Apr 21, 2008
The two men charged in connection with the October 5 massacre of 52 Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus in the Phasouri area of Cypus, have recieved a small fine after being found guilty of shooting only four falcons. The shocking massacre of the migrating falcons – the worst incident of bird of prey killing ever reported in Cyprus – made headlines across Europe. The shot falcons – a species of global conservation concern – appear to have been hit for target practice. [Read more]
Apr 8, 2008
The Rochester Democrate and Chronicle newspaper report that an American couple have been married with a Bald eagle as the best man and a red tail hawk, as the maid of honor. [Read more]
Apr 8, 2008
On the 2nd April Richard Pearson, was found guilty to amassing a huge collection of wild birds eggs in the biggest case of its kind in the UK for 20 years.
The court heard how police and RSPB officers raided Pearson’s Cleethorpe’s home in November 2006 and found a huge number of birds of prey and other rare birds eggs.
Inside they found his collection of more than 7,000 wild birds eggs, including those of some of the UK’s rarest nesting species such as golden eagle, little tern, osprey, black-necked grebe, avocet, black-tailed godwit, stone-curlew, chough, peregrine and red-throated diver.
Officers also found 59 dead birds in a freezer in his garage and dozens of diaries detailing where and when he had found the eggs.
They seized equipment such as a rubber dinghy, waders, climbing spikes, syringes, cameras and sat-nav systems, all used to amass such a huge collection over a 20-year period. Pearson, 41, was sentenced to 23 weeks in prison.
Mar 10, 2008
The 216 frequency often used by UK falconers in telemetry has been sold to a digital radio and TV broadcaster. The news means that for some UK falconers the 216 telemetry receiver will become useless. [Read more]
Mar 10, 2008
The Scotman Newspaper has reported that the largest ever cache of poison intended to kill birds of prey has been discoverd in a two month period on the Scottish borders. By Robert Fairburn and Andrew McWhirter [Read more]
