Thieves take flight as falcon chicks saved by bodyguards (Scotland)

[Donna]

FOR the last 15 years they have fallen victim to thieves who raid their nest for their valuable offspring.
But the pair of peregrine falcons who nest annually in a Pentland Hills quarry are at last proud parents after a group of 20 residents took part in a round-the-clock surveillance scheme to protect their young.

The group of local nature enthusiasts completed rolling shifts in the remote spot, keeping an eye on the four newly hatched chicks night and day for a month.

They had previously been stolen by thieves shortly after hatching before they had fledged and were able to fly away from any danger.

With falcon chicks able to fetch up to £20,000 on the black market trade in the endangered species, the volunteers knew the poachers were likely to try to return this year. But thanks to the surveillance operation, the last of the chicks fledged on Monday and finally ended the falcons' long wait to build a family.

The scheme was set up by PC Charles Everitt, a wildlife crimes officer with Lothian and Borders Police, who is the investigative support officer with the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit.

PC Everitt sought out local volunteers through the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and also received help from staff at the Pentland Hills Ranger Service.

He said: "For 15 years these thefts had taken place, always after the chicks had hatched. We had tried various tactics to protect them and nothing had worked. So this year we decided to give the chicks the best chance possible and put a 'peregrine watch' in place.

"Without a doubt someone would have tried to steal the chicks again this year. I'm sure that thieves might have went up there and saw the nest was being watched and given up."

PC Everitt said the scheme would be repeated next year to protect the birds' next generation of young.

The peregrine falcons only produced three eggs this year, but a fourth was added after a suspected bird smuggler was stopped earlier this year with 14 eggs in suitcase at an English airport.

The eggs were distributed to falcon nests across the UK, including to the pair in the Pentland Hills, and the orphaned bird is now being cared for alongside its adopted siblings.

Across Britain, there are approximately 1,200 pairs of peregrine falcons, of which nearly two-thirds nest in Scotland. They are the fastest living creature on earth, diving to catch their prey of small birds at speeds up to 200mph.

Detective Inspector Brian Stuart, head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: "We are delighted by the success of this scheme, which was badly needed, and the commitment of the community volunteers involved."

An RSPB Scotland spokeswoman said: "The peregrine falcon population suffered severe declines in the 1950s and 60s when pesticides, such as DDT, entered the food chain, killing many adult birds.

"Since the banning of these substances this spectacular species has been slowly recovering but unfortunately still faces threats from persecution, egg theft and illegal falconry."

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