Bird crime crackdown in Devon after record number of poisonings last year

“meantilist..i am very happy to pay my council tax for this sort of police effort,money well spent.These are important and rare birds,you may not give a fig of course...i do.”

“well, what can i say. An increase in gun crime. An increase in drug related incidents. An increase in alcohol related crime. Murders on the increase. Assaults on the increase. But be rest assured, bird theft is down. WELL DOWN D&C POLICE. Well worth my council tax”

“Thanks for the discussion, I didn't see this letter last year, or the one that prompted this response:

http://tinyurl.com/d3m7p2v”

“Why do some gamekeepers hate birds of prey?”

“I'm not a Lawyer so I don't know if you can slander a whole group of people but I can see how my comments may have caused some offence. Sorry.

I don't think Peregrines predate songbrids. I've seen one down at Marsh Mills as I've been driving along Embankment Road and on the M5 at the big junction this side of the Services one at Exeter.

It's easy to tell the difference between a Kestrel and a Peregrine. The Peregrines are the ones that look like they've eaten all of the pies. So are Peregrines likely to catch one pigeon for a bargain bucket sized meal that they can share around or fly around trying to catch 4 or more Songbirds?

I mentioned the Peregrine I saw down at Mountbatten that flew over me off towards The Hoe. I think it had previously been chased across The Sound by a Seagull giving it maximum squawk. Peregrines are known to inhabit coastal cliffs and cities. Why? Because their prey species live on coasts and in cities. Not places I associate with big songbird populations.


Digital, bipolar there can only be two possible opinions on something, for or against can get a bit boring.

You assume that someone that can spot and notice birds of prey doesn't also notice the lesser species they predate? I only like Kestrels, Peregrines and Owls? It was quite something seeing Buzzards and Red Kites last time I was at Trago Mills.

I'm not sure what games birds there are at Cann Quarry or in Plymbridge Woods? Are Game birds bred and released in that area? It's a leafy finger on the edge of suburbia isn't it? I've seen deer down there, and the odd Pheasant in the lanes there but I am more used to the delicate fragrances wafting down from Wrigleys.”

“Pilgrim65, regarding my own opinion I have a relative that has or had racing pigoens. I'm not sure if they still have them as they've had health problems that required daily hospital visits for a month.

I that relative last year but just sat in the sun in their back garden I didn't ask after the pigeons.

When they were in Plymouth visiting I took them across Plymouth to visit a Pigeon keeper.

So I am not sure you should make assumptions about my stance on the issue.

I have got a bit cross with small birds making a fuss at what sounded like several Magpies raiding their nest.

Predation of prey species has been topical for years whether the predators are Magpies, Sparrowhawks or Domestic cats.

The Cann Quarry Peregrine poisonings were two successive years. Nobody was caught.

What would the motives for dropping a bird laced with posion into their nest be?

I can't remember what species the bird lowered into their nest was. If it was a pigeon then that would NOT have proved it was Pigeon fanciers. Was anything left of it once it had been dropped into their nest?

My stance could be based on what was printed in The Herald in 1999 and 2000?

Or something that was mentioned on the bridge when I've been there to look at the Peregrine in Cann Quarry?”

“GAWker.

There are lots of reasons to your why???

What about song birds, game birds etc.”

“http://tinyurl.com/bsqwlsl

http://tinyurl.com/bnm7evr


I'll do some more research, but unlikely to be until April or May. :)

The Peregrine I saw was down at Mountbatten, I think it had been harried across the Sound from Picklecombe, Mount Edgcumbe by a very vocal seagull way towards Jennycliff a bit earlier I think. It flew over Mountbatten and over towards The Hoe.

The Peregrine poisoning was 2000, so I don't know if someone at The Herald can check their coverage in the newspaper in their archives before moderating my comment?”

“Hands up,

I may have made a mistake about the Pergerines being poisoned by Pigeon fanciers.

I thought that was how it was reported. I could well be mistaken.

Why else would people have poisoned the Peregrines in the nest at Cann Quarry?

I've heard of a young Peregrine there practicing attacking a Cormorant flying up the Plym.”

“@gawker ..your comment is very upsetting indeed and people are gonna read it and gonna think the same as me as that is so bang out of order of what you have put!!!”