A covert operation by the RSPB has resulted in a man from mid Derbyshire being jailed for stealing peregrine eggs from a nest in a quarry near Bolsover.
This is the first custodial sentence for this offence in the county and a welcome step up from the paltry fines which have previously been handed out.
See also:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-67987416
The theft of peregrine eggs for sale (usually as chicks once they have hatched) continues since they fetch such high prices in the Middle East.
The RSPB, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the police have been working on this issue for several years with covert cameras up at several nest sites in remote parts of the county.
The Project Team
The Project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
38 comments:
Well done. That's one criminal off the streets.
Do hope this will be a deterrent to others!
Ooops, I've done it again!! .... posting on the wrong thread so have b/f the appropriate footage
Blogger Wendy Bartter said...
Catch up of visits plus a couple of pics showing location of scrapes on the Cathedral ... did see some bonding this morning but was so brief that I couldn't get a recording!
https://youtu.be/m9Kv6m-WbmY
17 January 2024 at 19:05 Delete
Blogger Wendy Bartter said...
Looked hopeful for bonding but never happened ...
https://youtu.be/m9Kv6m-WbmY
18 January 2024 at 14:32 Delete
Blogger Wendy Bartter said...
Re Clustrmap, disappointed to find out that my area not on it!
22 January 2024 at 15:05 Delete
Blogger Wendy Bartter said...
Visits on 19th & 22nd ... would love to have seen what caused the egg to be moved to that new position!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ_8nIrYjGw
From this morning, the calling didn't get a response
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbsR7WEF5EM
27th visit
https://youtu.be/bSRRvi8MJU0
First visit & calling 28th
https://youtu.be/muCG9VU-5lM
More calling later yesterday but still no response although obvious that they know where each other are ...
https://youtu.be/1-VtmoMUr2k
Very brief bonding in the scrape this afternoon ...
https://youtu.be/kRzDq08MBrM
Action from 1st and 2nd Feb, Female calls to male but he is out of view, Female has developed a limp
https://youtu.be/2EgYDd2tWMI
More action from today ... in this vid the male's legs & feet can be seen above the cam where the bird spikes are then female flies in and calls to him ... she still looks unsteady balancing & turning on the ledge, hope her apparent foot/leg injury isn't serious?
https://youtu.be/-RAtWtj_IxQ
Female flies in followed by male who perches on moulding under scrape, female calls but male doesn't join her ... female still limping and lays in scrape for a while then perches with left leg held out in front ...
https://youtu.be/L5WOXpAvWP4
More action today ... female on long visit, rests her leg some more, male leaves, female leaves later, looks awkward preparing for fly off also has a tail feather missing, hope she hasn't been in a scrap!
https://youtu.be/J35sN7hFRU8
Both in scrape but male didn't stay, female picked at old prey, still not using that left foot/leg properly ... male returned, took prey & flew off with it
https://youtu.be/8RZHQ9MPjRk
Female has been quite active today and, although I didn't see the male, I have been assured that he was on the moulding under the scrape later on
https://youtu.be/VPfItUkk_tY
Later on the female showed that her leg/foot problem was still bothering her, she is still very awkward & resting it a lot
https://youtu.be/jlWVhG9y1Mc
Female's gentle calls this morning, male not in view
https://youtu.be/4xQm7sdcaw8
Female back again 15.38 and still there in the dark at 17.35
https://youtu.be/8SChC3D2wWY
Early bonding this morning, male looks terrified, female has blood on chest likely from prey, still showing left foot injury
https://youtu.be/U7xLamlQbWo?si=BUyiUKIDEYanLHZh
Think the weather will stop our pair from visiting today
https://youtu.be/N2Mifi9jyhg?si=zAhqqZzwe1msVkCN
Maybe the rain will wash it away.
At least Nick wont need to abseil with a 'Hot water Bottle' Ha!!
Remember when he did that ?
Haha! Just in case people were wondering what Kate was referring to:
https://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/2013/03/hot-water-bottle-day-what-on-earth-are.html
What a great reminder of clever thinking, so many years ago!!
Hi Nick M
Crikey, amazing time lapse, where do the years go ,
Well done .
I was rushing so did not have time to fetch the link
Bonding in the afternoon yesterday 10th ...
https://youtu.be/mr7NIKojbFs
More bonding this morning ... Female perched & preened after male flew and finally left at noon, still not able to bend middle talon of left foot or rest on it for long!
https://youtu.be/9CRw38IqLso
More of our female in action this afternoon
https://youtu.be/yrmW_vYOHj0
Our female has been back & forth today calling as if the male will follow her into the scrape for bonding but I didn't see it happening ... she is still awkward on that left foot
https://youtu.be/pvFMxhtmepI?si=gVXPtRk2C__VT30f
https://youtu.be/C8_l-PX3SdY?si=jPJUK_axGd_s4hFZ
https://youtu.be/efQOlGy3jV8?si=uwk4vgvjYj2WoW4J
Just seen this article about a Father & Son stealing Peregrine eggs ...
https://news.stv.tv/east-central/father-and-son-made-40000-from-stealing-falcon-eggs-and-selling-chicks
Will the scrape be cleaned out after last year looks like an egg is still there
The scrape & camera will be cleaned as soon as the weather is suitable for abseiling!
Female on the scrape alone this morning, she dozes off a couple of times ...
https://youtu.be/kyu9caXyWLo?si=INBajh_nEWGisul4
A very brief meet on Valentine's Day, left it a bit late as almost dark ... maybe more romantic then, Lol!
https://youtu.be/PdCxKsQp3Vg
Is this the female then the male later or female both times?
https://youtu.be/utSdSOIDgnc
Actions from today including a little bonding
https://youtu.be/j_4f9r5ichw
Oh my goodness! An egg!! That’s early isn’t it?
Hi Emma
Unfortunately, this egg has been causing some confusion. It is actually an addled egg left over from the 2023 season which did not hatch. Because there was nobody available to ring the chicks last year, the egg was not removed. It remained at the side of the nest platform, but the January storms blew it back towards the centre of the nest. Since then it has been knocked around a bit and sometimes comes back into view from time to time. But it is being ignored by the adults, and we aim to remove it soon, before the 2024 egg-laying season begins.
A bit of a chat this morning but the pair stayed in separate scrapes
https://youtu.be/V5k-QQxPeQA
Ah thanks Nick, I remember it from last year but didn’t realise it was still around.
Bit of female action today, she's spending more time on the scrape, even laying in it late afternoon
https://youtu.be/WrqBde7T_Mk
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