Police are investigating the attempted poisoning of peregrines after the discovery of a live pigeon, covered in poison, was found tethered to a rock at a quarry in North Wales.
Well done to Sgt Rob Taylor, the local Police Wildlife Crime Officer, for highlighting the incident and for warning the public about the danger to walkers and dogs.
The newspaper report suggests this isn’t the first tethered & poisoned pigeon to be used as live bait at this site.
News report in the North Wales Daily Post here
Raptor Persecution UK 
Shows how much these people care for their own birds doesnt it? Some pretty sick people out there…
And if some unsuspecting member of the public had tried to free the bird and end up poisoned themselves. It’s only a matter of time before this happens and then we might see the courts taking this seriously.
To think that some have led us to believe that pigeon fanciers and racers loved their birds and considered the Peregrines to be evil?
There you go again Robin, Judge and Juried.
Has it been proven that this is the work of a pigeon fancier. NO.
I have never known a peregrine take a ground bird, have you?
Maybe this was intended for another species that takes low flying ground birds.
If this is the work of a pigeon fancier then I am totally disgusted.
This is a terrible act and I hope the person or persons responsible get caught and is held responsible for his actions. To me this is cruelty at the highest degree.
To me this is wrong in so many ways, I do not know a fancier that would commit such an act. Nor would I ever want to.
But because it’s a pigeon tethered to the rock, well it has to be a pigeon fancier. In fact lets check the bird out it may even have a life ring on it that would identify the bird and who it belonged to.
What was the poison used, is it readily available over the counter or is it some other sort of lethal poison.
I really do hope that the daily post keeps us updated on atrocious act.
Believe it or not this picture to me is just as distressing as a bird of prey hanging from a gate post is to you.
Yes it does anger me.
I have seen a peregrine take a wood pigeon on the ground and I have seen one take a small rodent.
I have seen a sparrowhawk take a pigeon on the ground.
As to who set the bait or why. Plain and simple, it was a criminal indulging in a criminal act. What else he or she maybe, I have no idea and it does not alter the fact that it was a criminal and all criminals are of the same despicable ilk.
I agree with that statement Dougie, ‘A Criminal’ and if caught should be dealt as one and given a severe penalty to serve as an example to others who may contemplate such atrocious acts.
Tethered pigeons are commonly used to trap peregrines, especially by falconers in the US (where it is legal, under certain conditions, for qualified falconers to capture them). When the pigeon sees the peregrine (or another potential predator) it will start to flutter around in an attempt to escape but obviously it can’t escape as its legs are tethered. This is a tempting target for a peregrine.
The difference is, the falconers won’t use poison on their pigeon; they will use a noose jacket on the pigeon to catch the peregrine because they want the peregrine alive and well.
Gamekeepers have also been known to use dead birds laced with poison and held upright on the ground with fence wire..saw this myself on Cawdor Estate. Peregrines, harriers, buzzards and eagles all targets in that area.Given the location [North Wales] and history of persecution by pigeon interests and lack of shooting estates there my money would be on pigeon men.
saveourpigeons – well we agree that we find this disgusting and yes, you are right, there is no proof currently that those with an interest in pigeons are the guilty party. Where cases have been proven that pigeon fanciers (and I agree not all of them) will take steps to illegally remove predators and individuals have been found guilty, I don’t see them being hung out to dry in any great degree by the pigeon fanciers?
I’m not a judge or jury because this forum is not a court of law – on the flip side, are you actively attempting to prove that pigeon fanciers are not involved in this case or is a defensive denial preferable until someone proves otherwise? There is always a case for sporting organisations to clean up their act – in just the same way that birders will want to hang birders who are egg theives out to dry. In this case and if I were a betting man, I know where my money would lie and whilst I have bias, my belief is not borne from predujice but from a pattern of events and evidence that get reported via this site amongst others.
in 2011 a hen peregrine and her just fledged young were poisoned by a pigeon laced with industrial poison . –the pigeon was on a rock so yes peregrines will take ground birds. Why do i think it was a pigeon fancier — well only because before these deaths were even made public the local fanciers were on their forums saying another 2 down only so many more to go… That was in Blaenavon S Wales by the way
Another revolting crime. Good on whoever was responsible for getting the quick publicity.
Poor Pigeon! Let’s hope they catch the low life who did this, they deserve to be treated in a similar way, but no doubt will get no more punishment than a warning or at most an insignificent fine.
Whoever did this needs nailed! No excuse and even if seeking to protect his own birds this is unacceptable on all levels.
something wrong in the head of the person or persons who would put poison on a live animal or indded a dead one with the reason being to kill another
pigeon men definitely