Latest news with #birdsofprey
The Independent
25-06-2025
- The Independent
Police investigate after red kite found fatally poisoned in Co Down
Police in Northern Ireland have launched an investigation after a red kite was found fatally poisoned in Co Down. A police spokesperson said tests have confirmed the legally protected bird, which was found dead near Loughbrickland, had been poisoned. It was discovered on land in the Tullymore Road area at the end of December, and has been found to have died by what police believe to have been targeted poisoning using the rodenticide Chloralose and the insecticide Bendiocarb. Red kites previously had vanished entirely from Northern Ireland due to illegal persecution 200 years ago, and were re-introduced in 2008. Mr McDowell said red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order. He said this case is 'not the first time we have had reports of this nature in this same area'. 'Two ravens were also recently found dead having been poisoned using similar chemicals, and it saddens me that these incredible birds are being intentionally killed,' he said. Those found guilty of persecution of protected birds of prey can face a custodial sentence and/or fines of up to £5,000 per offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) along with Northern Ireland Environment Agency has conducted a number of inquiries along with a site visit, and utilised the technical and advisory support of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit throughout the time since the discovery of the red kite. Officers have also worked with colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development to identify poisons being used. Mr McDowell added: 'Our Operation Raptor, Peregrine Watch, is an initiative between the PAW Bird of Prey Sub Group and our Air Support Unit, working alongside local police officers, which uses drones to monitor and protect the nesting sites of birds of prey, and is a direct result of birds being targeted, just like in this case, with very serious and dangerous substances in a number of areas across Northern Ireland. 'Along with our partners we will continue to investigate wildlife crime and seek to prevent further instances, whilst bringing offenders to justice.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: 'The intentional poisoning wildlife and birds is abhorrent. 'Supplying, storing (being in possession of) or using a Plant Protection Product (PPP), that has been banned, is an offence. 'It is also an offence to use an authorised PPP in contravention of the conditions and the specific restrictions established by the authorisation and specified on the product label. 'If convicted of committing an offence, fines will incur.' Wildlife crime can be reported by calling 101, or a report can be made online via
BBC News
22-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
East of England's 'first osprey chicks in 250 years' hatch
Osprey chicks have hatched in the East of England for the first time in more than 250 years, according to a wildlife fish-eating birds of prey arrived at Ranworth Broad nature reserve near Wroxham in April and the first sighting of their chicks was on Norfolk Wildlife Trust described it as a "significant moment for wildlife conservation" in the visitor centre manager Teala Leeder said: "Getting my first glimpse of the chicks and confirming our greatest hope was just incredible." "It also gives visitors the chance to catch a glimpse of these impressive birds of prey and their young," she is the third consecutive year Ranworth Broad has hosted a pair of ospreys. Sightings of feeding and mating behaviour by the pair were reported by staff, which raised hopes this might be the year they would breed, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust typically lay two or three eggs, and the chicks will stay with their parents until they are ready to migrate in September, spending their winters in West Africa or Portugal. Ms Leeder said: "It's so wonderful to welcome our new arrivals and it also gives visitors the chance to catch a glimpse of these impressive birds of prey and their young."Staff have set up a telescope and wildlife camera in the visitor centre to give people good views of the osprey nest. The trust said there had been no recorded breeding osprey in the East of England for more than 250 became extinct as a breeding bird in Britain in the 1900s but a pair returned to Scotland in 1955. The trust's Broads south reserve manager Adam Houlgate said: "We are delighted to be the first site to welcome breeding osprey back to the East and are celebrating this significant moment for wildlife conservation in Norfolk."It's a fantastic feeling to know that we are taking care of a special landscape that makes a home for incredible birds like this." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Khaleej Times
01-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: 3 rare Arabian spotted eagle owl babies hatch in Sharjah
In a rare and heartwarming event, three Arabian Spotted Eagle Owl chicks hatched at the Kalba Birds of Prey Centre, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority of Sharjah announced. This particular species — rarely found in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen — originates from Africa. The centre said the event "marks a milestone" in the captive breeding programme for birds of prey, which aims to "protect rare species from extinction and rehabilitate them in their natural environments". Take a look at one of the baby chicks. The first time the species of this owl was found in the UAE was in 2003, after a donor from Dibba gifted it to the Dubai Zoo, claiming it was from the Dibba mountains. In the beginning, the staff did not take much notice of it, but after some time they realised it looked different in appearance than other chicks of the Desert Eagle-Owl owl. Meanwhile, according to the World Wildlife Fund, the Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) — part of the same family — was first discovered in 2017 in Fujairah's Hajar Mountains. At the time, Jacky Judas, Manager & Scientific Advisor of Terrestrial Biodiversity, EWS-WWF, had said that despite the UAE's hot and arid climate, a "wide variety of resilient and fascinating species thrive in our deserts and mountain areas". "Unfortunately, the rapid pace of development has become a major threat to many of these creatures. Thus, it is crucial — now more than ever— that we ramp up collective efforts to protect and safeguard key habitats and endangered species, all of which constitute the UAE's rich natural heritage," Jacky had said at the time. He continued: 'If a large bird, 45cm in height, weighing 600 to 800g — even if nocturnal and elusive — went unnoticed up to the beginning of the 21st century, what about much smaller species of animals and plants, or under-surveyed taxonomic groups? We have very little doubt that so much more is still to be found in the Hajar Mountains.' Recent rare appearances In August of last year, a Mediterranean Gull was spotted for the first time in 28 years at Dubai's Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Over the past quarter-century, there have been only 15 recorded sightings in the country, with nine in Abu Dhabi, four in Dubai, and two in Sharjah. Another rare species of bird was also spotted that year. The red-footed Booby was seen in Abu Dhabi. One of the rarest and smallest species of Booby, the creature is found on the coasts and islands of tropical regions. It is very rare to see it in the Arabian Gulf region due to the absence of resident groups in the UAE. Meanwhile in 2019, the Arabian Caracal (Caracal schmitzi) was sighted on Jebel Hafeet National Park in Al Ain. The medium-sized, sand-coloured cat with characteristically elongated, tufted black ears was last seen in Abu Dhabi in 1984.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Flamstead hawk finds forever home with falconer
A Harris's hawk which terrorised a village for at least a month has found a forever home with a local Bomber Harris, the hawk was captured in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, in April, and falconer Wayne Housden has been training bird of prey was blamed for attacks on about 50 people including one incident where a man was taken to Housden said the story had reached "a happy ending". After working with birds for about 30 years, he said his first priority was to stabilise his new feathered friend."He has calmed right down," said Mr Housden, who said he had spent about £1,000 building him an falconer said he would take Bomber Harris to the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival in August and aimed to let him loose in the hawk's "unusual" behaviour was likely hormonal or territorial and he was "not nasty at all", Wayne said. "I am keeping him full-time... that wasn't the plan and that isn't why I tried to catch him," he Housden said Bomber Harris - a non-native South American species - was likely a captive-bred bird that had lost its falconer. He said the dried-out leather tags on its feet suggested it had been loose for more than a had not been contacted by anyone claiming to be its owner, Mr Housden said."If I was to let someone else have him, I would have wanted to stay in contact with him," he added."He's been failed once and he is not going to be failed again and the only way that I can make sure of that is by me keeping him myself." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
