moor.

The red kite was blasted within the Peak District National Park area. The killing has appalled conservationists.

The re-introduction of the species has been a success story in recent decades after its numbers dropped to just ten in the 1970s, with those remaining confined to central Wales.

Tim Melling, the RSPB's regional conservation officer, said: "It is the most benign bird of prey, feeding on carrion, worms, and insects.

"We don't know who shot this bird, but 75 per cent of all crimes against birds of prey are connected with the game shooting industry."

Climber Adam Long told the M.E.N. he heard gunshots and saw the bird fall from the sky.

The shooter, however, remained out of sight.

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What the fire near Saddleworth Moor means for wildlife

By Mary HaltonScience reporter, BBC News

28 June 2018

The fire near Saddleworth Moor now spans over seven square miles, and local residents have been evacuated from some of the worst affected areas.

But what does it mean for the wildlife that rely on the moor?

"It couldn't have happened at a worse time," says David Hunt, an Upland Conservation Officer with the RSPB.

"This time of year we're in the middle of the bird breeding season. So ground nesting birds will inevitably have been affected.

"You could potentially still have birds on eggs. Although it's starting to get quite late; some smaller birds might be on second clutches," he told BBC News.

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