Egg smuggler update

[Bobbie Ireland]

Found this piece about that falcon smuggler we all read about last month and thought you would be interested in knowing how things turned out...


As one of the RSPB's Senior Investigations Officers, I've been involved in many cases involving crimes against peregrines. You might have read about this particular case in the papers or seen it on TV - it shows some of the threats that these spectacular birds still face.

The peregrine has the accolade of being the fastest bird in the world, stooping from the sky like a thunderbolt. Unfortunately, it is still far too slow to escape human greed and prejudice.

On 19 August 2010, Jeffrey Lendrum pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle 14 peregrine eggs out of the UK, and taking these eggs from four nest sites in Wales. He received a 30-month jail sentence - ironically, caged like many of the birds he had previously supplied from the wild...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/investigations/archive/2010/08/20/falcon-smuggler-caged.aspx

[Donna]

Eggs in incubator after confiscated

 I'm so glad he got CAUGHT!

[Dumpsterkitty]

And I'm so glad most of the eggs hatched...

RSPB staff putting three chicks into a Scottish peregrine nest site. Photo by James Leonard (RSPB)

 In two stages, the seven chicks went back into three different peregrine nest sites. All the birds successfully fledged – all blissfully unaware their lives had started somewhere in the valleys of south Wales.

[Bird Crazy]

I still think he should have gotten 30 months for each egg. Since he has obviously done this before and he will do it again.

I resent the article saying they (falcons) were not smart. Maybe they are more than willing to take on foster care babies.