Another one of the red kites reintroduced to Cumbria last year has been found shot dead, according to the BBC. This is the second kite from this group to have been killed this way in an 8-month period. The bird was killed by a single shot-gun blast and police are now investigating.
Border Regional News video story: http://www.itv.com/border/red-kite-shot-dead37788/
BBC news story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-13429000
The trial of Glenn Brown, the Derbyshire gamekeeper facing 7 charges under the Wildlife & Countryside Act and the Animal Welfare Act, will continue this week at Chesterfield Magistrates Court.
Amongst other things, Brown is accused of using a crow trap to illegally trap raptors on Howden Moor in the Derwent Valley. See blog posts 11 April 2011, 27 April 2011 and 28 April 2011 for background info to this case.
Two part-time gamekeepers in England have been convicted of trying to kill raptors with an illegal pole trap. Ivan Peter Crane, and his son, Ivan Mark Crane, were found guilty at Market Harborough Magistrates Court on 21 April 2011 following an investigation by Leceistershire Police, aided by the RSPB.
RSPB investigators discovered the pole trap in August 2010, set on a fencepost next to a pheasant-rearing pen. They undertook surveillance and filmed both men walking and driving past the trap. Lecistershire Police raided Astley Grange Farm, East Langton, Lecistershire, and seized the illegal trap. Both men initially denied any knowledge of the trap but later pleaded guilty in court.
Crane (senior) was fined £1,000 and Crane (junior) was fined £500. Both were ordered to pay £80 costs. Crane (senior) was further fined £2,000 in relation to the illegal and unsafe storage of pesticides on the farm.
Well done to Leceistershire Police and RSPB for securing a conviction.
Full story: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/investigations/archive/2011/05/04/caught-on-camera.aspx
Further to blog posts on 25th January 2011, 11th February 2011, 2nd March 2011, and 1st April 2011…
After three adjournments, the pre-trial hearing in the case against Holkham Estate head gamekeeper, Nicholas Parker, was finally heard yesterday at Norwich Magistrates Court. His case has now been sent for trial, due to begin on 15th July 2011. Parker denies the wildlife and firearms charges against him.
Updates on the Moy and Skibo cases will follow shortly…
Following blog posts 11 & 27 April 2011…
The trial of Derbyshire gamekeeper Glenn Brown, accused of using a crow cage trap to capture birds of prey, has not finished today as expected. The trial will continue into next week…
Further to the blog post 11 April 2011….
A few of our readers have e-mailed to ask for an update on the trial of Derbyshire gamekeeper Glenn Brown. The trial started 11 April 2011 and was anticipated to last for 8 working days. We are reliably informed that the trial is now expected to conclude tomorrow (28 April 2011).
Further details to follow…
A police special constable and wildlife officer in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, is putting Scottish police forces to shame. Special Constable Phil Sanderson, also a retired police officer, has appealed to the public for help in what he believes is a potential poisoning threat to peregrines in his area. Compare Phil’s actions below with those of Tayside Police last week after their raid on an [un-named]Â Perthshire sporting estate.
A chicken carcass, believed to have been tainted with poison, was discovered in the Ryburn Valley in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, close to a peregrine nesting site. The carcass has been sent to the lab for analysis. Even though West Yorks Police are waiting for confirmation of the poisoning, they were sufficiently concerned, both for the welfare of the peregrines and for humans and domestic pets in the area, to put out a public appeal for information. They released the name of the valley where the suspect bait had been found, and they advised the public on what sort of thing to be suspicious of and what to do about it if they do see something suspicious.
Special Constable Phil Sanderson could teach Tayside Police a thing or two. Well done mate.
News story here: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/find_the_poison_maniac_1_3279512
A gamekeeper has appeared in court at Chesterfield Magistrate’s today on the first day of a trial where he is accused of seven charges under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Animal Welfare Act 2010.
Glenn Brown, 39, of Old Henry’s Schoolhouse, Derwent Valley, is accused of illegally using a crow cage trap to catch birds of prey on National Trust property, Howden Moor in the Derwent Valley. The case was brought after covert operations carried out by the RSPB.
The District Judge, Caroline Goulborn, is clearly taking an interest in the details of this case as she and other court officials spent the afternoon visiting the trap site. Good on her. The eight-day trial is to be continued…with some high profile expert witnesses for both prosecution and defence…
News story here: http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/news/regional/gamekeeper_denies_cage_trap_charges_1_3276704
A bit more detail here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/12/gamekeeper-live-pigeon-trap
Thanks to the contributor who sent us the original link.
Police are investigating after a one-year-old peregrine falcon was found shot dead in Lincoln.
The falcon, which was killed by shotgun wounds, was recovered from Brayford Pool in the city.
It was unclear at first how the bird died, but post-mortem results have confirmed it was shot, Lincolnshire Police said.
Full Story Here – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-12682039
Former Holkham Estate Head Gamekeeper Nicholas Parker’s employers have advertised for a new head keeper in the 2 March edition of the Shooting Times.
Many thanks to the contributor who sent us this copy of the Shooting Times jobs page.
Raptor Persecution UK 