Published on Saturday 23 March 2013 00:01
VIDEO surveillance and satellite tracking are being used
to tackle rogue egg hunters who are preying on some of Britain ’s rarest species of birds in Yorkshire .
Police and enforcement officers from the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have been sharing intelligence after evidence
emerged that offenders are travelling from across the country to raid the nests
of birds in the region.
Many egg hunters are also embroiled in other criminal
activity, including drug dealing, to help finance their time-consuming searches
for the nests of rare birds which often involve travelling long distances
across the country.
RSPB officials say they are employing increasingly
sophisticated technology to hunt down egg collectors who are continuing to
flout tougher laws, with jail terms of up to six months for offenders. Video
surveillance is being used to monitor nests, while satellite tracking devices
fitted to birds are helping to trace their movements to nesting sites.
An RSPB spokesman said: “While many of these species are
showing signs of recovery, they do remain threatened and egg collectors are a
very real problem.
“We do have close links with police and we are
increasingly turning to new technology to help monitor birds’ nests. Offenders
are continuing to operate across the country, but Yorkshire
is a particular concern because of the number of species which live there and
we are having to remain especially vigilant in the region.”
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority confirmed
yesterday that efforts are underway to protect a pair of peregrine falcons
which attract thousands of visitors every year to Malham Cove. Peregrines
started nesting at the cove 20 years ago and have since raised more than 40 offspring.
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