The
shot peregrine falcon which was found at The Stang forest, on the Teesdale and
North Yorkshire border, in August 2015. Picture by the RSPB.
Helen Russell, Reporter (Wear Valley)
/ Monday 7 December 2015 /
AN
investigation has been launched after an illegally shot peregrine falcon was
found in County Durham.
The
dead bird was discovered on the south-east edge of Stang Forest, on the
outskirts of Teesdale, near the North Yorkshire border, on August 23 by a
member of the public, who alerted Durham Police and the RSPB.
The
carcass was sent for a post mortem examination, which confirmed that the bird
died as a result of being shot.
The
bird had suffered severe blood loss and most likely died close to to where it
had sustained the gunshot wounds.
It
is the third such crime against birds of prey in County Durham this year.
In
March, two short-eared owls were found shot dead near Selset reservoir and in
June, a shot peregrine was discovered at Castle Lake, in Bishop Middleham.
Howard
Jones, RSPB Investigations Officer, said: “This case once again provides a
window into the reasons behind the peregrine falcon’s struggle to breed in much
of the English uplands.
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