£1,000 reward after bird of prey poisoned

Results of toxicology tests suggest the bird picked up bait laced with the agricultural pesticide aldicarb, before dropping out of the sky, onto a bush, where it was found by a bird watcher.

Mark Thomas, RSPB senior investigations officer, said: “This is another appalling example of the crimes which continue to be committed against birds of prey.

“Poisoning is a particularly insidious method of persecution both because it causes the bird great suffering and also because it is so indiscriminate.”

The marsh harrier is a rare breeding bird of prey with fewer than 400 breeding pairs in the UK. Habitat loss and persecution almost drove to the marsh harrier to extinction in the UK.

In 1971 there was only one pair left in the whole of Britain but the population has started to recover well in the last 40 years.

Like many other birds of prey it continues to suffer from illegal persecution.

Their local breeding stronghold is RSPB Blacktoft, near Goole, which had 12 nests this year. Anyone with information should telephone Mr Thomas on 01767 693 087 or email [email protected].