As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 13 May 2014

RSPB reward over rare bird found dead in Derbyshire

10 May 2014 Last updated at 15:18

A wildlife charity has offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction after a rare bird of prey was found dead on a Derbyshire estate.

The female Goshawk was found dead, with both legs broken, by a passer-by on the Chatsworth Estate in April.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said a post-mortem examination suggested the bird had been caught in a spring trap.
The estate's owners said they "condemn the illegal control of raptors".

Bob Elliot, from the RSPB, said: "If misused, spring traps are the bird equivalent of landmines; totally indiscriminate and lethal."

Sgt Darren Belfield, wildlife crime officer for Derbyshire police, said: "The misuse of spring traps where they are deliberately set to catch birds of prey is a barbaric act of cruelty."

The RSPB said that goshawks had been repeatedly targeted in the northern Peak District and were now on the brink of disappearing from the area completely.

It added that the area was one of the worst in the UK for the persecution of birds of prey. If the culprits are caught they could face six months in jail and a £5,000 fine.

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