Police have launched an investigation after a peregrine falcon was shot dead near Woodhead Pass. A reward of £10,000 after the shocking incident.
The badly injured bird of prey was discovered at Hey Clough, near Crowden on Saturday, April 4. It was taken to a vet, where it was discovered to have a broken wing and pieces of pellet in it.
Sadly the bird could not be saved and a post-mortem found that one shot broke the bird's humerus and the other entered through its breast muscle and onwards. Police believe the shooting would have taken place on the land where it was found, which forms part of RSPB Dovestone nature reserve.
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Sgt Chris Wilkinson, of Derbyshire police's Rural Crime Team, said: "It is a sad fact that bird of prey crime is still prevalent in Derbyshire and particularly concerning is that this incident appears to have occurred on an RSPB reserve. Raptor persecution is a serious crime against nature and a wildlife crime national priority, and we are keen to speak with anyone who may have information about this crime."
Although peregrine populations are recovering in many lowland areas across the UK, breeding peregrines are missing from some upland areas in England due to illegal persecution. The RSPB has recorded 182 confirmed incidents of peregrine persecution across the UK from 2003 to 2022.
The RSPB added that, between 2018 and 2022, 30 peregrines were killed or injured in England, 19 of which were shot. Data shows that nationally a significant proportion of raptor persecution incidents are linked to land managed for gamebird shooting.
In 2022 at least 64% of confirmed incidents of raptor persecution in the UK were associated with land managed for gamebird shooting. The RSPB and the Peak District National Park Authority have now put up a £10,000 reward.
Mark Thomas, RSPB head of investigations: "To think that this stunning bird was found shot at Dovestone a place which we help manage for the benefit and safety of species such as the Peregrine is shocking.
"This is just the latest incident of raptor persecution in the Dark Peak, a notorious blackspot for birds of prey, where these species should naturally be thriving. If anyone has any information about this crime, please contact us or the police."
Peak District National Park Authority chief exec Phil Mulligan added: "It's deeply concerning to see a species as iconic as the peregrine shot within our national park, and so much more distressing during the crucial breeding season for many of our birds of prey. This is therefore not just the loss of a single bird of prey, but impacting on a potential further generation when every one of these charismatic raptors counts.
"Our birds of prey of all shapes and sizes have a right to call the Peak District home without fear of falling victim to acts of wildlife crime. That's why we have committed to supporting the reward for information in this case and I would urge anyone to contact the police regarding this or other potential incidents that may be putting wildlife at risk."
